Apple Butter Pound Cake
Apple Butter Pound Cake is a moist, flavorful dessert that combines the rich sweetness of apple butter with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Topped with dried apple chips and toasted pecans, it’s a comforting, autumn-inspired treat perfect for any occasion.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spatula
- loaf pan,
- Oven
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup Slow-Cooker Apple Butter
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup apple butter store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- ½ cup dried apple chips
- ¼ cup finely chopped toasted pecans
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and light brown sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the Eggs and Vanilla:
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Mix the Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves (if using).
Incorporate the Dry Ingredients and Apple Butter:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in thirds, alternating with the apple butter and milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Add the Dried Apples and Pecans:
- Gently fold in the dried apple chips and finely chopped toasted pecans using a spatula, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Bake the Cake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Cool and Serve:
- Allow the pound cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy your delicious apple butter pound cake!
Notes
❖ Apple Butter: If you have the time, I highly recommend making your own apple butter. It’s incredibly simple and allows you to control the spices and sweetness. But store-bought apple butter works just fine for this recipe if you’re short on time.
❖ Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature. This ensures the cake batter comes together smoothly without clumps.