Honey Cake with Apples
Courtesy of Smitten Kitchen
Adapated from Marcy Goldman’s Treasure of Jewish Holiday Baking
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup honey
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup warm coffee or strong tea
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds (optional)
Several sliced Apples (sweet sixteen) to fill the bottoms of the pan
Fits in three loaf pans, two 9-inch square or round cake pans, one 9 or 10 inch tube or bundt cake pan, or one 9 by 13 inch sheet cake. **But because it was for a Rosh Hashanah dinner, I put the batter in two round spring form pans – duh**
Preheat oven to 350 F. Generously grease pan(s) with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Make a well in the center, and add oil, honey, white sugar, brown sugars, eggs, vanilla, coffee or tea, orange juice and rye or whiskey, if using. (If you measure your oil before the honey, it will be easier to get all of the honey out.)
Using an electric mixer on slow speed, stir together well to make a thick, well-blended batter, making sure that no ingredients are stuck to the bottom.
Lightly coat your apples with sugar and cinnamon (if you wish) then place one layer of sliced apples on the bottom. Thicker slices of apples should do the trick, so do not rely on your apple peeler/corer for this task as it will slice them too thin.
Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). Sprinkle top of cake(s) evenly with almonds, if using.
Bake until cake tests done, that is, it springs back when you gently touch the cake center. For angel and tube cake pans, this will take 60 to 75 minutes, loaf cakes, about 45 to 55 minutes. For sheet style cakes, baking time is 40 to 45 minutes.
Let cakes stand fifteen minutes before removing from pan.
