Happy Bundt Day!

Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce 

Yesterday was Nordic Ware's National Bundt Day. If you're not familiar with Nordic Ware, they make high quality bake ware and with really interesting designs. You can always count on major department stores like Target or Walmart carrying their designs during the holidays. I bought this pumpkin cake pan three weeks ago and can't wait to use it. 

They even have more intricate pans as well like this turkey pan. Can you imagine a turkey cake for Thanksgiving? Too cute! 

Today I decided to use my classic bundt pan, and try a new apple cake recipe. Going along with the "Apple a Day" theme this month, this cake recipe fit right in. I altered the recipe a bit to fit what I had on hand. I also omitted using oil all together, and replaced it with apple butter (recipe coming soon). The cake came out beautifully. Dense, super moist, with bits of sweet apples and nuts. This cake is pretty good on it's own, but in my opinion don't omit the caramel sauce! I couldn't stop licking my fingers as the sauce oozed down the cake board. The recipe does make more sauce than you need. When the cake is still warm, punch holes in the cake with a wooden skewer. Pour 1/3 of the sauce over the cake allowing the cake to adsorb it. Save the remaining sauce for when you serve the cake and for presentation. With the nights getting colder, this cake with a cup of coffee or tea will hit the spot, guaranteed. 

Adapted from allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS : 

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Apple butter (if you don't have apple butter, apple sauce can be used) 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 cups chopped, peeled apples
• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnut.(I used a mix of both) 
• 
  
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 heavy cream (you can substitute for milk) 
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• Pinch salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until foamy; gradually add both sugars. Blend in apple butter or apple sauce and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; add to egg mixture. Stir in apples and nuts. Pour into a greased 10-in. tube pan; bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the cake tests done. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake to a serving platter.
2. For topping, combine all ingredients in a saucepan; boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly pour over warm cake (some topping will run down onto the serving plate.)