Spiced Apple Coffee Cake

Spiced Apple Coffee Cake

(Adapted from Williams -Sonoma Collection Series: Muffins)

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3 granny smith apples (1 lb total, peeled, cored, and thickly sliced)

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs, at room temperature

Protocol

1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F. Grease a 9 in springform.

2. Whisk together the dry ingredients.

3. Toss the apples in lemon juice to prevent browning, in a separate bowl combine the brown sugar, cardamom and cinnamon. Add to the apples and toss to coat.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer with a flat paddle cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and add the eggs one at a time. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides again and add the flour mixture in 2 to 3 additions depending on the mixer.

5. In the bottom of your springform pan place make an even layer of the apples that were tossed in the sugar. (Sorry I neglected to take a photo!) Then spread the batter on top.

6. Bake until the is golden brown and a toothpick that is inserted will come out clean, approx. 60 to 70 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes.

7. De-mold from your springform and transfer to a platter. This works really well with some whipped cream.