Apples. Pecans. Cake….and Bourbon, Oh My! I’ll be the first to admit, I go down the rabbit hole on Pinterest… All The Time…
I was looking for a recipe the other day, while I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of Kroger, and found a recipe for spice cake. I have modified, and added the apples and the pecans … and the bourbon. Y’all, I am in Love with this cake! Baking this cake in September, not only puts you in the mood for the weather to cool off, but makes getting pumpkins and fall decor out of the hot attic bearable…
Lets just cut to the chase shall we? Not one needs a rambling post from me today ….So here it is…
Apple, Pecan, Spice Cake, with Bourbon Maple Icing
- 3 granny smith apples, peel and fine chop
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 stick butter (non-salted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup pecans
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup bourbon (optional)
- 8 oz block cream cheese
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 c) butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons bourbon (optional)
As with a traditional cake recipe, you start with all dry ingredients, and all wet ingredients separate, and then incorporate….
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees, butter or spray your 9×13 baking dish (I like to coat mine with flour after I do this step, however, its optional).
Sift Dry Ingredients together. Starting with flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and set aside. If you don’t have a sifter, that’s fine, just add these ingredients, then use a whisk, and once you see nutmeg and cinnamon in the entire bowl evenly combined, you’re all set!
Next, I would call this portion the wet ingredients: In your mixing bowl, if using a mixer start by combining eggs, butter, and sugar, then milk, You can hand mix, but I prefer a mixer. Do this on low speed. Then add the vanilla and bourbon.
Now start incorporating the dry ingredients into the wet. I say 1/3 of the dry at a time. Slow! Do not rush! Once all dry ingredients are in the batter… turn off mixer and hand fold in your apples and pecans.
Pour batter into your baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes. I cannot give an exact time, because all ovens are different. Baking is something that takes a great deal of patience, and a few learning curves!
While this bakes, clean out your mixing bowl, and prepare your bourbon icing. Combine cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla, butter, and bourbon. Beat on low speed, up to medium speed. Once your cake is done, let cool, frost the entire cake OR just as served. I like to sprinkle a few pecans on each slice!
Okay, so you see, there really isn’t THAT much bourbon… but with the apples this is a very moist cake, so I’m testing batches to see how to add more, omit the milk, etc. But for now, this one will turn out PERFECT!
