Holiday Apple Cake

5-6 apples, mixed varieties, peeled and chopped

5 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. allspice

¼ tsp. ground ginger

cake batter:

2 cups sugar

3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 cup neutral oil (canola, sunflower, safflower)

4 eggs

¼ cup orange or apple juice

2 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a 10 “ tube pan.

In a medium bowl, toss apples with sugar, cinnamon, allspice and ginger. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, with hand held mixer, beat together the rest of the ingredients listed under cake batter. Integrate until smooth and thick.

Pour half of the cake batter into the tube pan.

Using approximately half of the seasoned apple mixture, place the apples over the batter, trying to keep them away from the walls of the pan.

Pour the remaining cake batter over the apple layer, distributing the batter as evenly as possible .

Top the batter with remaining apples.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/4-1 1/2 hours,until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Cool cake on a cooling rack. Be sure it is completely cool before removing it from the pan.

This apple cake is even better on the day after you’ve baked it so don’t hesitate to get on a jump on it. To store: cover loosely with foil at room temperature.