The combination of apples, spices and nuts reflect the flavors of autumn. Fresh applesauce makes this apple spice cake moist and tender. The cake is topped with a delicious homemade seven-minute frosting; however, it is important not to overbeat the frosting as it will form clumps. Then frost the cooled cake with the fluffy frosting.
Bake this cake in a fluted Bundt pan. A Bundt pan is a deep cake pan containing a center tube and grooved, rounded sides bearing a repeated design in six to eight sections. The fluted sides give an elegant appearance to the sides of the cake. Bundt pans can usually hold about 10 to 12 cups of cake batter. If you don't have a Bundt pan, you can bake this cake in two 9 inch-by-5 inch-by-3 inch loaf pans. Ice both cake.
RECIPES
Frosted Apple Spice Cake Recipe
Serves 8 to 10
Ingredients:
- 2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering pan
- 1 3/4 cup dark-brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 3/4 cups applesauce, preferably fresh or homemade
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart Bundt pan thoroughly. Sift together the dry ingredients. Add about 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture to the chopped pecans, and toss to coat; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the dark-brown sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the applesauce, and mix to combine. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixer, beating just until combined. Fold in the pecans.
- Transfer the cake batter to the prepared Bundt pan. Shake the pan lightly to level the batter. Bake the cake for 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool completely.
- Frost the cooled cake with the Seven-Minute Frosting (recipe follows).
Seven-Minute Frosting
Makes About 2 Cups
Ingredients:
- 3 large egg whites
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cold water
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Combine the egg whites, sugar, water and cream of tartar in a medium metal mixing bowl. Set the bowl over a pot of rapidly boiling water and beat constantly for 7 minutes with a handheld mixer.
- Remove the bowl from the heat, add vanilla, and continue beating the frosting until it is glossy and stiff enough to spread. Use immediately.
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