I found this recipe a little while back on a blog, la vida en buenos aires. I thought it looked good and I had a couple of apples on hand, so I gave it a try. It really is easy and quick. I mixed it up and popped it in the oven while I was cooking supper. Took about 10 minutes of prep time.
The finished cake has an almost custard-like texture. I served it with a little whipped cream on the side, but ice cream would be good, too, or just a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Whatever floats your boat.
Here’s what you need:
2 apples
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar, plus 2 tbsp to sprinkle
1/2 stick butter
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
Unless you grew up in or around Albany, Georgia, you’ve probably never heard of “Albany Drug Co. Vanilla.” It has to be the best vanilla I’ve ever used. Period. It has a strong vanilla flavor, but there’s something more to it. A sweet, almost smokey (as in cigar kind of smokey) smell. I really don’t know how to describe it. It’s just something you have to experience. Anyway, Albany Drug Company made this vanilla for years and years. As long as I can remember. Sadly, Albany Drug Company no longer exists, but the vanilla lives! It is still available from U-Save-It Drugs. They’re still making it just like Albany Drug always did. So, if you ever find yourself in southwest Georgia near Albany, run by U-Save-It and get yourself a bottle of the vanilla. You won’t regret it. Now, I have no affiliation whatsoever with Albany Drug Company or U-Save-It Drugs. They have absolutely no idea who I am. I just like their vanilla.
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen….
Here’s what you do:
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Generously butter a 8×8 baking pan. Peel and core the apples and cut in thin slices.
Place the apple slices in a small bowl and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar, then set them aside.
Mix together the dry ingredients in a small bowl.
In another bowl, mix the eggs, milk and vanilla.
Pour half the dry mix in the pan.
Cover the dry ingredients with the apple slices and any liquid that was drawn out by the sugar.
Dot with the butter.
Pour remaining dry ingredients evenly over the apple slices and butter then pour in the wet ingredients.
Now use a fork to gently mix the wet ingredients around so that there is none of the dry mix showing. You don’t have to mix it all thoroughly, just make sure all the dry stuff is covered up. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
Let it cool for 15-20 minutes and then invert it onto your serving dish. Cut into 6 medium or 8 small servings.
Enjoy!
Looks fabulous. For the folks who don’t know about Albany Drug Company vanilla, what a loss. It has a different aromatic effect than regular vanilla. The flavor is more intense, but less bitter, than regular off the shelf vanilla. If you need more vanilla, let me know. I can always send you a bottle or two.
Keep it up. Haven’t had this much fun in a while.
Miss P
[…] missed my waxing rhapsodic about Albany Drug Company vanilla back in February, feel free to jump over here and read about it. It’s so, so […]
I just finished my last original bottle of Extract of Vanilla by the Albany Drug Company. I was under the impression that it was Real Vanilla Extract, not imitation. My bottle says Alcohol 71%. Did U-Save-It Pharmacy change the ingredients, but save the bottle?
I don’t know, Bill. I just know it tastes better than any other vanilla I’ve ever had! I can’t tell the difference in what I get there now and what I got years ago.