SO SO SO Good!!!  I mean so good!  This cake is so good!  It even smells better!!

I made this cake with some Gala apples that I always have around for my boys.  Did I say that this cake is good?  Well, it is even better if you have some vanilla ice cream!!

Apples desserts are always a hit in my household.  They are great in the fall/winter.  This is my farewell to winter, since the temperatures are in the 70′s here.

This cake is easy like any other baked cake.  Of course, I always run the fear of it not coming out of the pan or coming out in a hundred yummy pieces.  Usually when I use my tube pan (not bundt pan) it works beautifully.

My dad was somewhat of a baker and cook.  He always made the yummiest apple cakes.  It was so exciting when he would go in the kitchen and start on something sweet.  I guess he just would get an itch to bake or had to fulfill his sweet tooth.  Hmmm…just like myself.  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I guess.

Anytime something calls for peeling, I am not a huge fan.  My apples were fairly small, so it went pretty fast.  I always look for recipes with brown sugar when I bake with apples.  It is a must, so this recipe has plenty of it.

This is perfect for anytime…be it summer, spring, winter or fall, breakfast, brunch or dessert.  It is just a perfect little cake!!

Fresh Apple Spice Cake

Recipe Adapted from: Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (1930 – 2000) Got this from my wonderful mom when I got married.  Still using it!  Thanks, MOM!!

3 Cups AP Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Heaping Teaspoon Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon Allspice

1 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

1 Cup Cooking Oil (Vegetable Oil)

2 Beaten Eggs

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

3 Cups Peeled and Chopped Apples (5 small apples.  I used Gala)

1 Cup Chopped Pecans, Toasted (350 oven for 10 minutes)

2 Teaspoons Lemon Zest

Powder Sugar for topping if desired.

Directions:

Grease and lightly flour a 10 inch tube pan; set aside.  Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and allspice and salt.  Set aside.

In a separate bowl mix granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla on medium for about 2 minutes.  Add dry mixture and beat on low just until combined.  Mixture will be thick and slightly dry.  Fold in apples, pecans and lemon zest.  Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for about an hour (1 hour 15 minutes for me.  All ovens vary.) or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool cake on wire rack for 10 minutes then remove from pan.  Cool thoroughly on wire rack.  Sprinkle with powder sugar if you like (I skipped this.)

Cover and store in refrigerator.