Long Lasting Apple Loaf Cake Recipe

September 10, 2023 12:07 PM

We just went apple picking this morning, and the kids picked a TON of amazing crimson crisp apples.

We're traveling by car to family for Rosh Hashanah, and would like to bring the kind of cake loaves that get better the longer they sit out. I don't have apple heavy go to recipes for this.
Do you?
I'd like to use as many actual just picked apples as possible. In my head it's some version of my awesome banana bread that sits out as people walk by and take one more slice until it's gone.

posted by atomicstone to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

"Traveling by car" is about 6 hrs, but we have plenty of room for coolers etc. I just meant we aren't restricted by an airplane.
posted by atomicstone at 12:09 PM on September 10, 2023

It wants a 9x13 pan, but the best cake for RH, which does get better with sitting, is the Apple Hill cake. I modify it slightly (subbing in some baking powder for half the baking soda + adding some lemon juice, because I hate baking soda and want to minimize and neutralize it) but you really cannot go wrong with this, even just as it is. (Most people don't have my baking soda issues.)

You are probably wondering if you can just put it in loaf pans. I'm going to say no, I think it is too soft to become a loaf: also, it has a sweet-crisp top layer that forms in the oven, so it's best in squares where you can get a decent amount of that top part. But it is a casual cake that can live happily on the counter and have people take squares. And if you're traveling you can easily bake it in a disposable pan and leave it in.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:19 PM on September 10, 2023

This one can be baked in two loaf pans (see comments) and uses 6 apples. Or you can halve the recipe and use 3 apples and 1 loaf pan. Definitely stands up to resting / hanging out on the counter for a few days. It's very good and I think it's the recipe I've found in this genre that uses the most apples!

For extra credit, I know it's not exactly what you asked for as it's not a loaf and only uses 4 apples, but did want to share my favorite Rosh Hashanah / apple picking / fall cake. It's easy, looks incredibly beautiful and impressive, and also improves with a day or two of sitting out on the counter. The salty honey glaze really puts it over the top.
posted by sparkling at 12:38 PM on September 10, 2023

I often just use my banana bread recipe and swap in minced apple instead of the banana. Works great.
posted by Rhedyn at 12:45 PM on September 10, 2023

Claire Saffitz has a Honey-Roasted Apple Cake that is best the 2nd day and uses 5 apples. It's in her What's for Dessert cookbook but you can also find the recipe on her YouTube channel. Probably could adapt to cooking in loaf pans if desired.
posted by macfly at 2:49 PM on September 10, 2023

I have this FANTASTIC cookbook of simple cakes - Snacking Cakes, which is nothing but those simple, homey, have-a-slice-with-some-milk-after-school kind of cakes. The recipes are all adaptable from 8x8 pans into loaf pans with ease. It has an apple-heavy cake called the "Mostly Apples" cake which I made this past weekend and which has lasted quite a while, and which I've served to multiple people over the past several days and they all loved it. And - best of all, someone has reprinted the recipe on Medium here. (Note that the recipe calls for an optional splash of whiskey just for flavoring; I made two cakes last weekend, one with the whiskey and one without, and both were equally enjoyed by all diners.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:43 PM on September 10, 2023

The Smitten Kitchen recipe sparkling linked and the Snacking Cakes one EmpressCallipygos linked are both hella good and at least the Smitten Kitchen one lasts long enough for our two-person household to finish it before it goes bad, which is not always a thing. Everyone needs the Snacking Cakes book, no joke. Or maybe I just have a cake problem.
posted by charmedimsure at 6:08 PM on September 10, 2023

I ended up making the Smitten Kitchen Mom's Apple Cake. I'm a devotee and she's never steered me wrong. She didn't this time either.
Everyone loved it. I thought I might add some other warming spices besides cinnamon next time, but I'm a tinkerer. I used crimson crisp apples the kids picked last weekend, and oil, no nuts (I think walnuts would be delicious). 2 piece tube pan/angel food cake pan. Made Wednesday night, served Friday night. Several requests for the recipe, happily provided
posted by atomicstone at 8:24 PM on September 17, 2023

Also, I came back to say I just bought the snacking cakes cookbook! Can't wait for its arrival!
posted by atomicstone at 12:17 PM on September 27, 2023

Also, I came back to say I just bought the snacking cakes cookbook!

I can also recommend the chocolate/beet/orange cake and the pumpkin/chocolate cake with Mexican hot chocolate spices. I also tried throwing a handful of peanut butter chips into the latest apple cake incarnation.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:45 PM on September 27, 2023

Ooooooh yeah….do the grapefruit and white chocolate (even if you are not a white choclate person, I am not either!), and the donut cake.
posted by charmedimsure at 1:21 PM on September 27, 2023