Autumn is upon us! The trees are turning auburn, and as a chill begins to set in, a cozy day becomes very tempting. And by cozy, I mean warm, comfortable, and definitely with a special treat to munch on.  

Every year the season arrives with an overpowering craving for its flavors. Apples, pumpkin spice, and ginger, just to name a few. Right away, restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores stock up to meet the demand, as the population cannot get enough of these flavors. I must admit, this is absolutely my favorite season. It is no secret that pumpkin pies are fairly responsible for it.  

On this occasion, unfortunately, I will not deliver a delicious pumpkin pie recipe. Instead, I have an easy, mouth-watering cake from Woman’s Day Kitchen that can be ready in no time. It’s the perfect dessert to accompany you while submerging yourself into a book, a movie, or the piles of homework you may have for the week. This apple spice cake is soft, sweet, and flavorful—a  mouthful of a breezy, fall day. 

Although the recipe is stupendous, I had to make some modifications. I am crazy about ginger! So, if you feel as I do, I recommend breaking the rules a little and sprinkling some ground ginger into your dry ingredients. In my opinion, it worked wonderfully! Also, adding a little lemon juice after serving is highly recommended. That is the beauty of baking; you can be creative and have fun!   

Without further preamble, here is the recipe for the apple spice cake! 

Ingredients:  

• 3 Granny Smith Apples 
• 2 c. Macintosh Apples 

• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 
• 3 c. all-purpose flour 
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 

• 4 large eggs 
• 2 c. granulated sugar 
• 1 c. vegetable oil 
• 1/2 c. orange juice 
• 2 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

• confectioners’ sugar 

Directions: 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment, leaving an overhang on two sides. 

1. In a large bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. 

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, oil, orange juice, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and whisk together just until combined. Add half the apples and mix to combine. Spread into the prepared pan. 
2. Arrange the remaining apples on top. Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan. Then, using the overhangs, transfer cake to a wire rack to cool completely; dust with confectioners’ sugar. 

Woman’s Day. 2020. Gama’s Apple Spice Cake. [online] Available at: <https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a12084/gamas-apple-spice-cake-recipe-wdy0912/> [Accessed 3 October 2020].