Rustic Apple Cider Cake

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.