GF Apple Cake

At lunch this week we (fellow teachers) talked about apples. Most of us had just gone apple picking and more were heading out this weekend to go pick some themselves. Basically the conversation can be summed up into this, you have 3 separate and distinct categories of people: those that love apple crisp, those that love apple pie, and those that love apple cake.

I haven't made this apple cake in awhile but decided to try it gluten free to see if it was something I would be able to offer in our GF line. Feel free to try it out.  Enjoy.

Ingredients:  1.5 sticks of butter, room temperature, 1.5 c + 5 TBSP sugar, 2 eggs*, 1 TBSP vanilla, 2 c gluten free all-purpose flour*, 1 tsp xanthan gum, 1 tsp baking soda, .50 tsp sea salt, 4 tsp cinnamon, 1/3 c sour cream*, 4 granny smith, 5 TBSP brown sugar, 1 tsp cornstarch

Instructions: (1) Preheat oven to 325 and line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper. (2) In a large bowl, cream butter and  1.5 c sugar until fluffy. (4) Add eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. (5) Add flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, .25 tsp sea salt, 2 tsp cinnamon beating after each addition. Add sour cream and beat batter until it thickens. (6) In a medium bowl, place apples, 5 TBSP sugar, brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, .25 tsp sea salt, and cornstarch. Stir to combine. (7) Layer half the cake batter in the dish and spread evenly then place apple mixture on top. Top apple mixture with remaining cake batter and spread evenly. You might need to use wet hands to spread the remaining batter. (8) Bake the cake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and slice into squares and serve.

*Use extra-large eggs and low-fat sour cream is ok but don't use nonfat. You need the fat to hold things together.
*I usually use Bob's Red Mill GF All-Purpose Flour but King Arthur has a GF all-purpose  that I've been using lately and love.
*Granny smiths are good, Spencers are even better.

Caramel Applesauce Cobbler

Another apple dish I love to make is a cobbler or a crisp. Just taking a bite into the warm apples bursting with cinnamon makes my mouth go happy. Topping off a crisp or a cobbler with some homemade Vanilla Bean ice cream or a Pecan Bourbon Ice Cream, makes my mouth go into a food coma.

Here's a recipe for a Caramel Applesauce Cobbler. It's a version of a pie I use to have at my grandma's. Enjoy.

Ingredients: 1/2 c butter, 12 large Granny Smiths*, 2 c sugar, 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice, pie crust*, Vanilla Ice Cream*,  1 c pecans, 1/4 c bourbon

Instructions: (1) Toast pecans then chop. Stir softened ice cream, pecans, and bourbon together. Freeze for 4 hours. (2)Preheat oven to 425F. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add apples, sugar and lemon juice. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring often, until apples are a caramel-color. Spoon into a greased 2qrt baking dish. (3) Cut pie crust into 1/2" strips and arrange strips in a lattice design over filling. Place remaining strips on a baking sheet. (4) Bake strips at 425 for 8-10 minutes or until golden.  Bake cobbler for 20-25 or until crust is golden. Server warm with pastry strips and ice cream if desired.


*I substituted Spencer apples for this recipe but usually make it with Granny Smiths.
*I make my own pie crust but you can save time and purchase a refrigerated pie crust from a local grocery store.
*I usually make my own vanilla ice cream but if I'm running behind or totally forget, I'll use Brigham's Vanilla Bean.

Apple Brown Betty

This past Columbus Day we went apple picking with friends at Tougas Family Farm. We get a lot of our fruits from this place. The apples we were excited to get were the Spencers. I personally think they are better than a Honeycrisp apple any day. We picked several bags of Spencers and since we have a lot of apples hanging around the kitchen, I figured I would make a few apple desserts. First dessert is a simple Apple Brown Betty. I'll post the other dessert tomorrow since I haven't decided if I want to do a spice apple cake or scones or cobbler....the list is endless. Enjoy this recipe and if you haven't gone apple picking yet, do so. There are ton of apples out there and it is always fun hanging out with family/friends for the day in an orchard.

Ingredients: 8 white bread slices, 1/3 c butter, melted, 1 c firmly packed brown sugar*, 1 TBSP cinnamon, 4 large Granny Smith Apples*, 1 c apple cider

Instructions:  (1) Preheat oven to 350F, lightly grease an 8" square baking dish and cut bread into 1/4" cubes. (2) Pulse the bread cubes in a processor 8 to 10 times or until mixture resembles fine crumbs. (3) Stir together breadcrumbs and butter in a small bowl. (4) Stir together brown sugar and cinnamon. Place half of the apple slices in the baking dish; sprinkle evenly with half of the brown sugar mix and half the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat process with remaining apples, brown sugar mixture, and breadcrumb mixture. Pour apple cider evenly over the top. (5) Bake at 350 for 55 minutes and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*I usually use dark brown sugar over light brown sugar.
*I substituted Spencer Apples for the Granny Smiths but Granny Smiths will work.
*I love using fresh apple cider from C.N. Smith Farm.