Four-Layer Appalachian Stack Apple-Spice Cake
- 5 cups dried apples (about 3/4 pound)
- 5 cups apple cider
- 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pans
- 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
- 1. Bring apples and cider to a boil in a large pot. Reduce to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until apples begin to soften and liquid has reduced, 40 to 50 minutes. Add 1 cup water; cook, mashing apples slightly, until liquid has reduced, about 10 minutes. Add 2/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water; simmer until apples are very soft and coated in syrup, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
- 2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment paper, and butter parchment. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Set aside.
- 3. Put butter and the remaining cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low; mix in egg, molasses, buttermilk, baking soda, flour, spices, and salt.
- 4. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean and tops spring back when lightly touched, about 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans to loosen; invert to unmold. Remove parchment; reinvert onto racks. Let cool.
- 5. Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake in half horizontally. Place 1 bottom layer on a serving platter. Top with 1/3 of the apple mixture, spreading to edges. Stack 1 top layer on top of apples, and top with another 1/3 of the apple mixture. Repeat with remaining cake bottom and apples, and top with remaining cake top. Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour before serving. Sift confectioners' sugar over top of cake.
apples, apple cider, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, flour, egg, unsulfured molasses, buttermilk, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cloves, salt, confectioners
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/four-layer-appalachian-stack-apple-spice-cake-50079230 (may not work)