Do you ever get super disappointed in yourself??
Like, you know what you want to do...you just have trouble getting it done?
That's how I've been feeling lately.
I know I'm just in a funk. It's probably because The Hubble is gone again. This time it's for real. This time he's heading off for Afghanistan. This time we have no idea when (or if) we will see him again.
I tend to get in these moods. I feel like nothing I do is good enough.
I think I just get really hard on myself and feel the need to be perfect because it helps take my mind off of what is really bothering me.
I also have a tendency to procrastinate things, which allows me to be even more hard on myself.
Take this cake for example. I'm disappointed in the pictures AND I was supposed to post this on the 20th. (Yes...I'm a wee bit late).
This cake is our first cake from the new Cake Slice Bakers book!
I'm pretty stoked on this new book. For one, the recipes sound amazing!
For two, this cake...
Though the pictures may not look like much, this is the perfect cake to ring in the Fall weather.
The spices really compliment the sweet fruit and the maple frosting will definitely be used again.
Before we get baking, I wanted to say thank you for sticking around while I've been running around all over Texas and spending time with my little family while The Hubble was home.
Okay..now. Let's get baking!
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and a few fall spices.
Cream the butter until smooth then add in the brown sugar.
Add in the vanilla.
And the eggs, one at a time.
Then toss in the flour, in 3 additions...
While alternating with the buttermilk in 2 additions.
Take the bowl off the mixer and stir in the apples and nuts by hand.
Scrape the batter into your prepared pan and smooth it out as best you can.
Bake that baby up then let it cool.
Whip up your frosting by creaming together some cream cheese and butter then tossing in some flavor and spices.
Then adding in some powdered sugar.
Frost the top of your cake with this delicious frosting...
Slice, serve and enjoy!!
Apple Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from The Cake Book
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups peeled and chopped (1/3 inch pieces) Granny Smith apples (about 2 apples)
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- Maple cream cheese frosting (recipe follows)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 inch square baking pan with baking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until light, about 1 minute.
- Add the brown sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and well blended, about 2 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk in 2 additions. Beat until just blended.
- Stir in the apples and walnuts by hand.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth with a rubber spatula.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cake completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Frost with maple frosting, cut into squares, serve and enjoy!
Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from The Cake Book
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon maple extract
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth.
- Beat in the extracts, spices and salt.
- Reduce speed to low, gradually add powdered sugar and beat until well blended.
- Raise speed to high and beat until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.