Mary’s Apple Cake
Submitted by: Meghan / New York, USA
Who passed this recipe down to you? My grand aunt
Recipe origin: United States
How old is this recipe? Approximately early to mid 1900s
The story behind the recipe:
This recipe was included in a hand written notebook from my great great grandmother Katie (1883-1964). Her recipe book was passed down to me by one of her grand daughters. I imagine that the titular "Mary" was a friend from whom the recipe originated.
Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar*
Cinnamon
Apples, peeled and cut into pieces slightly thicker than 1/4” thick
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter (plus extra for buttering the pan)
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
A little salt
Nutmeg + extra cinnamon (optional)
How to make it:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
1. Heavily butter a pan (I used a bread pan).**
2. Place 1 cup of brown sugar along bottom of pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
3. Place apple pieces on top of brown sugar
4. Cream together 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup butter. Add 1 egg. Add 3/4 cup milk.
5. Combine 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoon baking powder and a little salt.
6. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just combined (over-mixing will make the cake tough).
7. Pour batter over the apples in the pan.
8. Not in original recipe: sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
9. Bake for 30-45 minutes. Let cool slightly, then turn out of pan so apples are on top!
*Go slightly heavier on the butter and lighter on the sugar if you prefer your cakes on the less sweet side, or if you have particularly sweet apples.
**You can also use a cast iron skillet.
