This rich, moist cake brings in the classic spices of the fall season while spotlighting the apple at its core.
Ingredients
Batter
1cup (227 grams)unsalted butter, softened
1cup (220 grams)granulated sugar
1/3cup (73 grams)firmly packed light brown sugar
3large eggs (150 grams),room temperature
1teaspoon (4 grams)vanilla extract
2large firm sweet apples (578 grams) (see Note),peeled and cored
3cups (375 grams)all-purpose flour
2teaspoons (10 grams)baking powder
2teaspoons (4 grams)ground cinnamon
3/4teaspoon (2.25 grams)kosher salt
1/2teaspoons (1 gram)ground ginger
1/4teaspoon (1.25 grams)baking soda
1/4teaspoonground nutmeg
Swirl
4ounces (113 grams)cream cheese, softened
1/4cup (30 grams)confectioners' sugar
1tablespoon (8 grams)all-purpose flour
1large egg yolk (19 grams),room temperature
Glaze
1cup (120 grams)confectioners' sugar
3tablespoons (45 grams)heavy whipping cream
1tablespoon (21 grams)light corn syrup
Garnish
Toasted pecans
Instructions
For swirl: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add confectioners’ sugar, flour, and egg yolk; beat until smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
For batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugars at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
Using the large holes of a box grater, shred apples. Coarsely chop shredded apples. Add apples to batter, and beat at low speed until combined.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, baking soda, and nutmeg. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to apple mixture, beating just until combined.
Spray a 10-cup Bundt pan with baking spray with flour. Spoon two-thirds of batter (about 4 cups or 965 grams) into prepared pan. Using a small rubber spatula or the back of a spoon, make a trench in batter in pan, avoiding edges of pan. Spoon swirl mixture into trench. Top with remaining batter. Using a knife, gently pull blade back and forth through batter and swirl. Smooth top of batter. Firmly tap pan on a kitchen towel-lined counter 7 to 10 times to settle batter and release any air bubbles.
Bake until a wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean, 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto a wire rack, and let cool completely.
For glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, cream, and corn syrup until smooth. Spoon glaze onto cooled cake. Garnish with pecans, if desired. Refrigerate cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, andeven Granny Smith apples all work great in this cake.