Mother's Day Cake

Happy Mother's Day!

What better excuse to try a new cake? I saw Ina Garten make this on her cooking show last week and decided that I needed to try it ASAP. Its a gorgeous cake that looks like it would require several difficult steps, but it was really quite quick and easy to put together. A candy thermometer would be a helpful tool, but don't worry if you don't own one. I don't have one so I eye-balled it instead and was very happy with the results!

Peel, core and slice a granny smith apple. Arrange the slices in a pie dish.

Heat a small saucepan with 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water over high heat. It will come to a rolling boil - continue to heat until it turns a warm amber color (or if you have a candy thermometer - 360 degrees). Swirl, but don't stir!

Once ready, pour into pie dish over apple slices.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together butter and 3/4 cup sugar.

Mix in eggs, one at a time.

Add vanilla, stir to combine.

Add lemon zest, stir again.

Add sour cream and stir.

Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. 

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix only until combined.

Pour batter over caramel and apples. Smooth with a spatula.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool for 15 minutes, then invert cake onto a flat plate (put plate over pie dish, then flip over).

You may need to do a little plastic surgery - don't worry, it'll still look great - just replace the apple slices if they fall out.

Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Note that powdered sugar will absorb into cake, so powder just before serving.

Enjoy!

The lovely ladies I spent my Mother's Day with:

Pat's mom, my mom, Pat's aunt Lisa

Apple Cake Tatin

Recipe by Ina Garten

Ingredients

• 1 granny smith apple
• 1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
• 1/3 cup water
• 6 tbsp butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking poweder
• confectioner's sugar (optional)

Directions

1. Peel, core and slice a granny smith apple. Arrange the slices in a pie dish.
2. Heat a small saucepan with 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water over high heat. It will come to a rolling boil - continue to heat until it turns a warm amber color (or if you have a candy thermometer - 360 degrees). Swirl, but don't stir!
3. Once caramel is ready, pour into pie dish over apple slices.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. Cream together butter and sugar. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream - stir to combine.
6. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder.
7. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix only until combined.
8. Pour batter over caramel and apples. Smooth with a spatula.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
10. Cool for 15 minutes, then invert cake onto a flat plate. 
11. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve!