I made the applesauce for the cake last night and everything seemed to be going well. It was the first time I have ever made homemade apple sauce and it tasted so good. And the smell! The apples cooking in cinnamon and brown sugar on the stove is a perfect aroma to put you in the mood for fall.
I didn't make the cake until this morning and as it is with cakes that I really want to turn out, everything seemed to go wrong. I decided to make a two layer cake instead of a 3 layer that the recipe calls for, so I halved the recipe and made the layers in two 8-inch pans. So far so good. Then I made the caramel and that turned out pretty good. But when I went to take my cake layers out of the pan, one of the layers fell apart. Probably because I didn't let them cool enough because I was in a rush this morning.
I next made the buttercream frosting and what a disappointment. I have not mastered the type of frosting you cook first. I definitely need more practice. I chilled the frosting in the refrigerator for awhile to firm a little and then spread the frosting on the unbroken layer and put a dollop of frosting on some of the broken pieces of cake and drizzled with the caramel.
John, of course, loves it plain and this time I have to agree with him. It was just too sweet with the frosting and caramel - even for me. I do want to try making this cake again and definitely try the caramel buttercream frosting again. It tastes really good, but just didn't have the consistency of light, fluffy frosting.
The BAKED Sunday Mornings link for the Caramel Apple Cake is not up, but I hope you'll visit the We Bake to Remember post and see what bakers made in remembrance of 9/11.
It's so hard to believe that ten years have passed. We will never, ever forget.
MMM. Applesauce - love it in baked goods. That cake looks adorable - cracks and all. I think it would be good with just caramel don't you? A simple fitting tribute!
ReplyDeleteI rarely make frosting, and never tried the cooked version either. Looks like too much work!
ReplyDeleteI haven't mastered this cooked version of frosting yet either!
ReplyDeleteI think this cake would be fantastic plain.
Caramel and frosting...the cake sounds terrific.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful sentiment, Elaine-- I like the idea of baking for remembrance.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the buttercream although the cake still looks fabulous and delicious! It is so frustrating when you do a multi-step recipe and it doesn't go the way you want. I had that happen to me recently with a caramel frosting and I was SO disappointed.
I love this bake to remember initiative! Even though your cake didn't turn out as you had hoped, it still looks delicious, and I would totally eat a piece :)
ReplyDeleteElaine, your cake looks heavenly! I am sure I would love it plain, also...apples, cinnamon and caramel--bring on fall flavors! Sorry about the buttercream, I have not perfected that either. I am sure it was delicious, though! Also love the sentiment of baking to remember....what a terrific idea and how special! I agree...it really is hard to believe that was 10 yrs ago. Perfect tribute! xo
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious! A great cake for remembrance.
ReplyDeleteSorry it didn't turn out, but it sounds incredible. Hope you try again and this time it's perfect!
ReplyDeleteDelicious flavors, even if it didn't turn out perfect. Mmmm.
ReplyDeleteMy frosting was a disaster...I was in a hurry and so, of course, it was not working for me. I want to use this recipe to make cupcakes later this week. I know my family will like them, and with all the powdered sugar I kept adding to make my frosting spreadable, I have TONS of frosting already make for my cupcakes. I'll just have to try it again later. The cake is great.
ReplyDeleteMmm, cake looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful thing to do. Wish I would have seen that for Sunday. Your cake looks yummy! I have a bag full of cooking apples, so will give this one a try. I've never tried the cooked frosting either.
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds absolutely delicious Elaine - so glad that you could join us!
ReplyDeleteElaine...I'm sorry you had some problems with this cake but it looks great in your photo! Every time I've tried to make the buttercream frosting from this book I've run into problems. I'm not sure what it is. Sorry I wasn't able to bake this week end.
ReplyDeleteYour apple cake looks good to me but I know it can be disappointing when something doesn't turn out the way we like!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice way to acknowledge the day. Sharing food is healing. There's something so appropriate about turning the broken pieces of cake into a lovely dessert.
ReplyDeleteHi, Elaine! I missed your post, too! I wish we could get the regular site running again. I am so with you on that frosting! I had to give up on my Grasshopper Bars because of it! I tossed the brownie layer & used the Ganache to frost a cake...I'd like to say practice makes perfect, but I think I'm over this method! It takes way too much time to make and not be happy with.
ReplyDeleteI can empathize with taking the cake out of the pan too early - I frosted my cake when it was still too warm! Ah - we are such perfectionists, aren't we? It tasted amazing, anyway!
What a great tribute...I agree with Teresa: sharing food is healing. Sorry about all the glitches, but your end result looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet tribute- literally and figuratively! The cake looks terrific and was a great comfort, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to acknowledge 9/11, Elaine. I find it hard to believe that 10 years have passed already. I still remember the day so vividly. And, also I remember coming home from work that evening, emotionally drained from listening to the news all day. I declared "I need to cook". I so agree with Teresa that sharing food is healing. It certainly helped me get to tomorrow after that awful day.
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