Easy-as-pie Apple Cake

Name: Easy-as-pie Apple Cake
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup/125 grams unbleached all-purpose flour, more as needed; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 ounces/57 grams unsalted butter (½ stick), softened; 1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; 1 large egg; 2 cups diced apples (from about 2 apples); 1/2 cup/57 grams toasted pecans, chopped (optional)

Ricardo @tallcook

Manhattan, New York, United States

As Melissa Clark, from The New York Times, points out, the name of this cake is somewhat deceiving, since most apple cakes are easier than pie (which is actually never that easy if you're making it from scratch). In any case, it's a simple, excellent cake with a tender crumb, subtle spicing and soft pockets of fruit. Serve it plain, or with a dollop of ice cream, whipped cream or crème fraîche.

Ricardo @tallcook

Manhattan, New York, United States

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Ingredients

1 h 30 m

8 servings

1cup/125 grams unbleached all-purpose flour, more as needed
1/4 teaspoonbaking soda
1/4 teaspoonkosher salt
2ounces/57 grams unsalted butter (½ stick), softened
1cup/200 grams granulated sugar
1 teaspoonvanilla extract
1 teaspoonground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoonfreshly grated nutmeg
1large egg
2 cupsdiced apples (from about 2 apples)
1/2cup/57 grams toasted pecans, chopped (optional)

Saved

Steps

1 h 30 m

1

Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan (or a 8-in x8-in square pan). Set aside.
2

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
3

In a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the egg and mix until smooth.
4

With the mixer on low, beat in dry ingredients until smooth (at this point the batter will be quite thick). Fold in the apples and nuts by hand.
5

Spread batter evenly into the pan. Bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.
6

Let cool 10 minutes before serving.