Instead of the usual apple pie, think apple cake when those delicious, crisp apples start to fill the farmer’s markets this month.
If you bake a cake for your favorite teacher, you’re sure to get an A+.
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon dark rum
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 Granny Smith apples (or any tart variety), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and butter and flour a 12-cup bundt pan, knocking out excess flour.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a second bowl, mix together oil, eggs, sugars, spices, rum, and vanilla. Fold in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in apples and spoon batter into pan.
3. Bake until a tester comes out clean, about 1 ¼ hours. Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.
Cook’s Note: You can add raisins or nuts, but in my house we just like it with apples. If you’re getting fancy, serve with crème fraiche or cinnamon ice cream. For after school, a slice with a glass of milk is just what’s needed to get the homework juice flowing.
