Monday, January 30, 2012

Apple Streusel Cake


I make a lot of cakes.  They are usually elaborately decorated for baby showers, wedding showers, birthdays, or weddings.  To get some inspiration and decorating tips, I’ve been watching Cake Boss on Netflix.  I used their scissor-snip method to make Brobee look furry.


Anyway, I was watching Season 3, Episode 19, on which Buddy shares how to make an apple cake.  It looked so good, I just had to try it!  I made a few changes to make it my own, and it turned out amazing!

One thing I added was a cinnamon-sugar coating.  Rather than lining the cake pans with wax paper like I usually do, I buttered and coated them with cinnamon sugar.  Believe it or not, you can buy cinnamon sugar.  At Amazon.com, you can get 21.72 ounces for $14.99—that’s $11.04 per pound!  But I can make it for under $1 per pound.  I don’t measure.  I just fill a container with sugar and mix in some cinnamon.



I always use Fuji apples for everything—eating, baking, cooking, dipping.  If you live in central California, you can get Fujis for $0.57/lb. at Save Mart through Tuesday (1/31).  When I went to WinCo last Thursday, they had them for $0.78/lb.

This time of year you might notice that some of your apples look a little different inside.  This is called “water core.”  It is not really a disease, but more of a physiological disorder.  It can be caused by a number of factors, all environmental.  Water core apples are completely safe to eat and may even be sweeter than normal apples.  You can find the UC Davis info sheet here.


For the actual cake pans, I used two 8-inch by 3-inch pans.  I wouldn’t recommend trying this in 2-inch high pans as it rises quite a bit.  If you do attempt it, be sure to put some foil on the rack below your pans to catch the drips.  You will also need to increase the baking time.

I have found that this cake gets better with a little age.  It tastes great the first day, excellent the second, and amazing the third (if there is any left by then)!

Apple Streusel Cake
For Pan
Butter, softened
Cinnamon sugar

Streusel Topping
1 ½ c. flour
1 ½ c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
¾ c. butter, melted




Cake
½ c. water
4 eggs
1 c. sour cream
1 c. vegetable oil
1 box vanilla cake mix
1½ small boxes vanilla pudding (or 1 large)
2 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
4 medium Fuji apples

Drizzle
½ c. powdered sugar
2-3 tsp. water

Spread insides of two 8”X3” round cake pans with butter.  Coat with cinnamon sugar; set aside.



In small bowl, mix all streusel topping ingredients and cream together; set aside.



Preheat oven to 350°.  For cake, place water in microwave about 30 seconds to heat.  Meanwhile, in mixing bowl, combine eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, cake mix, pudding mix, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Add warm water.


Mix on low until combined.  Increase speed to medium and mix about 2 minutes.  Fold about 1 c. streusel topping into batter, being careful not to over mix.



Divide batter between pans.


Peel and core apples.  Cut into 8ths then cut each wedge in half cross-ways.  Place apples on top of batter.  



Crumble remaining streusel topping over apples.


Bake about 1 hour, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Remove to wire rack.  Immediately run a knife around the pan to loosen.


Let cool until handleable and turn out; cool completely.  In small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and water; drizzle over cake.




Variations:
Coffee cake—omit apples
Apple-nut cake—sprinkle chopped nuts over apples before adding streusel
Caramel-apple cake—serve with caramel sauce



3 comments:

StaceyN said...

Oh, you're killing me here! That looks SOOO good, but I am off of sugar for the next 7 months (preggo again and trying to prevent the gestational diabetes this time around). If I was a really good mom, I would make that awesome apple cake for my family and just watch them eat it, but I'm not quite sure I'm that good of a mom! I do have a bunch of sliced apples in the freezer from last fall, and that WOULD be a good use for them...

If you needed an idea for a post, I would LOVE to hear any good low-carb recipes you or your sis have (hint, hint), as I'm already a little tired of my diabetic-friendly repertoire, and I have so many more sugarless months to go. Unfortunately, morning sickness doesn’t love meat and salad so much, darn it!

I love all your ideas, though, even if I can’t eat them for now!!

Sumiko said...

Congratulations!! So excited for you! I pray the pregnancy goes well!

Hmmm....low-carb without meat. I'll have to think about that!

Bapa said...

Was served this cake. Ate my piece. Stole a second slice when Sumiko was out of the room. Yum.

Related Posts with Thumbnails