AliLarter.com

October 1, 2014

APPLE CRUMB CAKE

When the air turns crisp and the apples are ripe for picking, you can bet several of mine will be going into an apple crumble. Like the muffin, apple crumble can be eaten as an on-the-go breakfast or a tea-time-treat, yet it is decadent enough to moonlight as dessert.

As a tireless crumble-crusader, let me tell you that getting this recipe just right was quite the feat. I tried melting the butter for the batter; I tried buttermilk as a replacement for sour cream; I tried half-whole-wheat flour; I tried shredding the apples. Then, finally, many a honey crisp later, I came upon this combination and knew I’d found it.

This crumble has the sweet density of a poundcake, yet the sliced apples and the spicy cinnamon add an earthiness that feels like fall. Pour a cup of something warm, cut yourself a slice, and dig into autumn!

xx,

A

ps, For the same style of cake with a more health-conscious bend, try my Pumpkin Bread with Sticky Molasses!

APPLE CRUMB CAKE

Ingredients for Crumble Topping:

1 cup All-Purpose Flour
½ cups Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Cinnamon
dash Nutmeg
½ tsp. Salt
¾ cup Walnuts, chopped
1 stick Unsalted Butter, melted
Ingredients for Cake:
2 medium-sized Apples, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
1 ½ cup Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Baking Soda
½ tsp. Salt
1 ¼ cup Sugar
6 tbls. Unsalted Butter
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
2/3 cup Sour Cream
Powdered Sugar for Garnish

Instructions for Apple Crumb Cake:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F, and butter and flour your pan – we used a 9” round springform.

Prepare the crumble topping first. Combine all dry ingredients – Flour, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Salt, and Walnuts – in a medium-sized bowl. Then, pour in the melted butter and mix roughly with your fingers until ingredients are blended and form small-medium sized crumbs. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda and Salt. In a separate, mixer bowl, whip the butter – which should be cold, not room temperature – and sugar until they achieve a light, airy consistency. Then, add eggs and vanilla and, once they are incorporated, the sour cream. Add in the dry bowl of dry ingredients a little bit at a time, while the mixer is on, being careful not to over-mix.

Remove the bowl from the mixer, and with your hands fold in the apple slices so that they are evenly distributed.

Coat your pan with the batter mixture, then top with the crumble. Place on the center rack of your oven and bake 30 minutes, then foil-tent and cook an additional 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool 15-20 minutes before removing from pan and serving as cake will need to set.

Delight in your apple-baked goodness!

Total Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 mins

Serves: 8-12