Secret Ingredient Apple-Spice Cake
Ingredients:
Cake
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened but not melted
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons King Arthur Cake Enhancer, optional
- 2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice, or a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup cherry juice concentrate (or substitute applesauce)*
- 1/4 cup applesauce*
- 3 cups peeled and cored apples, cut into 1/2" chunk (about 2 large apples)
- 2 cups chopped walnuts
- *Use 1/4 cup cherry juice concentrate + 1/4 cup applesauce; OR 1/2 cup applesauce.
Glaze
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons rum or brandy; or water with a drop or two of rum or brandy flavor
Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 10", 10- to 15-cup capacity tube pan or bundt-style pan
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2) Beat together the butter, oil, sugar, cake enhancer, spice, salt, and baking powder until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
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3) Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until the batter looks fluffy. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
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4) Beat in half the flour, then the cherry concentrate (or 1/4 cup applesauce). Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, then beat in the remaining flour and the applesauce.
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5) Fold in the apples and nuts. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
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6) Bake the cake for 55 to 65 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
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7) Remove the cake from the oven, and cool for 10 minutes before turning out of the pan.
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8) Make the glaze by stirring all the ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Brush on the warm cake. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.
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