Spanish Cake

2 cups water

1 cups raisins

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

FOR THE FROSTING

2 1/4 cups powered sugar
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk, more if needed

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
2. Add the water and raisins to a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add the shortening to the boiled mixture. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
4. Sift together the sugar, soda, flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.
5. Add the sifted ingredients to the cooled raisin mixture, along with the beaten egg and the nuts, if you are adding them.
6. Fold gently until the flour is just incorporated into the batter. Do not over mix.
7. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

TO PREPARE THE FROSTING

1. Beat together the icing sugar, butter, vanilla and a tablespoon of milk until smooth.
2. If necessary, add more milk until the frosting is a good spreadable consistency.
3. Cut the cake in half, frost the first layer then top with the second layer and frost again. To get the characteristic lines on top, run the back of a fork over the top frosting in straight lines.

This Spanish Bar Cake is a simple raisin spice cake that is moist and so very delicious. It's a great addition to my "best tasting" cake list! 

I made this cake for my mom's birthday and it came out great! :)

~Carol~

Tuscan Apple Cake

1. 4 large Golden Delicious, Gala or other firm flesh apples (1 3/4 lbs) (800 g)
2. 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3. 2 teaspoons baking powder
4. pinch sea salt
5. 2 extra large eggs – at room temperature
6. 1 cup sugar
7. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8. 1/2 cup milk
9. 7 tablespoons unsalted butter – melted and slightly cooled

1. powdered sugar as garnish
2. 1 –10 inch round spring form pan – buttered and floured

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
1. 
   
2. Peel, core, and quarter the apples then cut crosswise in 1/8″ slices. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3.  Place the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk at medium speed until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is pale and thick, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
4. Fold the flour into the egg mixture with a wooden spoon, until just incorporated. Fold in the milk, then the butter and finally the apple slices. Be sure not to over mix. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Pack the apples into the mold and flatten the surface of the cake with the wooden spoon.
5.  Bake for 10 minutes on the floor of the oven. Transfer the pan to the middle rack and continue baking for 50 to 55 minutes until golden-brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven, and run a paring knife around the edge to loosen the cake from the ring of the mold. Cool in its mold to room temperature. Unmold the cake and transfer to a serving platter. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

1. This Apple Cake was delicious and different than any apple desert I've made before. It's almost flan like.  I made this dessert because I saw that it first bakes on the floor of the oven to caramelize the base. I've never heard of doing that before so I gave it a try!  I'm glad I did as it was very tasty. Everyone enjoyed it!  :)
   ~Carol~