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Saturday, October 13, 2007

Quaker Apple Cake

The Altitude Adjustment Section
I think I found this recipe in the newspaper for Quaker apple cake when I was around 10 years old. It is perfect for a kid to make, as it requires 2 bowls, a paring knife to cut the apples, a wooden spoon for mixing, some basic measuring implements, and that's it. On the east coast I always used Granny Smith, a hard green apple, but I find they don’t cook as well here, so I switched to a softer apple like a Red Delicious or a Gala apple and all was well. I had to do some altitude adjusting (baking powder, soda and egg content has been altered) to make this bake correctly, but it's perfect now. I also just discovered it is equally as yummy with sliced pears!

Ingredients
4 cups peeled and thinly sliced red apples (Delicious, Gala or Macintosh)
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup Canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts

Procedure
In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples with the sugar and let sit for at least 1 hour till the sugar liquefies and the mixture becomes wet. Sometimes I put the mixture on the shelf above the stove so the heat can help speed it along. Next add the flour, soda, powder, cinnamon, and salt and gently mix till smooth. In a separate bowl combine the eggs oil and vanilla. Now mix everything together and add the nuts. Stir just till combined. Pour thick batter into a greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan and smooth on top. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean. This cake gets brown within 30 minutes of being in the oven. If it starts to get too dark, cover with tin foil till done. Let cool in pan and cut squares from pan. Nice with vanilla custard sauce, or whipped cream or by itself. If you want to try it with pear slices how about switching the cinnamon for 1 teaspoon ginger and 1 teaspoon cardamom? How can that be bad?