Great Apple Cake Recipe!

In my little world, cooking and gardening are two things that go hand in hand. This is an apple cake that I've made a few times, and people are often asking for the recipe. It's great winter comfort food.

Apple Cake with Almonds
Yield: 9 x 13 cake

For the Cake:
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
3 whole eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. almond extract
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup ground almonds
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 c. peeled and chopped apples (I typically use Granny Smiths)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the oil, sugar, eggs and extracts until well blended. Sift together the dry ingredients in another bowl, then add to the oil-egg mixture. Thoroughly combine, then add the chopped apples.

Pour into a sprayed pan and bake for about 40 minutes, until a pick comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. It should still be warm when you frost it.

For the frosting:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. almond extract
2 T milk

Stir this all together until blended, then spread over the warm cake. Hold at room temperature.
This will serve 12 comfortably.