How to start a blog? Oh, I honestly don’t know. I don’t know how to get followers, think of cute weekly gimmicks, or really even how to get the facebook link to work, but what I do know is that if you’re only going to have one recipe on the blog, well then you have to start it with something good (amazing even) and nothing is more amazing than ApplePie Cake.

If you’re a friend of mine then you have at some point or another been exposed to my ApplePie Cupcakes. They’re an irresistible combination of moist cake, rich buttercream and fruit (which makes them automatically healthy in my eyes…wink wink).

I had never attempted to turn this cupcake recipe in to a full blown cake until just recently though. We were headed up to Bear Lake for the weekend at a friend’s cabin and when I asked what I could bring the answer was “a yummy dessert”. Of course I knew instantly what I had to bring… something fruity and wonderful. Nothing says summer at a lakeside like this little number, I mean it even looks a little rustic. We had limited packing space in the car and no way to keep the cupcakes from getting smashed so I decided to make a cake. It was an easy transition to cake from cupcakes, because the batter measured perfectly in to two round cake pans with no adjustments. The only thing I really had to change was the time this baby spent in the oven. I started with a twelve minute base time and checked the cake every few minutes from there to get the appropriate time in the oven.

I think it turned out pretty fabulously! The frosting even measured out correctly and I decided to line the base of the cake with a brown sugar and graham cracker mix just for looks and it added a little texture too.

After a long day of sprinkler mishaps (another story for another day), traffic, stir crazy pups, and a parking ticket we finally made it up to the lake and had a fabulous meal finished with this delightful treat.

It’s easy to make and impressive for the flavor alone, so even if you don’t go all out on decorating it will still go over well whenever you serve it.

What you need…

 (For the cake)
4 large eggs
1cup milk
½ vanilla
18 tbsp butter (Just over 2 sticks)
2 ¼ cup flour
2 ¼ tsp baking powder
1 ½ cup sugar
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon (depends on how much you like cinnamon)

(For the topping)
2-3 granny smith apples
1/3 cup sugar
2-3 tbsp butter
Cinnamon for sprinkling

(For the frosting)
24 tbsp butter (3 sticks) room temp
1 ½ – 2 cup confectioner’s sugar
½ – ¾ tsp cinnamon (again depends on your cinnamon likeage… I used ¾ tsp)

Ok, let’s start! Peel, core, and thinly slice your apples. Mix the butter and sugar together in a sauce pan over medium low heat put the apples in the mixture and dust with cinnamon. Stir so the apples are evenly covered in the dissolved sugar, cinnamon, and butter mixture. Cook until softened and slightly caramelized about 6-8 minutes (less depending on thinness of apples – very thin require only about 6 minutes). Set these aside.

Next prepare the batter. Combine all dry ingredients except sugar (flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon). Mix your softened butter and sugar together in a seperate bowl. Add eggs one at a time until fully incorporated in to the butter and sugar. Mix in the vanilla. Next slowly add in the dry mixture stirring until just mixed then add milk and mix until you have a smooth cake batter.

Divide the batter into two cake pans and lightly press the apple topping evenly on to the two cakes. Bake at 325 F for 20-25 minutes (I’m baking at a very high altitude so remember to adjust for that if you aren’t). Run a done test of some sort (spring or toothpick) to make sure it is done. Then let it cool completely before frosting.

I am a notorious early froster for cupcakes and cookies… It’s just that I want to eat it right then and there… I can’t help it. Don’t early frost if you want your cake to look pretty! I luckily don’t early frost too much with cakes because I only make them to be eaten later anyway haha. While this baby is cooling make your frosting. Mix together your butter and sugar (slowly adding until desired consistency) then mix in the cinnamon and ice your cake.

Decorate as desired and enjoy!