Monday, October 5, 2015

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting


 This cake is the perfect applicious dessert for Fall!  I'm having it with a cup of chai tea.  Care to join me?  We can look at my Autumn book, by Susan Branch and enjoy a fine, Fall day. 


 I'm using my Johnson Brothers,  Harvest Time teacup.  Isn't it a wonderful, vintage pattern?  I love the soft colors and it goes so nicely with my apple cake.


Now for this cake, which is the perfect Autumn dessert. This is even better than the one I made last year, and I will definitely make this again.  It is perfectly spiced and the icing is sooooo incredible!  The recipe is from King Arthur Flour and they state that "the frosting is equivalent to brown sugar fudge". I would love this frosting on a chocolate or yellow cake, also.  Resist the urge to add more confectioners' sugar, because it spreads perfectly fine the way it is.   Please don't hesitate to make this cake.  Here's the recipe:  

Cake

  • 2 1/3 cups flour
  • 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon each ground ginger and ground nutmeg (I also added about 1/8 teaspoon of ground allspice)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups peeled, cored, chopped apple, about 1 1/3 pounds whole apples
  • 1 cup diced toasted walnuts or pecans

Frosting

  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 9" x 13" pan.
  • To make the cake: Mix all of the ingredients except the apples and nuts in a large bowl.
  • Beat until well combined; the mixture will be very stiff, and may even be crumbly.
  • Add the apples and nuts, and mix until the apples release some of their juice and the stiff mixture becomes a thick batter, somewhere between cookie dough and brownie batter in consistency.
  • Spread the batter in the prepared pan, smoothing it with your wet fingers.
  • Bake the cake for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, or with just a few wet crumbs clinging to it.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a rack to cool completely; don't remove the cake from the pan.
  • To make the frosting: Melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and salt and cook, stirring, until the sugar melts.
  • Add the milk, bring to a boil, and pour into a mixing bowl to cool for 10 minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat well; if the mixture appears too thin, add more confectioners' sugar. Spread on the cake while frosting is still warm.
The cake is even better and more moist the next day!
I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

50 comments:

  1. The cake sounds amazing Kitty and the frosting looks perfect! Happy Fall, I hope things are cooling off for you:@)

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  2. Oh this looks so good! I try to bake on Monday and had not decided yet what to bake. Well I just found out! Can't wait to get into the kitchen. Blessings friend, Lynn

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    1. I made it! It was, I say in the past tense, delicious! Thank you. Lynn

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  3. Kitty, I'm craving brown sugar fudge frosting with a side of apple cake this morning! I'm partial to JB Harvest Time since it was my grandmother's pattern. I have a few of her pieces that I enjoy of along with the memories they provide.

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  4. Looks really good! I love anything made with apples.

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  5. Hi Kitty, oh what a perfect setting for a fall tea. Love your gorgeous tea cup and the cake looks so delicious. Look how scrumptious on the leaf plate too. Presentation is everything and you do that so well with your talent for tea vignettes. Thank you for sharing the recipe. This is one to try for the season.
    Have a great week. Hugs and Blessings.cm

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  6. Oh, I definitely won't resist making this cake! hehe The frosting is what grabbed my attenion - yum! Will be trying this soon, my friend. With all of your tasty and sweet recipes I may have to go on a diet afterwards :)

    Love you!

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  7. Your cake looks wonderful, Kitty; especially sitting on the red leaf plate. The Brown Betty teapot looks very cozy with your JB teacup and saucer too. A pretty and delicious tea posting. Thank you for sharing with us today and thank you for your very sweet comment on my story. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

    Blessings & hugs,
    Sandi

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  8. Looks yummy... I love that Johnson Bros. pattern i long time ago found one salt shaker and at that time didnt know what it was but it stuck in my heart.. Lovely tea cup..Happy Monday with love Janice

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  9. Hi Kitty, what a sweet tea time! Love your teacup and your cake looks so good. Thanks for the recipe! I am having two friends over for lunch soon and will make it for dessert!

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  10. Hi Kitty, what a sweet tea time! Love your teacup and your cake looks so good. Thanks for the recipe! I am having two friends over for lunch soon and will make it for dessert!

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  11. Hi Kitty, A few weeks back I watched a segment of Great American Food Finds on the Food Network channel where a lady in Yonkers, N.Y. made a sweet potato pound cake and frosted it with brown sugar frosting. She didn't provide the recipe, so I'm glad you did. The next time I make a pumpkin pound cake [that I blogged about today] I'm going to try your frosting recipe.
    Regarding Beverly Hills, MI - I know exactly where it is - about 13 miles from my house and it's a very nice community. A TJ Maxx is there, and it's on my list as I search for the Harvest Festival dishes. Have a great week! ~ Phyllis

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  12. Your teacup and saucer are the perfect match with the teapot for your Apple Cake. I think your whole table looks so very sweet. It is definitely apple time! Thanks for sharing Kitty.

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  13. Oh how I would love to join you! It all looks AH.MA.ZING!!!!

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  14. My mouth is watering, Kitty. I want to make this cake and chai tea sounds like a wonderful complement.

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  15. Yu, just give me the whole bowl of frosting! What a perfect fall treat!

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  16. What a yummy and delicious cake you're sharing with us...pinned...I will for sure try to bake it this fall!!!
    Is that Brown Betty teapot?
    I love Johnson Brothers china. I have a set that is similar to yours, and I use it during fall season!!!

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  17. Your yummy desserts never fail to make my mouth water, Kitty! Your Harvest Time teacup is perfect for drinking spiced teas during these cool fall days.

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  18. This is the epitome of a fall dessert! I so wish I had a piece right now...and again for my coffee in the morning. :) The tea cup and saucer are perfect also. Hope you're enjoying this lovely weather we're having! Ignore the weather forecasters about Wednesday and higher temps.

    xo
    Pat

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  19. Your cake looks amazing, Kitty! I have made an apple cake you blogged about before with (I think it was called) caramel fudge icing. It too is delicious! Hope things are going well for you and your family.
    Hugs, Beth

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  20. Love your fall vignette Kitty, including that scale and apple candle, and the Johnson Brothers teacup. What a great pattern. That apple cake looks delicious! Would love to sit and have a cuppa with you, and a piece of that cake.

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  21. The apple cake looks so delicious and would be lovely with a cup of tea. After pumpkin, apple flavors are my favorite. Your Johnson Bros. teacup is perfect for a fall tea. I've never seen that pattern before. You don't see many teacups with apples in the design. It would go well on a Thanksgiving table as well. The Brown Betty teapot completes the fall look. Enjoy your week!

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  22. Your apple cake sounds and looks so delicious. The Johnson Bros teacup is so pretty. What a delightful way to spend a leisurely afternoon or morning with cake, tea, and Susan Branch's Autumn book.

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  23. This looks so good and I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

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  24. This sounds wonderful and I'm saving the recipe. Hope you are having a beautiful fall.

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  25. What a pretty setting...love the apple teacup as well as the 'apple' candle...cute! Is that a vintage Brown Betty teapot??? I remember my Mom's. She always made us tea in it when we were sick.

    Your apple cake sounds very much like the one I've made for years but I never thought to put nuts in mine! Nor did I ever put frosting on it. I think YOUR version is much, much nicer.

    I hope our gorgeous autumn weather holds for your visit later this month. Very pretty here today.

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  26. Hi Kitty,
    Your apple cake looks amazing. I must try this recipe - it looks so perfect for the fall season. Your teacup is so pretty too. I love your pretty plate and outdoor setting. Happy Tea Day Dear Kitty! Have a Wonderful Week! Karen

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  27. Lovely setting Kitty. The apple candle is so cute! Vintage teapot is precious. You are always baking up a storm and this looks so good. I am glad you can still enjoy your lovely spot outdoors.

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  28. Hi Kitty, I love your pretty setting with the cute apple candle.
    Your apple cake looks AMAZING!
    Thank you for joining and sharing your wonderful recipes with us at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
    We love having you. Enjoy your week.
    Julie xo

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  29. What a beautiful Autumn setting...and that cake...OH MY...apple ANYthing is such a favorite of mine. I can't wait to make this....thanks so much.
    OOO, and I will, indeed, look for the frozen egg dumplings....hope I can find them. xoxo

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  30. My mouth is watering. For the cake and the tea cup!

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  31. Such a pretty fall table, Kitty and that apple cake looks soooooo good! Definitely pinning this one - thank you for recipe! Love your apple tea set. xo Karen

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  32. Oh my that does sound wonderful... I am back to my eating plan or I would be so tempted to make this

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  33. Oh my goodness, I wish I were there eating that cake and sipping tea with you, sweet friend. Just WOW, It looks so danged good! You set up the perfect cosy autumn tea time. YUM. Hugs ♥

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  34. Thanks for the recipe, Kitty. It looks like a keeper. :) Deb

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  35. Hi Kitty! I need to email you concerning a Christmas Blog Hop. Would you mind emailing me so I can return some info to you?

    Stacey @ Poofing the Pillows
    snskee@aol.com

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  36. I copies the recipe, Kitty. It sounds so delicious. Love your teacup too..,Christine

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  37. Kitty, the cake looks so delicious! I thought perhaps it was a maple icing before I read the recipe. When my husband comes home, I look forward to baking this!

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  38. What a pretty autumn tea table with your teacup and apple candle. I'll be trying this cake for sure and remember making a brown sugar frosting for something a long time ago, it did taste good.

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  39. Your apple cake looks delicious, I'm definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!

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  40. OK KItty,
    That closeup of the frosting on that cake makes me want to bake right now! It's 11:00 PM!! IT looks absolutely amazing and just full of some favorite flavors of mine! YUMMY!
    xo
    Linda

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  41. Hi Kitty, stopping back by to say hello and so love seeing this beautiful post once again. Such an inspiration to try and do some baking this weekend. Thanks for stopping by today too and your kind comment.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs and Blessings, cm

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  42. Hi Kitty, I love brown sugar frosting! This cake looks delicious! Your teacup is just perfect for fall! I found a couple of juice glasses and creamer with plaid apples around the top the other day. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  43. Oh yum Kitty, this cake sounds delicious. Saving this recipe. Pretty tea cup.

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  44. MMMM! I LOVE an apple cake and haven't made one in years. Would taste even better eating it on your lovely dishes. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Weekend Potluck.

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  45. Brown sugar fudge frosting!!!! Yes please!! This looks so good Kitty and so pretty with your apple tea cup!
    Jenna

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  46. I've pinned it! It sounds so delicious! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  47. I've pinned it! It sounds so delicious! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  48. Hi Kitty,
    A perfect setting for your Old Fashioned Apple Cake, it looks delicious. Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  49. I adore your teacup!!!!! The recipe is mouth watering! Thank you for sharing :)

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