Excellent Apple Gingerbread

In this layer cake, a homemade apple filling is sandwiched between tender gingerbread layers. The cake is then covered with cream cheese frosting and decorated with candied walnuts and more apple topping.

• Preparation Time: 50 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 918 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 (20 ounce) can apple pie filling
• ¾ cup butter at room temperature

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.

Step 2

Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the apples; cook and stir until tender. Set aside and allow to cool.

Step 3

In a large bowl, mix 3/4 cup of butter, honey, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing each one until blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, ginger and salt; stir into the batter, alternating with the milk. Stir in the walnuts and cooked apples just until evenly distributed. Divide evenly between the prepared pans and spread evenly.

Step 4

Bake the cake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool the cakes on a wire rack. Keep the oven on for the walnuts.

Step 5

To make the candied walnuts for the top of the cake, whip the egg whites in a clean bowl until foamy. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts. Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until toasted and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before using.

Step 7

To make the frosting, mix together the butter, confectioners' sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Place one layer of cake on a serving plate and spread with a thin layer of the cream cheese icing. Top with most of the apple filling and spread evenly. Place the other layer of cake on top with the bottom facing up. Spread remaining cream cheese icing over the top and sides. Decorate the top with remaining apple filling and sprinkle with candied walnuts.