Description
Seasonal bounty meets sweet indulgence in this Apple Harvest Pound Cake with Caramel Glaze, a delightful dessert celebrating autumn’s rich flavors. Warm spices and tender apples meld perfectly, inviting you to savor each luxurious, golden-glazed slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup chopped apples
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and thoroughly coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, whisking to eliminate any lumps and ensure even distribution.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and develops a fluffy texture, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then blend in vanilla extract until fully integrated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with apple cider to maintain a smooth, consistent batter.
- Gently fold chopped apples and walnuts into the batter, ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly and creating a slight dome in the center for uniform rising.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean with minimal crumbs.
- Allow the cake to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, which helps it set and prevents breaking when removing.
- Carefully transfer the cake to a wire rack and let it cool completely before applying caramel glaze.
Notes
- Select firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness in the cake.
- Toast walnuts briefly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and create a crunchier texture.
- Adjust moisture by draining excess liquid from chopped apples to prevent a soggy cake bottom.
- Consider gluten-free flour blend as a direct substitute for all-purpose flour for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 402 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg