When I first saw this recipe in real simple I fell in love with it. I usually fall in love with recipes either King Arthur flour blog site or all recipes when they have very high reviews, but usually not any other sites. It is a really simple cake with apple and molasses as star ingredients.
At first I thought instead of molasses, I can try with Jaggery (unrefined sugar). However, I was not sure about the quantities that I need to use so skipped this time and tried to follow the original recipe. One good thing about this recipe is it is diary free. It uses oil instead of butter. It also uses fresh grated ginger, which is rarely used in cakes. This is a simple cake and if you like the taste of molasses and fresh ginger it is going to be a tasty cake for you.
I used Granny smith apple as it mentioned in the original recipe. My hubby likes granny smith apples but myself or the little one are not a fan of it because it tastes more tart than sweet. I like to bake with it compared to any other apples. I cut them in chunks, but if you want, you can grate them too. I spiced the cake a little more than the original recipe with extra spices like nutmeg, cardamom and even black pepper. I also substituted with half white whole wheat flour. I made this cake during a weekend, when one of our friends visited. I served this cake and they liked it a lot.
It is not so sweet, but moist best when it is warm. There are some cake recipes you want to repeat more often, and this one of that kind. I am going to make them whenever I get a chance. Next time I am going to try with jaggery, my favorite form of sugar. Here is the recipe, if you get a chance try this one.
One year ago: Aloo Methi Masala/Potato cooked with fenugreek leaves
Two year ago: South African crunchies
Print recipe from here
What you need
Unbleached All purpose flour: 1 cup
White whole wheat flour: 1 cup
Olive oil: ½ cup (I used light baking one)
Boling water: ½ cup
Egg: 1 no
Molasses: ½ cup (I used Grandma’s)
Packed light brown sugar: ½ cup
Baking soda: 1 ½ teaspoon
Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
Ground cloves: ½ teaspoon
Ground Nutmeg: ½ teaspoon
Black pepper: ⅛ teaspoon
Cardamom: 2 no
Sea salt: ½ teaspoon
Freshly grated ginger: 1 tablespoon
Granny smith Apple: 2 no (Pitted cored and chopped into chunks)
How I made
Preheat oven to 350° F. Oil a 9-inch round cake pan, line the bottom with a parchment circle, oil again, and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, nutmeg cardamom and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, molasses, brown sugar, egg, ginger, and ½ cup boiling water. Add to the flour mixture and whisk until just combined (do not over mix). Fold in the apples.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, and then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
Enjoy; if you want you serve them dusted with confectionery sugar
Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 9 inch cake
Verdict: Moist cake
Will you make it again: Yes I will
I am linking this delicious cake to Hearth and Soul blog hop # 99 hosted here.
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Hamsamalini Chandrasekaran says
Wonderful preparation and love the new flavour of adding spice in cake.
http://www.indianrecipecorner.com
Rekha says
looks fabulous and wonderful cake..
http://indiantastyfoodrecipes.blogspot.com
Rani acharyulu says
Wow what a wonderful spiced cake looks so inviting.
Dara Reppucci says
I love baking with molasses, it adds flavor and sweetness. Beautiful cake!
Harini says
Wow looks so delicious 🙂 And wonderful pictures as well.
You have a great blog.!
Rebecca Subbiah says
looks so good, very moravian the cultural food of winston salem NC where I live
Shanthi says
Looks incredible and super tempting..
Sayantani says
unique recipe. love the soft and delicious cake.
SerenaB says
Mmmm..I love granny smith apples! This cake looks divine! All I need is a cup of tea and a slice of this and I would be content! Have a fabulous weekend!
Angie's Recipes says
I still have a whole bottle of molasses sitting in the cupboard. This is a perfect recipe to use it up. Yummy!
Shabbu says
yummy and tempting cake..
Shabbu's Tasty Kitchen
Oishii Treats says
Sounds like a wonderful combo, I haven't had a apple cake in a long time. looks delicious I'm going to bookmark for later. thanks for sharing! =)
PT says
never tasted spicy cake before.. it looks delicious.. glad to follow you.. do stop by mine sometime..
http://jopreet.blogspot.com/
Divya Pramil says
Cake looks so moist and so soft.. Would love to grab a piece 🙂 Happy to follow you..
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hemalata says
Yummy cake, looks so spongy n moist.
Ganga Sreekanth says
Tempting n delicious
Vidhya says
Love the pictures and the explanation.
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Delicious Adventures says
That cake looks absolutely yummy...thanks for your lovely comments on my space (http://megdeliciousadventures.blogspot.in/)
Cathleen says
Yum! looks tasty!
I have never bought molasses. I have always used corn syrup instead, I wonder it tastes significantly different. I should try it sometime!
Happy Cook / Finla says
I love cakes like this and yours look so good.
Anu says
It is something new for me..but still looks so delicious...yummy
Rebecca Subbiah says
lovely cake with a cuppa
Carole says
Great post. I was wondering if you would like to put up a link to this apple recipe in my Food on Friday Series.
Carole says
Great that you linked this in. Have a nice week.
Reshmi Mahesh says
Delicious flavorful cake...
Vandana Rajesh says
The cake looks so delicious and lovely texture and so full of flavours.
Shobha says
The cake looks so rich and awesome..I am not really fond of sweets but I love spiced cakes.
Home Cooked Oriya Food says
awesome cake... love it...
kala says
wowww this looks reallyy yummyyyyyyyyy
Julia says
Wow, I love it, Looks realy delicious!! Thaks for sharing!!
cookingvarieties says
hi swathi, first time i really read this apple-molasses spice cake and as i read the ingredients, i find it interesting to have a spicy taste and towards the end, i just felt hungry. ha ha have a nice day
Miriam says
Beautiful cake Swathi, love it!
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Jay says
wow..yummy n healthy version..;P
Tasty Appetite
Jill | Dulce Dough says
I love spice cake, and this one looks fantastic!
Tina (PinayInTexas) says
Delicious looking cake! Would love a slice of it right now!
Happy Mother's Day, Swathi!
Nitha says
delicious cake
radha says
What a perfect slice! The molasses must have added a different flavour altogether
Rosita Vargas says
Rico pastel muy lindo color y esponjoso luce luce maravilloso,abrazos hugs,hugs.
Navaneetham Krishnan says
Love the spicy version of this cake and looks so good and spongy.
Treatntrick treatntrick says
The color of this cake is so inviting! Love the use of ginger in them!
Reeni says
I love the rich flavors of the wheat flour, molasses and spices in this cake! Wonderful flavors to wrap around apples!
The 21st Century Housewife© says
This cake sounds wonderful, Swathi. It's one of those lovely old fashioned recipes that always taste best, and your cake looks absolutely delicious.
Az says
looks really yummy!
Lizzy says
This looks so moist and fabulous!!! I just love apple cake 🙂
G.Pavani says
yummy n soft cake with lovely spices..
Hamsamalini Chandrasekaran says
Great preparation and love the flavour.
Hamsamalini Chandrasekaran,
http://www.indianrecipecorner.com
Padhu says
Wow the cake looks so inviting.
ANU says
very new and inviting...luv the flavor of molases...
Alea Milham says
This cake looks so delicious! I love the spices you have used to flavor this cake.
Suja Manoj says
Lovely cake Swathi,love the texture and color..soft and yummy cake
Judy@SavoringToday says
Mmm, looks moist and yummy. I'll bet you could use all white whole wheat flour -- I've used it for everything from cookies to cakes with excellent results.
Elisabeth says
What a lovely, and delicious apple cake, Swathi. The mollases give it a nice color, flavor, and texture to it! A keeper:DDD
Sravs says
Rightly baked and looks so moist and appealing cake !!
Ongoing event CC:Mom’s Recipe
garlutti says
Swathi OH that is your beautiful princess ... congratulations. This apple pie is fantastic and molasses are those species delicious kisses .. uhmmmm Marimi
Priya says
Mindblowing cake,looks super moist,yummy and quite inviting.
Spice up the Curry says
texture of the cake is so perfect. delicious looking pics.
Hema says
Love that rich color of the cake, awesome..
Kaveri Venkatesh says
Looks awesome Swathi...love the addition of ginger and other spices to it
Premalatha Aravindhan says
wow such flavourful cake,i want that slice:)
Hari Chandana says
Wowwwwww.. looks super delicious and awesome.. inviting pictures 🙂
Indian Cuisine
Aruna Manikandan says
cake looks delicious and very tempting dear 🙂
Gayathri NG says
Looks new flavor and delicious, wonderful preparation...
Heather says
I do not have fresh ginger so how much should I use in dried? Also what does no mean Cardamom? Thank you for your help. I love apples and would love to make this for my family tonight with our pork chops dinner?
Swathi says
Heather,
Yes you can substitute dried ginger to fresh. Use 1 teaspoon of dry ginger. If don't have cardamom use nutmeg if you have otherwise simply skip it. I will appreciate if you get back with me your feed back.