Dickens Winter Spice Cake

Dickens Winter Spice Cake

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, the good folks were stuffing delicious spice cake into their mouths. Hey, at least it rhymes, right? Seriously, this is an excellent spiced cake recipe that you are gonna love.

Cakes

• 1-1/4 cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3-1/4 cups coarsely chopped, peeled and cored apples
• 3 tablespoons brandy

Glaze

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons brandy
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease Bundt pan. Combine oil and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with a wire whisk until thick and opaque. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Sift together flour, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; blend well. Add apple and brandy all at once; stir until apples are evenly distributed.

Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.

While cakes are baking, make the glaze: Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in sugars. Add brandy and cream; stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Pour glas over warm cake just before serving. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. Serves 16.