Who's ready for sweater weather? (Raises hand) Give me a nice, warm pumpkin spice latte, a crisp fall morning, and a cozy flannel and I'm one happy camper. And the apples… who doesn't love apple picking in the fall? But if you're like me, the excitement of apple picking gets the better of you. And suddenly you find yourself at home unpacking 30 pounds of apples. What do you do with all those apples?? There are only so many apples you can eat during the day. Have no fear. With a little time and patience (and a delicious Damask Cinnamon Sugar Cake) you'll have a tasty way to use up those apples. And you'll have the perfect cake to celebrate the fall harvest. You'll love the taste of this Cinnamon Sugar Cake with Apple Butter!
Cinnamon Sugar Cupcakes or Cake with Apple Butter
- 3 pounds apples
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Juice from 1 small lemon
- ½ cup apple cider
- Damask Cinnamon Sugar Cake
- Damask Vanilla Frosting (optional, to make Apple Butter Frosting)
Step 1:>
Start by preparing the apple butter. Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place the apples in a slow cooker or in a large, heavy-based saucepan. Mix in the spices, sugars, salt, lemon juice, apple cider, and vanilla extract. Set your slow cooker to low and cook the apples for 10 hours, stirring occasionally. Puree the apples until smooth and then cook for an additional 2 hours. If you're cooking on the stovetop, cover the saucepan and cook on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. When the apples are soft, Puree the apples until smooth and then cook for an additional hour. Cool completely.
Step 2:
Prepare your Cinnamon Sugar Cake or Cupcakes as written. Prepare the frosting as written until Step 4 as your cake cools if you purchased the Vanilla Frosting. After mixing in the powdered sugar, add 2-3 tablespoons of apple butter to the frosting and mix until well combined.
Step 3:
Frost the top of one Cinnamon Sugar Cake layer with a thin layer of Apple Butter Frosting. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of fresh apple butter on the frosting and then top with the remaining cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Lastly, spread a thin layer of apple butter on top of the cake.
Step 4:
If you're making cupcakes, frost each with the Apple Butter Frosting. Finish by drizzling a teaspoon or two of the apple butter on each.
Step 5:
Store any leftover apple butter in an airtight container for 3-4 weeks. Adding a little apple butter is a simple touch that imparts a rich flavor to so many different treats. The apple butter is also great on toast or pumpkin pancakes!
