By Andy Bedwell
Henry’s Apple Cake
1 1/2 cups Crisco oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups plain flour
3 cups peeled and chopped apples
(I always use Granny Smith for cooking)
1 cup chopped pecans
Mix ingredients together (except apples and nuts) in a large bowl and mix. Do not use a mixer. After batter is really smooth, add apples and nuts. The batter will be stiff. Spoon in a greased and floured tube pan or two loaf pans at 325 degrees for one hour and 10 minutes.
Sauce:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 stick butter
Mix and cook for 3-5 minutes. Pour over cake when you take it out of the oven. Let it set for two hours before removing from pan.
Andy’s Note: This cake is so much like a fruitcake but much better because of the apples. My uncle Henry McCleskey LOVED this cake. When I would ask him what kind of cake that he wanted for his birthday he would always say, “That cake with all the pecans.” I just had to name this cake in memory of my Uncle Henry.
Million Dollar Apple Bars
2 1/4 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup butter, melted
2 beaten egg yolks
4 medium apples, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 slightly beaten egg white
Combine two cups flour and one-half cup sugar and cut in butter until crumbs are the size of small peas. Stir in egg yolks. Divide mixture in half and press one-half on the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Combine apples, remaining sugar, flour and cinnamon. Arrange over the bottom crust. Crumble remaining crust over apples. Brush egg whites over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cool. Drizzle with thin powdered sugar icing. I just mix a little milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla flavoring for my glaze.
Andy’s Note: This is one of the three recipes that I entered in the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1994. I didn’t win anything, of course, but I hope you will enjoy this recipe. I still think it is the Best of the Best Apple Dessert.
I am sharing with you two of my favorite recipes!
Happy Cooking,
Andy
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” may be purchased at The Messenger newspaper located at 1957 Rainbow Drive.