14 / October 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Brown Sugar Apple Upside Down Cake
With Apple Cider Caramel and Spiced Walnuts
From Cathe Race, longtime Aptos resident who suggests this as a holiday treat – thank you Cathe! ••• Makes one 8 inch cake Apple Cider Caramel 1 quart apple cider 1 Tbsp butter 1 /2 tsp salt In a large pot, bring the apple cider to a boil. Reduce heat slightly, and simmer the cider until it reduces to about a cup. Do not stir the cider after this point (it may crystallize if over-agitated). Continue to reduce the cider until it begins to get thick and caramelize. When the caramel is thick and could coat a spoon, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the butter and salt. Spread half of the caramel at the bottom of a greased 8 inch cake pan. Reserve the other half of the caramel. ~~~ Brown Sugar Apple Upside Down Cake 2 Honeycrisp apples, quartered, cored, and very thinly sliced (about 1/8 inch thick) 5 oz butter 1 1/3 cup dark brown sugar 2 eggs 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1 /2 cup whole milk 1 /4 cup heavy cream 2 cups all purpose flour 3 /4 tsp salt 1 /2 tsp baking powder 1 /2 tsp baking soda Fan the apples into the base of the prepared cake pan (with caramel in the base) into a circle, with the points of the apples going to the center. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping well after each addition. Add the vanilla, mix to combine.
Alternately add the milk/heavy cream and the dry ingredients, mixing just to combine. Scoop the prepared batter the pan atop the apples. Bake at 350 until baked through, about 15-25 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Serve the cake warm, topped with reserved apple cider caramel and the spiced walnuts. ~~~ Spiced Walnuts 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 1 tsp cinnamon 1 /2 tsp nutmeg 1 /4 tsp cloves Heat a small pan over medium heat. Add the walnuts, and toast, tossing occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and continue to cook, tossing to coat. Let cool completely before using them to garnish the finished cake. n
Share A Recipe!
D
o you have a recipe that is a family favorite? Or maybe one from your childhood you would like to share? The Capitola-Soquel Times will be publishing one recipe each issue from a community member. Feel free to add a little history to the recipe if you want (approximately 75 words). Every issue we will randomly choose a recipe to publish. Find your favorite and send it to cathe@cyber-times.com today!
