Apples, etc.<\/b>
\nIn honor of my finally getting myself over to the apple orchard (on the last free day of the season, no less) I offer a repeat of the great apple coffee cake that I blogged this time last year.<\/p>\n
Little E and I had a great time, even though it felt like 30 degrees and we were nearly the only ones there. Hope that you enjoy the recipe.<\/p>\n
Caramel-Apple Coffee Cake<\/p>\n
2 C. sugar
\n1 C. vegetable oil
\n3 large eggs, lightly beaten
\n2 t. vanilla extract
\n3 C. all-purpose flour
\n2 t. ground cinnamon
\n1 t. baking soda
\n1\/2 t. salt
\n3 C. finely chopped apples
\n2 handfuls chopped pecans, toasted<\/p>\n
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Oil and flour 2 8-inch round cake pans.
\n(Or, it will make about 24 muffins or 2 loaf pans.)
\nPeel and chop apples.Stir together sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl.Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, stirring just until blended. The batter will be stiff. Fold in
\nchopped apples. Divide batter between the two pans. Bake at 350
\nfor 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. When the cakes are cool,
\ndrizzle them with caramel frosting and sprinkle a handful of chopped
\npecans on each cake.<\/p>\n
Caramel Frosting\/Icing<\/p>\n
This is as easy, and as good, as caramel frosting gets. Use a little less
\nconfectioner’s sugar if you want to drizzle it, a little more if you want to use it as frosting for a spice cake or yellow cake. This is really versatile, yummy frosting!<\/p>\n
Makes 3 cups. <\/p>\n
1\/2 cup butter
\n1\/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
\n1\/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
\n1\/4 cup milk
\n2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
\n1 t. vanilla extract<\/p>\n
Bring first 3 ingredients to boil in a 3 1\/2-quart saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Stir in milk, and bring to a boil; remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Use immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Apples, etc. In honor of my finally getting myself over to the apple orchard (on the last free day of the season, no less) I offer a repeat of the great apple coffee cake that I blogged this time last … Continue reading