Good Apple Cake Recipe

Cake
4 medium McIntosh apples, peeled and finely chopped (about 4 cups)
2 medium Rome or Granny Smith apples, peeled and finely chopped (about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1¼ cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Frosting
3 tablespoons butter, softened
One 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1½ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. To prepare the cake, combine the apples and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Using a mixer at medium speed, beat the eggs until light. Add the oil and beat until well blended. Add the flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon, and salt; beat until smooth. Stir in the vanilla, apples, and nuts.
3. Spread the mixture in an ungreased 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish. Bake 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
4. To prepare the frosting, combine the butter, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended and fluffy. This will be a very thin layer.

Serves 16

Tips From Our Test Kitchen: You may omit the frosting and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. The flavor improves if the cake is refrigerated 24 hours.