Award Winning Apple Cake

I am such a sucker for "award-winning recipes" in magazines. Once I see that heading in a publication then I grab it as if somebody's out to beat me to it. I try most of the recipes and so far about 90% came up trumps. This one is from the magazine ... ah ... I can't remember coz I cutout just the recipe itself. I'm sure it's a US edition. It must be either Good Housekeeping or Red Letter or Family Circle - take your pick. It is touted as a "top winner at the Central Washington State Fair last year". What year it was I ain't got a clue - probably 1994. Great baker who made this is named Myrna Myhowich. So Myrna, wherever you are thanks for this recipe.

I'm thinking it was originally named a 'bread' maybe because it is baked in a loaf pan? The finished product is quite sweet so I took the liberty of changing the name to a 'cake'. I also reduced the sugar by 1/4 cup, increased the vanilla, and I normally do not put topping or walnuts and it still comes out good. Don't worry if the batter is quite hard to stir - it really is like that. This is definitely a family favourite often requested by my children. Problem is, once it comes out of the oven they are on it like vultures! ::LOL::


Yakima Valley Apple-Cinnamon Cake

2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp fine salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup [125 g] butter - at room temperature
2 eggs - slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp grated unwaxed lemon or orange rind (optional)
2 large Golden Delicious apples - cored, peeled, & chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

*Topping:
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 180C/fan 160C/350F. Grease bottom (not sides) of a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
3. For the topping: combine sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Set aside.
4. Beat together sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and lemon rind in a large bowl for 1 1/2 minutes until light and fluffy.
5. By hand, stir in flour mixture, being careful not to overmix.
6. Stir in apple and nuts (if using). Spoon batter into prepared pan. (Optional) Sprinkle topping evenly over top of batter.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes or until loaf is browned, begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and a skewer poked in the middle comes out clean.
8. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen loaf around edge with a metal spatula and invert; turn right side up. Cool completely.