FRESH APPLE & BLACK WALNUT CAKE WITH CARAMEL GLAZE

Fresh Apple & Black Walnut Cake with Caramel Glaze image

Provided by Elaine Bovender

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 c sugar
1 1/2 c oil (vegetable or canola)
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp black walnut flavoring
3 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 c fresh apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (i prefer granny smith)
1 c black walnuts, coarsely chopped
CARAMEL GLAZE
1/2 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c butter
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
2 tsp milk or half and half
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp caramel extract

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9" bundt pan and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs and flavorings until light and fluffy. Mix flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon together and add to creamed mixture. Mix only until blended (I use my spatula and not my electric mixer so as not to overbeat). Fold in apples and nuts.
3. Spread batter into prepared bundt pan and bake about one hour and 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer onto serving plate. Top with caramel glaze (directions to follow) and serve.
4. CARAMEL GLAZE: Place all ingredients into a heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, scraping the sides of the pot in order to remove any sugar crystals until mixture comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Drizzle over slightly warm cake.
5. TIP: Sometimes black walnuts can be difficult to find. If you don't have black walnuts, you may use pecans or english walnuts but just follow this step: Place nuts in a bowl and add about 1 teaspoon of black walnut flavoring. Stir to coat and let stand for about 30 minutes. Use in recipe as usual.