Hello! How was your weekend?
I had a fabulous weekend with my dear friend. We baked, and ate and talked and ate and shopped and ate and shared many laughs. It was exactly what I needed.
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| Image from Paula Dean |
One of the things we baked was Fresh Apple Cake from Paula Dean, it is very easy to throw together, you probably have all of the ingredients in your house, and it is moist and delicious. The fresh apples and the hint of cinnamon will have you going back for seconds and even thirds.
Fresh Apple Cake
adapted from Paula Dean
Ingredients:
Honey Glaze:
11/2 cups of confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons of honey
3 tablespoons of heavy cream
Cake:
3 cups of diced apples, 2 medium or 3 small
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
3 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of sugar
11/4 cups of vegetable oil
3 eggs
Directions:
Glaze: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until smooth. Set the bowl aside.
Cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a Bundt pan or two small 5″ Bundt pans. In a small bowl, mix together the apples, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Using an electric mixer beat the sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Add in the dry ingredients and beat until completely combined. Fold in the apple mixture.
Pour the batter( it is VERY thick) into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan, about 1 hour, and then turn it out onto a plate. Drizzle the apple cake with some of the honey glaze and serve.
NOTE: I used two 5 inch Bundt pans for this recipe and baked them for about 50 minutes.
Another thing we did was experiment with recipes for Christmas gifts, it’s hard to believe but Christmas really is not that far away, a little more than 90 days away. We made a few of these scrumptious Cocoa Cinnamon Coffee Cake which I think would be great on Christmas morning or perhaps in gift baskets.
And last but not least, one of my favorite things to make, Chocolate Cranberry Rugulach. These cookies are delicious, they are filled with chocolate, cranberries, pecans and cinnamon, an unusual be scrumptious combination.
What did you do? Did you have fun? Or did you relax? Did you get things ready for the coming winter? Whatever the case, I hope you enjoyed it.
Have a fabulous week!
Note: The Fresh Apple cake photo is from Paula Dean. My camera is on the fritz, hopefully I will have it back today.
Linking to:
9 Books on My Christmas Wish List
Easy Holiday Gift Wrapping with a Natural and Homemade Touch
17 Gifts for the Book Lover in Your Life
The Pelindaba Lavender Farm: Christmas Gift Ideas
Yum!!!! Your weekend sounds perfect, quality time with a friend and baking, fun! Everything above looks scrumptious!!
GOOD MORNING MY DEAR! And I too had a fabulous day with Irina, then this weekend, with my husband. Friends and other loved ones are the best remedy of all….and a nice treat doesn't hurt either!!! Anita
Thanks for posting the recipe. I want to try this! Bookmarked it!
God that looks so good and I have everything in my home so I think I'll have to surprise the husband in the morning with this cake. I'm going to email you today Elizabeth with pictures so be looking for my email from Oreillers!
XXX
Debra~
Sounds like a blissful weekend, my dear!
This cake reminds me of a Russian version I love to make…so simple and yummy.
Your treats sound perfect for Rosh Hashana 🙂
I love baking honey spice cakes this time of the year.
I hope your week will be smooth and joyful…
thinking of you!
Hugs,
– Irina
Elizabeth, these baked goods look amazing. So perfect for fall and the holidays. Your house must have smelled really good over the weekend. Can't wait to make the cranberry chocolate rugelach!
OMG, I swear I can smell it!
So glad you had a lovely weekend!
Di
xxxxx
What a stunning cake, and I love the little pastries too. I wish you were here to join the gift swap at Fortnum's, I just know you would love it.
Next time you are in London we must meet for a little art gallery visit, followed by a stroll down Bond Street and lunch in Fortnum's.
Have a fab week, I'm busy teaching, so probably won't comment for a while.
Jude xxxx
Your photos are just brilliant. My mouth is watering. Yes, it's true! I shall be dribbling over my keyboard before this comment is finished. *oops*
😉
Sarahxxxx
Hello Elizabeth
Your images are most tempting. Now that apples are in season I will look forward to baking your recipe.
A great post
Helen xx
Autumn is my favorite time in the kitchen. These treats sound perfect. Your weekend sounds wonderful. I love spending time with good friends.
oh elizabeth, this is just what i am craving!
hope you visit soon!
michele
Elizabeth – You can bake and make anything!! I wanna hang out with you 🙂 I love apple tarts, pies, cakes…you name it! Alas I've yet to master the art of baking. Afraid it's from the bakery for me!
xoxo,
Loi