Apple Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

By Texaschef11

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups peeled and chopped (1/3 inch pieces) Granny Smith apples (about 2 apples)
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• Maple cream cheese frosting (recipe follows)

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 inch square baking pan with baking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until light, about 1 minute.
Add the brown sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and well blended, about 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla extract.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk in 2 additions. Beat until just blended.
Stir in the apples and walnuts by hand.
Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth with a rubber spatula.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
Cool the cake completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Frost with maple frosting, cut into squares, serve and enjoy!


Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from The Cake Book

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Ingredients:

6 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon maple extract
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of salt
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth.
Beat in the extracts, spices and salt.
Reduce speed to low, gradually add powdered sugar and beat until well blended.
Raise speed to high and beat until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.