The surprising part of this apple pie cake isn't the fact that it's cake that tastes like warm apple pie, or that all that golden vanilla cake batter can bake up nice and fluffy under the apple cinnamon filling yet golden and pastry-like on top. The real head-scratcher is that it's taken me this long to decide to write a recipe for apple pie cake. I've been tapping at the keyboard on this blog for three years now, and in that time I've written recipes for strawberry apple pie, gingerbread apple pie, fall apple pie, and made apple pies decorated for springtime and St. Patrick's Day. Heck, I've even written a recipe for apple pie oatmeal. How on earth did I not do an apple pie cake until now?
No point in dwelling on the past, I guess. Time marches on and tasty new things are happening around here. Stay connected with Family Feedbag this month for the biggest giveaway ever. I'll be trying out the newest KitchenAid 13-cup Food Processor with ExactSlice™ System and giving one away to one of you! I know. It's crazy exciting. For now, let's keep it calm with a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of this apple pie cake. Get the recipe after the yummy photos.
Apple Pie Cake
Makes 6-8 servings
2 1/2 cups (625 mL) diced apple, skins on
1/4 cup (60 mL) brown sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (125 mL) oats
1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated white sugar
2/3 cup (150 mL) vegetable oil
1/2 cup (125 mL) milk
1 egg
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
In a medium saucepan, toss the diced apple with the brown sugar and cinnamon. Warm over medium heat for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Turn the heat to high and cook the apples, stirring constantly, a few minutes longer until the apples are beginning to soften and the sugar is like liquid caramel. Remove your apple filling from the heat and set it aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, white sugar, oil, milk, egg and vanilla. Mix well. In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. Pour about two-thirds of the batter into a well-greased 9 x 9 baking dish, spreading out evenly with a spatula. Spoon the apple cinnamon filling on top of the batter. Then drop the remaining batter in small spoonfuls on top of the filling. Bake in a pre-heated 375°F/190°C oven for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out without cake batter on it.
Tip: I like to line my greased 9 x 9 baking dish with parchment paper. That way I can lift cooled cakes or squares out easily for cutting.
What's happening in your 9 x 9 pans lately? Got a tasty recipe to share? Leave your links in the comments...