Chunky Apple Cake

(Submitted by Cindy Duffy)

Oooohhhh! This is REALLY good. And with apples, you can make it any time of the year, but it's especially yummy for fall!



Cake:

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsps. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsps. ground cinnamon
• 3 cups peeled, coarsely chopped apples (about 3 medium)
• 1 cup chopped nuts (the recipe calls for walnuts, but we don't like them--they give my family canker sores-- so if I use the nuts I use pecans instead)

Heat oven to 350*. Spray a bundt pan with baking spray with flour or with spray and then dust with flour.

In large bowl, beat the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs,one at a time, until blended. Add vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Then apples and nuts. Spoon into prepared pan.

Bake 50-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack and cool completely about an hour and a half.

FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter (do not use margarine)
• 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1-3 tablespoons milk

In a 2 qt. saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden brown. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar with a spoon or wisk. Stir in the vanilla and enough milk until the frosting is smooth and desired spreading consistency. Generously spread the frosting over the top and partially down the sides of the cake. When serving, cut with a serrated knife.

(HIGH ALTITUDE 3500-6500 ft.: Decrease granulated sugar to 1 3/4 cups, increase flour to 2 1/4 cups, and add 1/4 cup water to cake ingredients. Bake the same time)

TIP: The best baking apples are slightly tart. Granny Smith, Braeburn, Cortland, Rome Beauty. I also like to split the amount of apples with a Fuji apple. It is sweet and adds a great combination. I do this with my pies too.

TIP: The browned butter frosting has a sweet, nutty flavor that goes well with the apple cake. But you can always use a cream cheese frosting on this as well. My sister, Lisa, likes that better.