Apple Cinnamon Walnut Skillet Cake Food

APPLE CAKE IN AN IRON SKILLET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• For the apple topping: In a 9 to 10-inch skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Add sugar to the pan and stir around, then place apple slices, cut side down, in the pan. Don't pack them too tightly, but try not to leave overly large gaps. Allow this to cook over low/medium-low heat while you make the cake batter, about 10 minutes.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla and eggs. Add the sour cream and mix well.
• In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir together then gradually add the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture until just combined. Gently stir in the chopped apple.
• Remove the skillet from the heat. Spoon the batter over the top, then spread gently so the batter is evenly distributed. Place on a sheet tray lined with foil and bake for 25 -30 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and bubbly. Allow the cake to sit in skillet for five minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Don't worry if some of the topping isn't perfect---it'll taste perfect!
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

APPLE CINNAMON LAYER CAKE WITH GOOEY CARAMEL DRIZZLE

Steps:

• For the apple cinnamon cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with baking spray or line with parchment.
• Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until incorporated.
• Add the vanilla extract and beat until incorporated, then remove the bowl from the mixer.
• Sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl, then stir into the creamed butter mixture by hand. Mix the milk into the batter until smooth.
• You should have about 6 cups of batter. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the batter (or a quarter of your total batter) into one of the prepared cake pans; add a quarter of the apples and a quarter of the brown sugar mixture, lightly patting the apple mixture into the batter. Gently pour another 1 1/2 cups of the batter over the apple layer; top with another quarter of the apples and brown sugar mixture. Lightly pat the apples into the batter.
• Repeat with the remaining cake pan, batter, apples and brown sugar mixture.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool the cakes slightly, then invert them onto a rack to cool completely.
• For the cinnamon buttercream: Add the butter, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and 1 tablespoon heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on slow to incorporate all the ingredients. If the frosting seems too thick, add the remaining tablespoon heavy cream. Turn the mixer on high and beat until the frosting is lighter and fluffier, 1 to 2 minutes. (You want the frosting to be a spreadable consistency.)
• To assemble the cake: place the first layer of cake on a cake stand. Drizzle with up to 3 tablespoons of caramel. Spread the top of the layer with all of the frosting. Place the other cake layer on top and drizzle with up to 3 tablespoons of caramel. Serve immediately.
• The cake keeps, covered in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.

APPLE-WALNUT UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Spread out walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, tossing once, until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, heat a 10" ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Add 2 Tbsp. butter and swirl to coat; arrange apple halves cut sides down in a single layer in skillet. Cook apples, undisturbed, rotating skillet on burner as needed for even browning, until cut sides are golden brown, 5-10 minutes (the timing depends on the juiciness of the apples; juicier apples will take longer). Turn apples over and cook on rounded sides just until they start to release their juices and the tip of a knife slides through with slight resistance, about 5 minutes. Transfer apples to a plate, arrange cut sides up, and let cool.
• Add ¼ cup brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. water to skillet and set over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula until sugar is dissolved, then cook, swirling skillet occasionally (do not stir at this point), until thick and bubbling in a thin layer, about 1 minute. Let caramel cool in skillet.
• Meanwhile, pulse toasted walnuts, flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and 1½ tsp. cinnamon in a food processor until combined and nuts are finely ground. Transfer walnut mixture to a medium bowl.
• Combine granulated sugar, remaining ¼ cup brown sugar, and remaining 8 Tbsp. butter in food processor (no need to wash it) and process in long pulses until mixture is light and smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and process in long pulses, scraping down sides of processor once, until mixture is smooth. Add half of walnut mixture and pulse to combine, then add yogurt and pulse just until incorporated. Add remaining walnut mixture and pulse just to combine.
• Arrange apple halves cut sides down over cooled caramel in skillet, spacing evenly. Fold batter a few times with spatula, scraping sides to make sure everything is well mixed. Scrape batter over apples and work into spaces around apples. Smooth surface (it's okay if there's only a thin layer of batter in places; it will rise in the oven).
• Bake cake until it is browned across the entire surface and the center springs back when gently pressed, 30-40 minutes. Let cake cool in skillet 10 minutes, then run an offset spatula or a small knife around the sides of the pan to loosen. Set a wire rack upside down on skillet and flip over to release cake; carefully remove skillet. If any apples or cake stick to skillet, scrape them off and press back onto the top of the cake.
• Serve cake warm or room temperature. Slice into wedges and top with dollops of whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
• Do Ahead: Cake can be baked 2 days ahead. Let cool completely. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH PORT AND CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• To make the skillet cake batter, whisk together the eggs, milk and 2 tablespoons butter, melted. Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and zest. Combine the flour with the liquids and allow batter to rest, refrigerated, for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
• Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2-inch thick slices. In a separate pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, add the apple slices and saute over medium heat until they turn a rich golden color, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and carefully add the maple syrup, Port, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook slowly until the apples are tender at the center of each slice, but not soft and mushy, about 2 minutes.
• Heat a non-stick 7-inch omelet pan over low heat until hot. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of butter, melted, using either a brush or a tiny ladle, to coat the surface lightly. As soon as the butter has started to bubble, lift the pan off the heat and pour 1/2 cup of batter into the pan, tilting to spread the batter evenly across the bottom. Return the pan to heat, spoon in 1/4 of the apples and cook on low until golden on the underside. When the top is bubbly, flip and brown the second side.
• As each pancake is completed, place on an oven-proof platter set in a 200 degree oven. There should be enough batter to make at least 4 skillet cakes.
• Serve each cake warm with a dollop of currant jelly and some clotted cream or creme fraiche.

PINEAPPLE-VANILLA SKILLET CAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the orange juice, 1/2 cup water, honey and vanilla bean pod and seeds in a medium ovenproof skillet. Arrange the pineapple in the skillet. (It's OK if the skillet seems overcrowded; the pineapple will shrink as it cooks.) Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook until the pineapple is tender and the juices are reduced to a loose syrup and very bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes.
• While the pineapple cooks, pulse the flour and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture is crumbly and moist. Add the egg, and process until the batter is combined and thick.
• Drop the batter in small mounds all over the pineapple, and roughly spread out with the back of a spoon. (It's OK if the pineapple isn't completely covered; the cake will spread as it bakes to cover.) Bake until the cake is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, and serve with ice cream.

CINNAMON APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• To make cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine granulated sugar, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, combine eggs, apples, oil and vanilla. Add mixture to the dry ingredients, and stir just until well mixed. Batter will be thick. Pour cake batter into greased 13 x 9-inch pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. To make Caramel Sauce: Combine butter, sugars, and evaporated milk in medium saucepan over medium high heat. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil for 1 minute. Add cinnamon and vanilla. Cool. Cut cake and serve with caramel sauce. If desired, top with ice cream or whipped topping.

APPLE SOUR CREAM CINNAMON WALNUT BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Set oven rack to second-lowest position.
• Generously butter a bundt pan and then flour (shaking out excess flour).
• In a bowl mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In a small food processor, PULSE the walnuts, 2-3 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar until the nuts are chopped.
• Add in 1/4 cup melted butter and pulse once or twice to combine; set aside.
• To make the cake: In a large bowl beat the 1 cup softened butter with 1-1/4 cups sugar at high speed with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes.
• Add in eggs and beat well.
• Beat in sour cream and vanilla until smooth and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
• Reduce the speed to low and add in the flour mixture, mixing just until blended (the batter will be thick).
• Add in the chopped apples; mix to combine.
• Sprinkle half of the nut mixture evenly into bottom of the bundt pan.
• Spoon half of the batter on top of the nut mixture, spreading out with a spatula, then sprinkle the remaining nut mixture on top of the batter, then top/dollop with remaining cake batter, spreading out with a spoon.
• Bake for about 50 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• Cool cake in the pan on a rack for about 1 hour, then run a thin knife around the inner edges.
• Place rack on top of the pan, then flip to invert onto rack.
• Cool completely.
• *NOTE* this cake can be baked in a tube pan, just layer the cinnamon/nut mix twice between three layers of cake batter instead of sprinkling on the bottom of the pan. Layer as follows.
• A third of the cake batter in the bottom of the pan then sprinkle with half of the nut mixture, then another third batter on top, the the remaining nut mixture then the remaining third of cake batter.
• This method works quite well, but will produce a higher cake that might take a longer time to bake.