German Apple Cake

 German Apple Cake

2 cups Flour (all-purpose)

2 tsp Cinnamon, ground

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

3 Egg(s)

2 cups Sugar

1 cup Vegetable Oil

1 tsp Vanilla

4 Golden Delicious Apples - peeled, cored, diced

1 cup Pecans - chopped

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pkg Cream Cheese, original - Philadelphia - 8 oz - at room temperature

1/2 cup Unsalted Butter - softened

2 cups Confectioners Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon, ground

1/2 cup Pecans - chopped

1 Golden Delicious Apples - thin sliced for garnish

1) Prepare your apples and pecans first. This takes a few minutes.

2) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. (To do a half recipe, use one 9-inch round pan!) Set aside.

3) In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

4) In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix again until just combined. Fold in the diced apples and chopped pecans. The batter will be thick.

5) Spread the batter into your prepared baking dish. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. (For the 9-inch round pan with 1/2 recipe, bake for about 50 minutes.)

6) Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack.

7) Prepare the frosting: Using a mixer, blend the cream cheese and butter. Add the salt, cinnamon, and pecans and blend well. Slowly add the confectioner's sugar, one cup at a time.

8) Once the cake has cooled, spread the frosting over the cake with a spatula. 

9) Garnish with the apple slices.

NOTES: This makes a generous amount of frosting. Any excess can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You could use the extra to dip apples, frost cinnamon rolls, or spread on cookies. To prevent your sliced apple garnish from turning brown, toss the apple slices with a bit of lemon juiced before putting them on the cake.