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mom’s fresh apple love letter cake

(4)
joyouscook avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Barbara Mayo
@joyouscook
Collierville, TN

I am 55 years old. My mom has been gone for 3 years. Ever since I can remember, every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and family reunion, Mom baked her fresh apple cake in a big old Bundt pan. I have to say, growing up, this was not my favorite. Anyone who ever tasted it wanted the recipe, but Mom would not give it out. I have all her cookbooks in which she wrote her special recipes that she did not share with anyone. One day, about 6 months after her death, I started reading her cookbooks. I found all of her secret recipes and a love letter my dad had written while dating. What an inheritance!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Light and fluffy, Barbara's mother's apple cake is divine! It's filled with sweet and moist apple pieces and crunchy pecans. The caramel sauce drizzled on top is what makes this special. It's sweet and buttery and makes this cake very decadent.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(4)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 1 Hr 45 Min
cook time 35 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For mom’s fresh apple love letter cake

  • CAKE BATTER
  • 5 c
    chopped red apples
  • 1/3 c
    Tennessee whiskey, I use Black Jack (can be omitted)
  • 1 1/2 c
    vegetable oil
  • 2 c
    granulated sugar
  • 2 lg
    eggs
  • 1 tsp
    pure vanilla
  • 2 1/2 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1 tsp
    baking soda
  • 2 c
    chopped pecans
  • SAUCE OR GLAZE
  • 1 stick
    unsalted butter
  • 1 c
    firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 c
    evaporated milk
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1 tsp
    pure vanilla

How To Make mom’s fresh apple love letter cake

  • Core apples and cut into quarters.
    1
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, peel 5 red apples, quarter and then cut out the core. Slice each quarter into 2 halves.
  • Chop apples and pour whiskey over to soak.
    2
    Then roughly chop each apple and place it in a bowl. Pour whiskey over the apples and set aside.
  • Mix oil, sugar, and egg.
    3
    In a mixing bowl with beaters, add oil and sugar; mix well. Then add one egg at a time, beating after each egg until mixed well.
  • Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
    4
    Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients.
    5
    Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. On low speed until all dry ingredients are incorporated.
  • Stir in vanilla, apples, and pecans.
    6
    Remove the mixing bowl, add vanilla, apples, and pecans. Mix by hand until all ingredients are incorporated.
  • Pour batter into an oil and floured Bundt pan and bake.
    7
    Oil and flour a large Bundt pan or mini Bundt pans (makes 18 to 24 mini Bundts). Pour batter into the Bundt pan, place on the center rack, and bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until the cake is golden brown. If using mini Bundt pans, spoon 1/2 cup cake batter into each mini Bundt pan. Place on the center rack and bake for 10 - 14 minutes or until the cake is golden brown.
  • Place baked cake on a cooling rack.
    8
    Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack for 20 minutes (15 minutes if using mini Bundt pans).
  • Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil.
    9
    While the cakes are cooling, make the sauce or glaze. In a medium iron skillet or saucepan, place butter and brown sugar on medium heat. Let the butter melt and the sugar dissolve. Then stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Add evaporated milk.
    10
    Remove from the stovetop. Add evaporated milk and stir to incorporate. Place back on the stovetop and cook 2 –4 minutes.
  • Stir in salt and vanilla.
    11
    Remove from the stovetop. Add vanilla and salt; stir. Let cool at least 15 minutes.
  • Unmold the cake and pour the glaze over the cake.
    12
    Unmold onto cake and pour icing over the entire cake or cakes. Let set at room temperature for 1 hour before you cut. I know it will be tempting, but wait. Then enjoy with a really cold glass of milk and an old love letter from your parents if you are lucky.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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