Monday, March 9, 2009

Dorothy Mae Brown's Apple Spice Cake NOT with the Caramel Sauce (Martha Stewart)

Apple Spice Cake
Dorothy Mae Brown's Apple Spice Cake
(check out that caramel sauce...because it's soon going to leave)

Have granny smith apples and a new Bundt pan? Make an apple cake!

Apple Spice Cake
Dorothy Mae Brown's Apple Spice Cake is one of the most popular recipes on Martha Stewart's website. I've made it once before. I love, love apple cakes and this caramel sauce is to die for...when properly made! (see below for the disaster)

Apple Spice Cake
Find the recipe (and video) for Apple Spice Cake on Martha Stewart's website

Apple Spice Cake
Here I am PEELING off the caramel!

Oh my goodness! What the heck went soooo wrong? Okay. I really take full responsibility for this, but I'd like to call out the Oct0-mom as a contributing problem! For some reason, I can't stop following the Octo-mom. While I was making the caramel sauce, I was totally into the Today Show's story about her 911 tapes (where her 5 year old is missing)...and must have completely ruined the caramel sauce. However, it's all bubbly with brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk and vanilla...and I didn't know it so I just poured it over the cake.

I took photos...and then cut into the cake. OMG. It was harder than the caramel that covers a caramel apple. This cake would be endorsed by the Conference of Periodontics and Implant Dentists...because it would totally pull out all your teeth. And that is sooo expensive; my parents got a bunch of implants last year and they could have gotten a new car instead...

Apple Spice Cake
So, since I thought it would be rude to involuntary rip out the library staff's teeth, I peeled the caramel off and ended up with this crater filled apple bundt cake.

Apple Spice Cake
Here is the "final" cake. I threw on some powdered sugar. Even with all its trials and Octo-mom train wrecks, the cake was very tasty. I added walnuts this time and will do it again. You should give the recipe a try! Here's the recipe for Apple Spice Cake.

36 comments:

  1. MeganMarch 9, 2009 at 8:46 PM

    I'm sure the library staff thanks you for not promoting tooth decay - or tooth loss for that matter. I have a bunch of apples in my fridge, I think I know what to do with them!

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  2. UnknownMarch 9, 2009 at 8:48 PM

    Well it still looks amazing even after the "incident"! Caramel is one thing that I'm still trying to master in the kitchen. It's tricky!

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  3. Donna-FFWMarch 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    I will give this a try. I love apples in baked goods. And even with your mishaps, it looks awesome.

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  4. AnonymousMarch 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    Wow. The caramel sauce looks perfect. Too bad it didn't work out. Your final cake with the powdered sugar looks great too.

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  5. StephMarch 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    Good save! Now I want to make apple cake!!

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  6. eatme_deliciousMarch 9, 2009 at 10:37 PM

    Oh no! Sorry to hear about your caramel. However that cake with the caramel looks truly stunning and you did a great job of saving it with the icing sugar!

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  7. EsiMarch 9, 2009 at 11:09 PM

    You crack me UP! The caramel looks amazing even though it would have endangered the lives of others. Glad you were able to salvage the cake though.

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  8. ElyseMarch 9, 2009 at 11:19 PM

    Hey, it's a fascinating news story to follow! No harm, no foul. You totally saved this yummy cake by peeling the caramel off, and you have a great story, to boot. Cake sounds great!

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  9. Deeba PABMarch 9, 2009 at 11:44 PM

    Oh yum. I think it still looks great without the caramel, 7 i think I'll stick to the sans caramel version to reduce sweetness & calories.

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  10. KanaMarch 10, 2009 at 4:19 AM

    I bet the caramel was super tasty!

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  11. AudreyMarch 10, 2009 at 4:28 AM

    Yes, Octo-Mom is fascinating me, too. And I'm sorry your caramel was moonlighting for the American Dental Society because it looks so pretty! I love apple cake, though, so thanks for the lead on this one. Lucky librarians!

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  12. FinlaMarch 10, 2009 at 6:01 AM

    Even if the caramel was bone hard it looks so pretty in the cake.

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  13. Sweet Treats by DaniMarch 10, 2009 at 6:04 AM

    the powdered sugar looks great!

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  14. MariaMarch 10, 2009 at 6:53 AM

    I am loving this cake!! The powdered sugar tops it off nicely! SO pretty!

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  15. steph- whisk/spoonMarch 10, 2009 at 7:13 AM

    oh my gosh--that's crazy that that hardened up so much! nice save though-- it looks tasty! (and i love bundts.)

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  16. AnonymousMarch 10, 2009 at 9:58 AM

    Too bad the caramel didn't work out--it looks fantastic! Great looking cake.

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  17. DiMarch 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    I would totally do something like that--peeling off the caramel, that is. I hate it when things go wrong with my baking. Especially when the baked good in question is destined for some event and I don't have time to make something else... =)

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  18. AnonymousMarch 10, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    I have made this before and it is so worth it, caramel disaster and all.

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  19. MaggieMarch 10, 2009 at 2:30 PM

    It looks great with the caramel and the powdered sugar saved the one without. Did you save the caramel and nibble on it? I don't think I could have resisted keeping it.

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  20. KarenMarch 10, 2009 at 2:43 PM

    The Octo-Mom is getting blamed for *everything*! LOL The cake looks beautiful... too bad about the caramel :(

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  21. IreneMarch 10, 2009 at 3:11 PM

    I love apple cakes! Sans caramel, actually, because I must be the only person in the universe who doesn't have a good relationship with caramel!

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  22. JanssenMarch 10, 2009 at 5:34 PM

    Wow, that looks terrific. Definitely will need to try this out.

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  23. AnneMarch 10, 2009 at 9:22 PM

    I LOVE this post, because it happens to all of us and your honesty and humor made me laugh out loud, coz I can relate! OctoMom...oy. I work in entertainment TV so I'm swimming in Octo everyday, ha. The cake and icing look amazing, but you're right...I want to keep my 2 front teeth:)!

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  24. graceMarch 11, 2009 at 9:03 AM

    the cake looks outstanding! i love that you shared your caramel drama. although it would've taken the cake above and beyond, i'm sure it wasn't necessary. :)

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  25. AnonymousMarch 11, 2009 at 3:11 PM

    Okay.. I am bringing the tea!!! What time is tea time? Goodness, I love dense and fruit cakes SO MUCH! I have never seen a bunt look so attractive.

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  26. VickyMarch 11, 2009 at 5:41 PM

    This cake looks awesome with caramel sauce and with powdered sugar. I think I would prefer it with no topping anyway.

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  27. AnonymousMarch 12, 2009 at 5:44 PM

    Good god. You are the ban of my bundt cake weakness. This sounds sooo good. Can't wait to try it!

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  28. AnonymousMarch 12, 2009 at 5:46 PM

    (I did the same thing with caramel sauce when I made caramel apple cupcakes...but I wasn't as sensible as you, and served them anyway!)

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  29. AnonymousMarch 12, 2009 at 10:32 PM

    NO. NO NO NO. Step away from the Octo-mom.

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  30. AnonymousMarch 13, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    Beautiful! I have a new bundt pan and lots of apples in the freezer from last year. Looks like a great recipe to try. :)

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  31. test it commMarch 15, 2009 at 6:17 PM

    That apple cake looks so good!

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  32. How To Eat A CupcakeMarch 15, 2009 at 6:40 PM

    Haha I'm glad you could fix it! It still looks great! :D I'm googling that Octo-mom story right now...

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  33. YMarch 15, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    Well saved! Bravo! Pity about the caramel though, because it looked soooo photogenic!

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  34. Kel Baking LifeMarch 16, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    You're too funny...I love everything with apple on it...Will make it for sure!!! thanks

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  35. AnonymousApril 25, 2009 at 4:06 PM

    Well, this is a late comment and you may have figured it out, but .. the caramel may have been so hard because it was cooked at too high of a temperature. The bubbling you describe is not a good sign. The ingredients only need to be heated enough to become combined. Martha's recipes are often good but I do wish they would test more and provide complete instructions.

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  36. stephchowsMay 29, 2009 at 11:47 AM

    So sad about the caramel but it sure did look beautiful :)

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