Fall baking is now in full swing in my kitchen – how about with you guys? One of my favorite ingredients to use when baking in the autumn months is apple butter. It’s rich, it adds a ton of flavor and moisture to whatever it is your cooking. One of my best friends and her husband gifted me with a homemade jar last Christmas, they do it the old fashioned way up North – with a big pot and a party that lasts all day! As good as it was, you know it didn’t last anytime in our house. Luckily, Musselman’s makes a really tasty version that’s available in your local grocery store year round.
They were good enough to send me a fall baking gift set – with some disposable decorative liners to gift baked goods in, some great recipe cards, as well as a big jar of their apple butter. I was immediately drawn to this spiced apple cake (predictable much?) that’s topped with a sweet orange glaze. The cake is delicious and moist, without being too dense…and has all my favorite warm flavors of fall. Topped with the simple glaze that carries a punch of freshness from the addition of fresh orange juice and zest.
You can either bake as one large loaf, or do as I did and bake 4 smaller loaves to give as gifts. We have a freebie gift set to giveaway to one lucky reader too! Just leave a comment telling me what’s your favorite recipe to make with apple butter? My friend Annie posted a panini earlier this week that is next on my hit list! So many good things to do with the stuff. Contest will run today through next Thursday (10/10/13) at 11:59 PM. I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Spiced Apple Cake with Orange Glaze
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup apple butter
For the glaze:
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp orange zest
2 Tbsp fresh orange juice
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
Cream sugar and softened butter in large bowl. Add eggs, beating thoroughly. Beat in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Stir in apple butter.
Pour into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan (or 4 smaller loaf pans).
Bake in 350°F oven 55 to 65 minutes or until cake tests done (I cooked the mini-loaves for 40 minutes). Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.
Make orange glaze by combining powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange peel. Spoon glaze over warm cake.
Source: adapted from Musselman’s