10.10.2010

apple pecan skillet cake

apple cake
My daughter has been requesting apple pie for a while now. Yes, I know this isn't pie...it's cake. It's kind of a pie-ish cake though and it's baked in a cast iron skillet. It's rustic. It's full of apple cinnamon goodness. It's irresistible. And it's sure to cure your apple pie cravings. Well...maybe.

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I did a little googling and found a couple of nice recipes. One was from King Arthur and the other from PW. I ended up tweaking the one from the Pioneer Woman. Ree's recipe calls for nearly three sticks of butter! I could bring myself to use that much. I also reduced the sugar, added pecans and nutmeg, switched out the sour cream for non fat Greek yogurt and lastly, replaced the all purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour. Whew!

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The apple slices are placed into the bottom of the skillet and the batter goes over the top.

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Then after the cake bakes you flip the darn thing over. I was nervous that my apples would stick but when I flipped the cake, only a couple of apple slices remained in the pan. I carefully put them back into place. Voila! Look at this beauty! We topped each yummy slice of cake off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was fantastic!

Apple Pecan Skillet Cake
inspired by the Pioneer Woman

4 granny smith apples, peeled cored and cut into 6-8 equal pieces
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup sugar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the cake batter
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 stick of softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup non fat Greek style yogurt
1 small granny smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a 9-10 inch skillet, melt 1 stick of butter over medium low heat. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and give it a stir. Evenly place the apple slices, wedge side down into skillet. Don't pack too tightly. Allow to cook on medium low while preparing the batter.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 1 stick and 1/2 cup sugar until creamy. Mix in the vanilla and the eggs. Mix in the yogurt. Gradually add the flour mixture just until combined. Gently fold in the chopped apple.

Remove the skillet from the heat and evenly distribute the chopped pecans. Spoon batter evenly over the apples and smooth with a knife or spatula.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until cake is golden brown and bubbly. Allow cake to cool in skillet for 5 minutes, then carefully invert onto a serving plate.

Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Print recipe

Have a splendid week!




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43 comments:

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Unknown said...

Oh my goodness, that looks so good!

pam said...

Since I don't do pie crusts, this is absolutely perfect !

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This would make an excellent substitution for apple pie any day Kim.

mysteryhistorymom said...

That looks sinfully delicious! So Fall! Lori

Joanne said...

Three sticks of butter! how could the cake even hold that much without collapsing in grease?

I love your amendments to this. Way easier than apple pie. And just as delicious. Love it.

Cathy said...

Flipping this would make me nervous too, but I have a well seasoned pan and I'll keep my fingers crossed. This looks so darn delicious I can't stand it.

Claudia said...

3 sticks of butter? Are you sure it wasn't inspired by Julia Child? I love your substitutions and I love, love, LOVE how this looks - all rustic and welcoming. This would be fun for Thanksgiving.

koralee said...

Yum...your images are always the best...I so want to dig into this pie/cake right now!

Hugs my sweet friend...thanks for all the goodness you share with us all. xoxo

Magic of Spice said...

This looks divine...a bit out of my league, but maybe I could get our resident baker to give it a try? :) Great substitutions and perfect for fall :)

Mimi said...

I love cast iron cooking. I'm going to make this for my family this week!

Hugs & love,
Mimi

Taylor said...

That cake looks delicious! I love your healthy substitutions!

Julie said...

I love that you healthi-fied it up! Sounds super yummy!

Sarah@AlpinePoppy said...

Yumm! I can't wait to try this :)

Foodiewife said...

as you saw, I made the Apple Puff Up pancakes with the original intention of making this skillet cake. I bookmarked Ree's and the KA one. I so have to make one, now that I bought my new peeler toy... looks fab!

Monet said...

Wow! This cake looks incredibly moist and delicious. I'm such a fan of apple cakes, pies, breads, so you know I was drooling over the first photograph to the last. Thank you for sharing. We may have to make this beauty this week! I don't know if I can resist :-)

scrambledhenfruit said...

This apple cake looks fabulous! I love the fact that you've used whole wheat flour and less butter than the original. I need to make one of these for sure!

Liz Mays said...

That looks FANTASTIC! I've never heard of pie baked in a skillet. Love the idea!

jacqueline said...

Oh my this apple pecan skillet cake looks soo YUMMIE! Im drooling hehe. This is really nice for the cooler days! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you sweet friend!

jacqueline said...

Oh my this apple pecan skillet cake looks soo YUMMIE! Im drooling hehe. This is really nice for the cooler days! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you sweet friend!

Prathima Rao said...

Wow...u call ur space ungourmet????Its a gourmet haven!!Love ur site...

Jeannie said...

That cake looks very rustic and delicious! Would love to try but don't hv a skillet :P Maybe I'll just bake in a cake pan.

Mimi said...

I love how you have lightened up the recipe, it look fabulous.
Mimi

Jenn said...

I'll take this for my lunch. Thanks. Oh and I'll take it with two scoops of ice cream. hehehe...

Lisa@The Nourishing Homemaker said...

I think I will be going to the Farmers Market this weekend to pick up some apples! That cake looks soooo good!

Vanessa Nielsen said...

Oh my. It looks SO SO good.

sweetlife said...

My hubby would love this, perfect adaptation...pecans and apples go great together..

sweetlife

Faith said...

This is such a pretty cake! What a great use for apples too. This would definitely satiate my pie cravings! ;)

Anonymous said...

It sounds absolutely terrific, love the addition of pecans!

Gloria Baker said...

OMG This apple cake look fantastic and delicious! gloria

MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...

Such a great fall recipe! You are making my "eat healthy in college" mantra seem impossible with such wonderful and tempting recipes, oh well! It may not be health food but the time and love put into a dessert like this make every bite special and absolutely worth it!

Delicious Dishings said...

I just made a tarte tatin, and the process seems really similar. I love the idea of making a cake batter instead of just pie crust though. It looks delicious!

Angie's Recipes said...

The combination of apples and pecans is a winner! I love this moist autumn cake!

Velva said...

It is absolutely filled with goodness. What a beautiful welcome to autumn. Nice!

Beth said...

That looks absolutely wonderful! If I were your daughter, I'd ask for it too!

Randi Troxell said...

this looks utterly MARVELOUS!!!!

Evan @swEEts said...

Beautiful flip :) Looks like I have another excuse to break out the cast iron skillet next week!!

GLEN said...

looks heavenly
Yum! Your Cake looks so good, I can almost smell it!

Jamie said...

anything with apples so pleases my man but this would take the cake (yeah, ha ha). Seriously I love your changes and additions - it does indeed make it the perfect apple autumn treat. Fabulous!

Chef E said...

I have heard of it, but never had it, this looks wonderful!

Magic of Spice said...

Oh wow, this looks delicious :)

Lisa said...

See now this is why I need to get myself a cast iron skillet. One of these days and that cake will be sitting on my plate. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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