Recipe: German Apple Cake

What better Autumn ingredients than apples and cinnamon? While I was in New York, my mom served up some tasty old-fashioned German apple cake. My brother devoured most of it in one go, but I managed to get a piece – and the recipe. I made some over the weekend. It’s moist and delicious, especially warm with a spoon or two of ice cream on the side.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups peeled, diced apples (about 4 large apples – Macoun, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith are good choices)
• A sprinkling of brown sugar
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• OPTIONAL – 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I didn’t put these in)

Preheat the oven to 350F / 180C. Grease and flour a 9″ x 13″ pan. I actually used a square 8 inch pan which worked just as well. Once that’s prepared, you can start chopping apples. When they’re all cut up, sprinkle with a few spoonfuls of brown sugar.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix well.

Add in the dry ingredients: the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Again, mix well.

Add the apples. The recipe suggests mixing this last part with your hands so obviously make sure to give them an extra good wash first. Pour the batter into your pan and smooth the top with a spoon or spatula so it’s even.

Pop it into the pre-heated oven and make for about 50-55 minutes. The last 20 minutes or so is the best part (besides eating it, of course) because it will make your house smell of apples and cinnamon.

When it’s ready, pull it out and let it cool. I cut mine into 16 pieces.

Best served warm with ice cream!

Enjoy!