#660 - Amish Apple Cake

My mom made Amish Apple Cake for us 2 times when she was here.  It's super easy and tastes amazing!

Amish Apple Cake
makes 9x13 pan, preheat oven to 350 degrees
1 cup pecans, chopped
5 cups cooking apples, chopped medium sized (I used 5 large Granny Smith apples)
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons grated nutmeg
2 cups flour (I used cake flour, but I think regular ap flour should work perfect too)

Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.  Beat in eggs.  Mix in baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Add flour until blended.  Stir in apples and nuts. Pour in greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 30-45 minutes until center top springs back when touched.

You can also make a caramel sauce to drizzle on top, but there is no need for this, it's amazing without it.

It gets better with age too.

#659 - Candy Cane Crisps

I got this recipe from my friend Marie.  It's a great recipe to use up all your old candy canes from Christmas. They could even be a good Valentine cookie if you like peppermint flavor.

candy cane crisps

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup coarsely crushed candy canes (I blended mine in a blender to get more of a powdery candy cane)

IN a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup of the sugar until creamy; beat in vanilla. In another bowl, stir together flour, oats, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly. Add ¼ cup of the crushed candy canes and mix until well combined.

ROLL dough into ¾ inch balls, then roll in remaining powdered sugar to coat. Place balls about 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Flatten cookies with a fork, making crisscross patterns with fork tines. Sprinkle each with about ½ teaspoon crushed candy canes.

BAKE in a 325 oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to racks and let cool completely. Store airtight. Makes about 4 dozen.