Apple Pumpkin Cake

★★★☆☆
Prep: 30 mins (est.) Cook: 60 mins Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

  • Sautéed Apples:
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Streusel Topping and Cake:
  • 1¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • ⅓ cup sour cream
  • 2 large eggs
  • Apple Chips:
  • 1 apple, very thinly sliced on mandoline
  • ½ cup simple syrup

Instructions

  1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
  2. 2. For sautéed apples: Sauté the apples in butter over medium heat just until they start to soften. Remove from heat and add sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. 3. For cake: In a stand mixer, combine flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add ½ cup butter and blend well.
  4. 4. Measure out ⅔ cup of the mixture into a separate bowl for streusel. Add 3 tablespoons sugar and pumpkin pie spice to this bowl, blend and set aside.
  5. 5. Add baking soda, pumpkin puree, sour cream, and eggs to the remaining flour mixture in mixer. Blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.
  6. 6. Layer the cake batter in prepared pan, then add sautéed apples, and finally sprinkle streusel over top.
  7. 7. Bake uncovered for about 1 hour. Cool in pan, then remove springform.
  8. 8. For apple chips: Dip apple slices in simple syrup, drain excess, and lay flat on silicone baking mat. Place in turned-off oven after removing cake and let dry for about 1 hour.
  9. 9. Serve with vanilla ice cream and apple chips.
Author notes that forgetting to flour the pan was fine. The recipe creates a lovely layered cake with tender sautéed apples and crunchy streusel topping. Apple chips make an elegant garnish using residual oven heat.
Wine Pairing: Dessert Wine