CHRISTMAS RECIPES > CHRISTMAS CAKES

Apple Butter Cake

Making Apple Butter

Apple butter is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch fruit spread. Cut up apples or apple pulp are cooked with apple cider and spices to a thick dark paste. Years ago, large batches were made in a huge crock in the oven of a coal stove. Several days were needed for thickening.

Now many manufacturers market apple butter commercially. No longer considered just a spread, it can be a pleasing sweet accompaniment or a recipe ingredient.

Apple Butter Recipe:

Core and quarter 6 pounds of unpeeled tart apples and cook with 6 cups apple cider in a large heavy saucepan until soft. Press this mixture through a food mill. Boil gently for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in 3 cups of sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of ground cloves. Cook over low heat until the sugar completely dissolves. Boil gently, stirring frequently, until desired thickness. Pour this mixture into hot ½ pint jars, adjust the lids and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Apple Butter Cake:

½ cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cups apple butter
2 ½ cups sifted cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup sour milk
Frosting

Cream together the shortening and the sugar. Next add the eggs. Beat until the mixture is completely creamed together. Stir in 1 cup apple butter. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, the salt, cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Add the flour mixture to this mixture alternately with the sour milk.

Turn the batter into two greased and floured cake pans. Bake the cake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Let the cake cool before trying to remove from the pans.

Spread one layer of cooled cake with ¼ cup of remaining apple butter. Top with part of the frosting. Cover with the second cake payer and frost the sides and the top of the cake with the remaining frosting. Swirl the remaining apple butter onto top of the frosted cake giving it a marbled effect.