Spicy Apple Cake

I may have a new favourite apple cake. I purchased a copy of Country Cakes, a Homestyle Treasury by, Lisa Yockelson, 1989 for a buck at the thrift store. I liked the fact that the cakes weren't terribly fussy. While some of the techniques sound unnecessary (like sifting onto a sheet of waxed paper) I followed the directions the first time baking the cake. The result is quite good-a very moist cake that made the whole house smell good baking. I hesitate to call anything "foolproof" but this is pretty close.

You Will Need:

1 1/2 cups unsifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (I used already ground)
1/4 teaspoon allspice (this I had to grind as I don't keep the ground on hand)
1/4 teasppon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 extra large egg (room temp)
2 extra large egg yolks(room temp)
1/4 cup milk blended with 2 teaspoons vanilla extract at room temp
1 1/2 cups peeled, grated, tart cooking apples (I used Granny Smith)

Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch spring form pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves onto a large piece of waxed paper. Cream the butter on high speed for 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar and beat for 2 minutes. beat in the egg. Beat in the egg yolks. Blend in the milk/vanilla mixture, and beat for 1 minute. With the mixer on low speed, beat in half of the flour mixture and beat until all has been absorbed before adding the rest. Fold in the shredded apples. Spoon into pan and with a small spatula push about 1/4 inch of batter up on the sides of the pan to keep the batter level as it rises and bakes.

Bake the cake on the lower 1/3 of the oven (I goofed this, but it still baked fine) for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the centre clean. Cake will begin to pull away from sides when done. Note-I put the cake on a baking sheet to catch any drips-do as you think best.

Cool cake 10 minutes in pan, then remove ring and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving in wedges.