Thursday, October 8, 2009

Apple Coffee Cake




Fall is finally here!  When I think of Fall I think of apples, pumpkins and all the yummy baked goods that can be made with them.  It's funny because I'm not a good baker but when Fall comes around I get excited about baking for a little while.  I'm not a huge fan of pies so when I saw this recipe by Giovanna at For My Three Little Monkeys, I knew I had to try it.  It's an apple coffee cake and has everything I'm looking for in a Fall recipe.  It's not a pie, has apples and it's not difficult!  What's great about this recipe is that even if you don't like cooked apples you can leave them out and have a fabulous coffee cake.  The ricotta makes this cake so moist that three days later it still tastes like I just pulled it out of the oven. This is a recipe that's going to stay with me a long time. It's the best cake I've ever made!  Can you tell that I'm excited? 

I made the recipe exactly as written except I left out the shortening and used all butter and accidentally put the pecans in the food processor (oops).  It worked out perfectly.  I hope you try this recipe and go check out Giovanna's blog.  She has more great recipes like this one!




Apple Coffee Cake

Source: For My Three Little Monkeys

Ingredients:

2 cooking apples; peeled, cored, and chopped
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup ricotta cheese

*** Streusel ***

2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
4 Tbsp. butter; cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp. shortening; cut into small pieces
1/2 cup pecan pieces

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter. Combine all streusel ingredients except butter, shortening and pecans in a food processor. Add butter and shortening. Pulse about 10 times then process for 5 to 10 seconds until there are no visible lumps of fat.

Peel and chop apples and toss with lemon juice. Set aside.

Mix together 1 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, soda and salt in a medium bowl.

Using an electric mixer beat 1/2 cup butter and the sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and ricotta cheese to batter. Mix on low speed after each addition until combined.

Spread 1/2 of the batter into the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the streusel mixture and then the diced apples. Spoon remaining batter over apples. It will not spread smoothly so be gentle and use dollops of batter. Sprinkle with remaining topping and nuts.

Bake 45-50 minutes more or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool at least 1 hour on a wire rack.





29 comments:

Nelly Elliott said...

Wow! That does look yummy! A definate departure from my usual baking but i may have to give that a go!

Giovanna said...

Thanks Michele! I am so glad you like it. Since my computer melt down I will have to try to repost all my recipes from before! This cake is also great with made with cooking pears. Ciao!

Bob said...

Holy crap! That looks wicked good. I love apple coffee cake, I'm definitely trying it next time my girlfriend goes apple picking.

Carolyn said...

I am so trying this this weekend!!! YUMMY!

Unknown said...

omg...that looks incredible! I'd love a slice or 2 right now with my coffee!!

Dajana said...

I'm glad you're making progress baking and moreover that you're enjoying it.
The cake looks fabulous, I'm never tired of trying new apple recipes.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

This sounds and looks perfect. Love all the flavors with the apple, cinnamon and ricotta. bookmark

Heather S-G said...

mmmmmm....perfect fall coffee cake! Such a perfect autumn treat :)

Kathy said...

Looks delicious! I plan on baking this soon. Hope mine turns out as wonderful as your pic looks! Keep up with the great recipes! I love, love, love them!

Michele said...

Thanks everyone! I really am proud that I was able to make it and it looked almost as good as Giovanna's!

vanillasugarblog said...

I love apple when it's used in a coffee cake. I simply must try this. Everytime I come to your blog that song brings back so many memories. l'italiano vecchia scuola (old school italian)

Theresa said...

Looks so good.

Lyndas recipe box said...

Mmmmmm, this looks perfect! Wish I had a slice to go with my coffee- guess I'll have to make it!

Michelle said...

This cake looks and sounds SO good!! Who says you can't bake?!?!

DutchBakerGirl said...

Oh, Michele, I woke up to this in my email this morning. That is just cruel! What a great twist on coffee cake. I'm getting the ingredients this weekend. My MIL is going to love this too!

teresa said...

mmmm, i need apple recipes, and this looks fantastic, thanks!

Patti T. said...

I usually do not like coffee cakes because they are most times on the dry side. This one certainly does not look dry, it looks delicious. I think I will make this for hubby's lunches next week, that is if I can get him to give up brownies for a week, tee hee. His actual nickname at work is "Brownie" because he always has one in his lunch.

Jhonny walker said...

Hi Michelle,
I started reading your blog because the name caught my attention :) I want to learn good italian cooking...and seems I now know where to go.

BTW Apple coffe cake is my fave. I have it at leats once a month..you see trying to cut back calories :)

Jen_from_NJ said...

This looks so good! I need to pick up some apples. Thanks!

Stacey Snacks said...

This has to be great, because it has ricotta in it!
I love coffee or apple cakes, so I will try this!
Thanks!

Sophie said...

omg omg omg. I have to have this! Ricotta? Awesome. This look so dang moist. I'm gonna see if I can make this gluten free, I've got a big craving now. Holy cow I have to make this!!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Filing this away for AFTER I'm in the wedding requiring the skin tight bridesmaid dress. Ah ha

rosasdolcevita said...

I haven't tried this yet but I made Giovanna's roasted eggplant and it was to die for!

Pam said...

What I would give for a slice of this with my coffee right now. It looks terrific.

Spryte said...

Michele... this looks so good! I might make some this weekend!

Barbara GF said...

This recipe is just what I was looking for to use up the last of my apples. I can't wait to bake it over the weekend, which is going to be a cold and rainy one here in the valley. Thanks for sharing, Michele!

shandon said...

Oh, Michele, that looks so yummy! My apples are almost ripe, and I know what I'm going to do with them now. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

Karine said...

Your coffee cake sounds amazing! Great way to use apples.

The Blonde Duck said...

I must make this cake. Immediatley. This is all kinds of goodness.