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We made this New England Apple Cider Cake using fresh #Walmart Produce as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars.
I’ve mentioned before that my husband Jack has been pouring through my mother’s old recipe box – and he has jokingly accused me of ‘holding out on him’ because there are so many good recipes inside!
My mother definitely had a sweet tooth, as is evident by the heavy proportion of handwritten recipes for sweet dessert recipes – like this New England Apple Cider Cake – compared to the fewer number of savory recipes in her recipe box!
And with six kids at home, plus full-time jobs held by both of my parents, easy recipes that could feed a large family were also a plus! This New England Apple Cider Cake is very easy to make and very delicious – chock full of sliced Granny Smith apples in a simple, sweet cake that gets great flavor and moisture from cinnamon, heavy cream and apple cider! This cake also has a delicious, creamy apple cider glaze that gets drizzled over the top when served! (I could eat that with a spoon!)
Back then, both of my parents also knew how to spend their money wisely…and I learned well by watching them. I’m always looking for a good value on anything I buy, and Walmart is a great, affordable place to shop for quality, farm-fresh produce – including the Granny Smith apples you’ll need for this recipe!
Right now, your local Walmart store has a wide selection of in-season produce (including apples!) and it’s all backed by their 100% satisfaction guarantee! Walmart works with local growers to ensure that all of their produce is picked at the peak of freshness, but if – for any reason – you aren’t happy with the Walmart produce you’ve purchased, simply return your produce back to the store with your receipt for a full refund.
Click here for more information about Walmart Produce that is in-season right now (including a great variety of farm-fresh apples) plus delicious recipes using in-season Walmart produce!
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
New England Apple Cider Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples (3 large or 4 small apples)
- 1 whole lemon
- 1/4 cup softened butter (4 tablespoons or half a stick)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Enough vegetable shortening to grease a 9×9-inch baking pan
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
For the Glaze
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- Vanilla Ice Cream, optional for serving
Instructions
- Place the first cup of apple cider on the stove and bring to a boil and boil until reduced to ¼ cup. Set aside to cool.
- Core and peel the apples and then cut each into 16 slices (fewer slices if using smaller apples). Have a bowl of water that has a whole lemon squeezed into it. Place apples into water and then onto a plate to dry and set aside. This will keep them from turning brown.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until well mixed.
- With the mixer running, add one egg at a time beating until smooth. Scrap sides and beat until light and fluffy, about three minutes.
- In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Measure out cream and add cooled reduced cider to cream.
- With the mixer on low, alternate adding the flour mixture and the cream/cider mixture until well combined. Scrape sides and mix until smooth.
- Grease a 9X9 square pan liberally with vegetable shortening and pour in the batter.
- Arrange the apples, outer edges up into the top of the batter.
- In a small bowl or cup, mix the sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of the cake and place in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, make the glaze.
- Place the second cup of apple cider on the stove as before only reduce down to two tablespoons. Watch it that it doesn’t evaporate too far.
- Place the confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl and add the reduced cider along with one tablespoon of milk or cream and stir. Add the last tablespoon of milk or cream a little at a time until desired consistency. It should be thick but runny enough to drizzle off the end of a spoon.
- When the cake comes out of the oven, cool to room temperature and cut into nine squares.
- Drizzle the glaze over each portion letting it run down the sides and serve.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
You may like these other posts featuring Walmart Produce:
Quick Skillet Chicken with Grapes
everyone loved this. it is worth the time it takes to reduce cider and make this. new family favorite
★★★★★
So glad to hear that the recipe was a hit Jennifer!
Hi Martha! I’ve just discovered your blog, and it is great. I will be a regular visitor now 🙂 I can’t wait to give this New England Cider Cake a try. I’m going to save myself a step and use KAF’s boiled cider which is SO delicious! Could this recipe be doubled for a 9 x 13 cake pan? Just wondering your thoughts.
Hi Michelle – We’re glad you found us! The general rule of thumb is that recipes baked in an 8×8 can be doubled to fill a 9×13 pan. This one is baked in a 9×9 and it bakes up fairly full to the top. You might end up with some extra cake batter doubling this recipe for a 9×13 or if you attempt it with all of the batter, I’d suggest having a sheet tray under your pan in case of overflow while it bakes. (The bake time will likely differ too.) If you try it, please let us know how it comes out!
Can you add pecans or walnuts
Hi Andrew – we haven’t tried doing so ourselves, but I don’t see a reason why you couldn’t add nuts to the cake. (I’m not sure if it would impact how the cake rises in the oven?) If you try it, please let us know how it comes out!
Just downloaded this recipe and will try to make it later today – it looks wonderful. But I refuse to shop at Walmart. While their prices may be good, the real cost of shopping there is not worth it. There are plenty of other places with good products and equally good prices.
Thanks for your feedback Sheli – we hope you enjoy the cake!
Can I substitute boiled cider for the reduced amount of apple cider?
Hi Patti – To make the reduced cider, you will boil the cider down…I’m not sure I fully understand your question?
How do I adjust the recipe for a 9×13?
Hi Nancy – The recipe as written fills a 9×9-inch pan so for a 9×13, I’d try 1 and 1/2 of the recipe. The bake time will likely be longer as well. Hope that helps!
I’m not sure of the arrangement of the apples can you explain
Thank you
Hi Eva – Assuming you’ve sliced the apples through the core from top of the apple to the bottom, the outer edge will be fatter than the inner edge which was next to the core of the apple. You’ll press the inner edge into the batter (we did it in rows) so the outer edge is sticking up out of the batter. Hope that helps clarify!
Can this cake be made the day before? If so, when should I glaze it?
Hi Kaitlyn – Yes – you can make this the day before. The glaze is added when served.
Do you ever double recipe to put in a 13 x 9 pan?
We haven’t – I don’t think a 13×9 pan would be large enough given that a single recipe fills a 9×9 pan.
Would Red Delicious apples work?
Hi Sarah – Red delicious are not typically recommended for baking – they get too mushy when baked.