Mama’s Fresh Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 2 large apples, peeled, cored and chopped (about 3-1/2 cups)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup cold fresh coffee (or substitute water)
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour or spray a 10-inch tube pan with non-stick cooking spray containing flour (like Baker's Joy); set aside.

2. 2

   Combine the apples and sugar; set aside for 15 minutes to macerate.

3. 3

   Cream the shortening, add 1/2 cup of the sugar and cream.

4. 4

   Add the eggs one at a time; beat in well.

5. 5

   Whisk together all of the dry ingredients.

6. 6

   Add the flour mixture to the creamed shortening and eggs, alternating with the coffee or water, ending with the flour, blending well and stopping to scrape down sides of mixer bowl.

7. 7

   Mix on medium low speed for 3 minutes until fluffy. Don't overbeat.

8. 8

   Toss the raisins and nuts very lightly with a teaspoon additional flour.

9. 9

   Add the apples, raisins and nuts to batter and gently fold in.

10. 10

    Pour into the prepared tube pan and lightly spread out.

11. 11

    Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour or until toothpicks inserted into the middle come out clean. Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack.

12. 12

    Once cooled, run a knife carefully around the outside edges of cake and the tube and then gently push the bottom of the tube pan in to separate the insert.

13. 13

    Invert over a plate, loosen cake from pan bottom and placing another plate on the bottom, invert again, so that the cake is back right side up.