My friend Cindy Wolff baked this fresh apple cake for me and brought it to my house for a memorial service. She told me to save it for the family, to wait 24 hours before eating it, and don’t put it in the fridge. I made the mistake of putting it out for guests, but after I tasted it I moved the plate off the table and we finished it later. Cindy said the recipe comes from a friend of hers, and that it’s a standard in their family. It’s one in mine now, too. Be sure to read the notes in parentheses for Cindy’s tips.

Fresh Apple Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

3 eggs

1 ½ cups vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

3 cups self-rising flour

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups chopped apples (see note)

1 ½ cups chopped nuts

Glaze:

1 cup brown sugar

1 stick butter

¼ cup milk

Directions

For cake, mix eggs, oil and sugar, then add flour and mix well; add vanilla. Add apples and nuts and mix well, then pour in a greased and floured Bundt pan and bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 1 hour.

For the glaze, combine ingredients in a saucepan and boil for 2 ½ minutes; don’t overcook. (Note: Cindy says she sometimes makes more glaze; she says it’s a judgment call.) Pour over hot cake. (Note: Cindy waits about 10-15 minutes, then gently runs a thin knife around the edge of the pan before turning out the cake.)

Let cake sit at room temperature for 24 hours before serving. (Note: Cindy used Granny Smith apples, peeled, thinly sliced then chopped.)

New notes added Nov. 18, 2022: Cindy says do NOT peel the apples, so I’m leaving this up to you (I’ve been peeling mine), and she also says to coarsely chop the apples to make it more homey.

Further, this is not so clear in the original: You turn the cake out of the pan while it’s still warm, then pour the warm glaze over the warm cake. Cindy said she pokes holes in the top before she pours the glaze.

Finally, I’ve had no trouble with this, but she also says it sometimes takes longer for the bottom of the cake to cook, so instead of testing for doneness with a toothpick, she inserts a butter knife to be sure it comes out clean.

Source: Cindy Wolff