Italian Desserts Recipes - Cornmeal-Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter

• 3 cups peeled, cored, and sliced baking apples (such as Granny Smith or Rome Beauty) (about 3 medium)

• 1/3 cup golden raisins

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 3/4 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 4 eggs

• 1/3 cup dairy sour cream

• 1 tablespoon milk

• Sifted powdered sugar

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Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom and side of a 9-inch spring form pan; set aside. In a large skillet melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Add sliced apples and raisins. Cook about 8 minutes or just until apples are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

2. In a small bowl stir together the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Stir sugar mixture into apple mixture. If desired, reserve a few apple slices for garnish; set aside. Set remaining apple mixture aside.

3. In a medium bowl stir together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside. In a large bowl beat 3/4 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.

4. Add the 1 cup granulated sugar and the vanilla; beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and milk; beat until combined. Fold in cornmeal mixture.

5. Pour two-thirds of the batter into the prepared pan. Add the apple mixture, arranging evenly on top of the batter. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and spread evenly.

6. Bake about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove side of pan; cool 20 minutes more.

7. To serve, use a serrated knife to cut warm cake into wedges. Sprinkle each wedge with powdered sugar. If desired, top with reserved apples.