Apple Cake
Updated February 25, 2021 
Editor's Note: Capture the taste of fall with this recipe for Apple Cake by Alton Brown. This cake recipe is easy to make and boasts a generous portion of apples in every slice. Although you can definitely serve this cake after dinner (just top with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream), consider including it in your brunch menu for a truly decadent treat that everyone will love. As this recipe shows, you can never go wrong with dessert for breakfast! Don't be surprised if your brunch guests ask for second helpings, too.
Another really old recipe from the Brown family books.
Notes: Baker’s Joy is a spray lube that actually contains flour. So when some recipe (none herein, I hope) demands that you grease and flour, you can do it all with the push of a button. It’s the only manufactured pan release application I use in baking—and it’s especially good for Bundt pans, muffin tins, and any pan with hard-to-get spots. If you can’t get your hands on some, then there’s…
AB’s Kustom Kitchen Lube. Yep, make this stuff up right there at home. Just toss 2 cups of shortening into the ol’ stand mixer with 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour and mix it on low, just until the shortening sucks up the flour. Then hike the speed up to medium to aerate it a bit for easy application. Store it in a resealable plastic container and use it to lube up anything and everything. It’s good on just about any type of pan.
Serves12
Cooking MethodBaking
CostInexpensive
Total Timeunder 4 hours
Make Ahead RecipeYes
Kid FriendlyYes
OccasionBuffet, Buffet Meal, Card Night, Casual Dinner Party, Family Get Together
Recipe CourseDessert
EquipmentBaking/gratin Dish, Electric Mixer, Food Processor
MealBrunch, Dinner, Tea
Taste and TextureButtery, Fruity, Nutty, Spiced, Sweet
Type of DishCake, Dessert
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 227 g/8 oz/1 cup/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened but not melting (70 degrees F)
- 397 g/14 oz/2 cups sugar
- 100 g/3 ½ oz/2 large eggs, beaten
- 14 g/½ oz/1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 270 g/9 ½ oz/2 cups all purpose flour
- 12 g/½ oz/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 6 g/<¼ oz/1 teaspoon salt
- 3 g/<1/8 oz/1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 g/<1/8 oz/1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 454 g/1 lb/4 cups apples, cored and roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces or smaller; don’t peel (I like Galas)
- 2 cups pecans, chopped
- Baker’s Joy or AB’s Kustom Kitchen Lube for the pan (see Notes above)
- Equipment
- Digital scale
- Dry measuring cups
- Wet measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Nutmeg grater or microplane
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- 12-cup Bundt pan (This is the classic Bundt. The fancier flower and castle shapes usually have a 10-cup capacity.)
- Food processor
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Cooling rack
Instructions
-
Place an oven rack in position C (second position from the top) and preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
-
Prepare the Bundt pan (see Notes above) and set aside.
-
Assemble the ingredients via the Creaming Method (below), folding in the apples and pecans last.
-
The Creaming Method:
* Scale or measure all ingredients. Fats should be pliable but solid (no sign of melting). If kitchen temp is over 70 degrees F, chill the mixing bowl.
* Combine all Dry Goods (except sugar) by pulsing in food processor.
* In a small bowl, beat eggs together along with any extracts.
* Using a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, mix the fat(s) alone for a minute to spread them around the bowl. Add sugar(s) slowly and beat until mixture lightens noticeably in texture and increases slightly in volume.
* Reduce the speed to “stir” and add the eggs very slowly, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
* Work in the Dry Goods in three installments alternating with any additional liquids, such as milk. Always start with the dry ingredients and finish with the wet for a smoother batter.
* Stir in any bits and/or pieces (chocolate chips, nuts, etc.). -
Pour the batter into the Bundt pan and bake until the internal temperature reaches 212 degrees F, about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
-
Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove to rack to cool completely.
-
Wrapped tightly, this will keep for 5 days.
October 1, 2004
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gouchr 0236764
Sep 16, 2019
I have made this several years ago.. But I used "Granny Smiths",, "Wine Saps" cut into bite sized pieces.. Cinnamon along with "Nutmeg" was used and Dark brown maple sugar.. 2 different types of flour,, course wheat (Red Mill),,,,, and a buckwheat fine grind.. (Red Mill) here again.. I got this recipe from a PBS program called "A Taste of History".. OH,,, and you'll need (1) 1/2lb cup of real churned butter.. This can be purchased from Mozzarella comp... !! I hurt people when I cook!!!
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