70 minutes
A moist and flavorful cake that captures the essence of apple cider in every bite.
Dried Apples, cut into 0.5-inch pieces
cups
cups
teaspoons
0 oz
teaspoons
Ground Nutmeg
teaspoons
Ground Cloves
teaspoons
Unsweetened Applesauce, room temperature
cups
Large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
each
teaspoons
Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
0 oz
teaspoons
Vegetable Oil Spray
as needed
1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Create a foil sling for an 8-inch square baking pan and spray it lightly with vegetable oil.
2. Simmer Dried Apples and Apple Cider
In a small saucepan, combine ¾ cup of dried apples and 1 cup of apple cider. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, or until the mixture appears dry. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1½ cups of flour and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
4. Mix Sugar and Spices
In a separate bowl, combine ⅔ cup of sugar with ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, and ⅛ teaspoon of cloves. Reserve 2 tablespoons of this sugar-spice blend for the cake topping.
5. Process Apple Mixture
Once the apple mixture has cooled, process it in a food processor along with 1 cup of applesauce until smooth.
6. Combine Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon of salt, the sugar-spice mixture (excluding the reserved 2 tablespoons), 8 tablespoons of melted and cooled butter, the applesauce mixture, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
7. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gently fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
8. Prepare the Batter
Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Evenly sprinkle the reserved sugar-spice mixture over the top.
9. Bake the Cake
Bake in your preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for about 2 hours.
10. Serve
Once cooled, use the foil sling to lift the cake out of the pan and transfer it to a platter. Remove the foil and serve.
Reduce high-quality apple cider on the stovetop to about a quarter of its original volume to concentrate flavors and prevent a soggy cake.
Use a mix of tart and sweet apple varieties, like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, to balance flavor and texture.
Mix the batter just until ingredients are combined to avoid overmixing, which can lead to a tough cake.
Use freshly ground spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a hint of cardamom for robust flavor.
Use a toothpick to test for doneness; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The edges should be pulling away slightly from the pan.
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