During the fall and winter seasons—when apple-related desserts dominate—I find myself looking forward to making spiced apple walnut cake with my mom. Ever since I was young, I’ve had a unique passion for baking, whether it be cookies, brownies, tarts or cakes. However, in the colder seasons, I gravitate toward making this spiced apple walnut cake in particular, as it encapsulates that distinct wintry, holiday feeling that I love.
Ingredients are as follows:
- 2 cups of all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoons of baking soda
- ¾ teaspoons of salt
- ¾ teaspoons of cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoons of ground cloves
- ½ teaspoons of ground nutmeg
- 1 and ¼ cups of white sugar
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 and ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of peeled, cored and cubed apples
- ½ cup of crushed walnuts
- Optional: ¾ teaspoons of almond extract and/or 1 tablespoon of confectioners sugar
Preheat the oven to 350ºF, and grease a 9” cake pan. Peel, core and cube approximately two large or three small apples so that there are 2 cups of cubed apples.
Combine 2 cups of all purpose flour, ¾ teaspoons of baking soda, ¾ teaspoons of salt, ¾ teaspoons of cinnamon, ¾ teaspoons of ground cloves and ¾ teaspoons of ground nutmeg in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
Next, whisk 1 cup of vegetable oil and 1 and ¼ cups of white sugar in a large bowl. Then, whisk in 2 eggs and 1 and ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract.
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
Add the 2 cups of cubed apples and optional ½ cup of crushed walnuts to the batter, and stir until combined.
Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for approximately 50 minutes. It is cooked once a skewer or toothpick that is inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake for at least 15 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
All photos taken by Julia Herlyn ’23
Credits:
All photos taken by Julia Herlyn '23