Caramel Apple Cake

It's that time of year.

Apple Cake

 

4 cups of peeled, diced apples (about 5 medium apples), I like granny smith

2 cups sugar

2/3 cups vegetable or canola oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 11X9 baking pan OR a bundt pan.

 In a large bowl, mix together the apples, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs.  Mix well. 

 

The apple are going to produce juice.  Trust me, don't change the order of ingredients. (been there, done that)

To the apple mixture, add the flour, soda, salt and cinnamon.  Mix until well blended.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 55 - 60 minutes.  Let cool slightly. Turn the oven on to broil.

Spoon the icing onto the cake and spread it evenly over the top. Place the cake under the broiler very briefly, just until the icing bubbles over the entire surface. This happens very quickly,

Transfer the cake to a rack and cool a bit before slicing.

Caramel Icing

1/2 cup butter

3 Tablespoons milk

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Melt the butter in a medium size saucepan and stir in the milk.  Add the brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for several minutes, until it reaches the soft ball stage (approximately 235 degrees or when a drop of the icing forms a small ball when dropped into a glass of cold water).  Remove the pan from the heat and stir inthe nuts.