Apple Walnut Bundt Cake

November 8, 2018

Apple Walnut Bundt Cake (Matthew Septimus)

Serves 12 to 14

This is the perfect apple cake for the fall season, but it can be enjoyed any time of the year. It is great to have this Bundt cake in your repertoire as it is easy to make and stays moist and flavorful for 5 days at room temperature, up to 10 days refrigerated. Because it is made with oil, it can be enjoyed at room temperature or cold. The caramel glaze is an optional but fabulous accompaniment.

Ingredients

OVEN TEMPERATURE: 350°F/175°C

BAKING TIME: 50 to 60 minutes

BAKING EQUIPMENT: The pan must be a minimum 12 cup capacity, such as a Nordic Ware Anniversary Bundt Pan with 10 to 15 cup capacity, or a 12 cup Bundt pan, coated with baking spray with flour; or a 16 cup two-piece angel food pan, bottom lined with parchment, then coated with baking spray with flour

150 grams or ½ cup plus 1½ tablespoons (140 ml) 3 large eggs

100 grams or 1 cup walnut halves

300 grams or 2½ cups (lightly spooned into the cup and leveled off) bleached all-purpose flour

5.5 grams or 1 teaspoon baking soda

6 grams or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

4.4 grams or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

525 grams (diced) or 4 cups (diced) 4 large tart apples, 657 grams/1½ pounds

269 grams or 1¼ cups (296 ml) canola or safflower oil

200 grams or 1 cup granulated sugar

163 grams or ¾ cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons (10 ml) or pure vanilla extract

Steps

PREHEAT THE OVEN

Twenty minutes or longer before toasting the walnuts, set an oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Set the oven at 350ºF/175ºC.

MISE EN PLACE

Thirty minutes to 1 hour ahead, set the eggs on the counter at room temperature (65º to 75ºF/19º to 24ºC).
TOAST AND CHOP THE WALNUTS: Spread the walnuts evenly on a cookie sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Turn the walnuts onto a clean dish town and roll and rub them around to loosen the skins. Discard any loose skins and let the nuts cool completely. Chop medium coarse.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Peel, core, and cut the apples into ¹⁄8 to ¼ inch dice.

MAKE THE BATTER

Into the bowl of a stand mixer, weigh or measure the eggs. Add the oil, granulated and brown sugars, and the vanilla. Attach the flat beater and beat on medium speed for 1 minute, until blended.
Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed for 20 seconds, just until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Detach the bowl from the stand and with a large spoon stir in the apples and walnuts. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.

BAKE THE CAKE

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a wire cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly in the center.

COOL THE CAKE

Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. If using a straight sided pan, run a metal spatula between the sides of the pan and the cake. Invert the cake onto a wire rack that has been lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray and cool completely for about 1½ hours.

STORE AIRTIGHT: room temperature, 5 days; refrigerated, 10 days; frozen, 2 months.

Make This Recipe Your Own: Drizzle Caramel Sauce and Glaze over the cake after unmolding.

APPLES: For baking it is best to choose tart apples with a low water content so that they hold their shape after softening on baking. If a recipe calls for several apples, it is great to use a combination. Some of my favorites are Macoun, Rhode Island Greening, Empire, and Cortland. To get perfect slices for a galette, cut the apple in half and use a melon baller to remove the core.