Chunky Apple Cake

I recently went to pick apples with my granddaughter at a nearby apple orchard…a sure sign of Fall. The air smelled sweet and the trees were full of Gala, Honeycrisp and McIntosh apples. They were ripe, juicy and ready for picking. It is always a fun day for us. We picked a bagful of Honeycrisp apples and decided on the way home to make Chunky Apple Cake, a moist and sweet cake recipe from tasteofhome.com.

There’s nothing like walking through the apple orchard to pick Galas and Honeycrisp apples. We always have such a good time together…and we know it won’t be long before we are eating our favorite apple cake.

Cake:

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 cups chopped, peeled apples (I used Honeycrisp, but Granny Smith are also delicious!)

Butterscotch Sauce:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add it to the creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be thick and stiff).
Stir in the chopped apples until well combined.

Spread the batter in a greased 13×9 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 30 minutes before serving. There aren’t many cakes that smell better than this one right out of the oven.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Remove from the heat, serve the sauce drizzled over the cake. And a dollop of fresh whipped cream makes it perfect!

I’ve made this recipe several times and it always turns out moist and delicious. And somehow the cake tastes even better when you pick the apples with someone you love!