cook like james

It’s hard to believe summer is nearly behind us, and as apple picking season approaches, I’m reminded of this all-time family favorite cake. My sister Ann has been making a version of this cake for as long as I can remember. It’s often referred to as “Jewish Apple Cake” (probably due to the fact that the recipe is completely dairy-free - it uses orange juice instead of milk and oil instead of butter) and there are hundreds of recipes on the internet for it, however this is my favorite version. It makes an excellent coffee cake and freezes well too.

Download Best Fall Harvest Apple Cake 

Apple Filling:

4 apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ cup sugar

Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon soda

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 ¾ cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/3 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan. Combine the ground cinnamon and the ¼ cup sugar together. Toss the sliced apples with cinnamon sugar and set aside

2. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon in a medium bowl and set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar at medium speed for 5 minutes until thick and pale yellow.  Add the vanilla and mix to combine.

4. Whisk the oil and orange juice in a small bowl and set aside.

5. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat until just combined. Add half the oil and juice mixture to the egg mixture and beat until just combined. Repeat with another 1/3 of dry ingredients, then the oil/juice, and finish with remaining 1/3 of dry ingredients. Do not overmix.

6. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan. Top with 1/2 of the sliced apple mixture.. Pour another 1/3 of batter over apples and spread batter with rubber spatula. Add remaining apple slices, and top with remaining batter. It’s OK if a few apple slices poke through, the batter will cover the apples as the cake bakes.

7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-70 minutes. Garnish with a light dusting of confectioners’ sugar if desired.