Helen's Famous Apple Cake
CourtesyDavid Pfeiffer, Caraen Architecture, Inc., davidpfeiffer.com
When garden designer David Pfeiffer creates a garden, he often pays special
attention to the fragrance ofthe plants, lulling visitors in nose-first. So
it was hardly a surprise when he shared a recipe that pulls us in with the
most American of smells: apples and cinnamon. David's recipe calls for
sweet, homey fruit tucked into layers of rich batter, with or without
walnuts, and comes from his mother-in-law, Helen, though he admits the
recipe has been around for so long, no one really knows its origins.
Despite its sketchy pedigree, the cake's versatility ("works for both
dessert or brunch, with ingredients you often have around the house;' David
says) and crowd-pleasing quality (not overly sweet, it pairs well with many
cuisines) makes it one of his favorites.
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4 inch thick (tart, crisp baking apples
are best, but any will do)
3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 cup corn or canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Walnuts, chopped (optional)
Powdered sugar (optional)
1, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease or spray a 10-inch
Bundt pan (or use loaf pans or muffin tins).
2. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and cinnamon over
apples, mix and set aside.
3. Place sugars, flour, salt, eggs, oil, vanilla and orange juice in a
mixing bowl. Blend ingre dients together on low speed for one minute, then
on medium speed for three minutes. Add baking soda and baking powder and mix
for another minute (until just blended).
4. Fill pan with alternating layers of thick batter and apples (I use three
layers of batter, two layers of apples). Add chopped walnuts over apple
layers if desired. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. This cake fills the pan and rises.
Before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
Seattle Homes Lifetyles January/Febuary 2009
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