Apple and Cinnamon Cake

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven:
  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pan or a square baking dish, and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  1. Prepare the apples:
  • In a small bowl, toss the diced apples with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Set them aside to let the flavors blend.
  1. Dry ingredients:
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
  1. Cream the butter and sugar:
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  1. Add the dry ingredients and milk:
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk. Start with the dry ingredients and end with the milk, mixing until just combined.
  1. Fold in the apples:
  • Gently fold the cinnamon-coated apples into the batter. Be careful not to overmix.
  1. Assemble the cake:
  • Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading it out evenly. If you’d like, sprinkle the brown sugar on top for a caramelized finish.
  1. Bake:
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake should be golden brown and slightly puffed.
  1. Cool and serve:
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serving Suggestions:

  • Serve this cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
  • You can also drizzle a simple glaze made with powdered sugar and a bit of milk for an extra sweet touch.

Tips:

  • Feel free to add chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for some added crunch.
  • You can use any variety of apples, but tart ones like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work especially well for baking.

This Apple and Cinnamon Cake is the perfect fall dessert, balancing the sweetness of apples with the warm spice of cinnamon in every bite. Whether you’re having it with your morning coffee or serving it as a dessert after dinner, it’s a cozy treat that will bring a little bit of autumn to your table.