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Stunning plated serving of Apple Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, a chef-tested recipe by Chef Jorj Morgan.
Jorj Morgan

Apple Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A prestigious seasonal dessert that celebrates the profound flavors of the autumn harvest. By utilizing a high-moisture apple butter reduction as a foundational ingredient and pairing it with a velvety cream cheese and walnut finish, we achieve a moist, aromatic cake designed for festive communal gatherings.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients for Cake
  • 1 ½ cups pastry flour
  • 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients for Cake
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, 2 sticks
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¾ cup natural cane sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups apple butter
For the Frosting & Finish
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 cups cream cheese, room temperature, 2 (8-ounce) packages
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature, 1 stick
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, as needed to thin frosting
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-duty wire cooling rack
  • 1 Parchment paper roll
  • 1 Professional kitchen box grater
  • 1 Electric stand mixer
  • 1 Precision wooden cutting board

Method
 

Prepare the Pans
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
  2. Coat two 9 x 9-inch (you can certainly change the size of the pan if you choose) cake pans with vegetable oil spray.
  3. Place a layer of parchment paper in the bottom of each pan and coat the paper.
  4. Whisk together the flours, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
Developing the Batter
  1. Use an electric mixer to combine 1 cup butter with brown and cane sugars until fluffy.
  2. Mix in the eggs.
  3. Pour in ⅓ of the flour mixture followed by ½ cup of the apple butter.
  4. Mix well and continue alternating ingredients until all the flour and apple butter are mixed into the batter.
Bake the Cake
  1. Spread the batter into the two pans.
  2. Bake until a tester inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
  3. Cool the cakes in the pan for 10 minutes.
  4. Carefully invert the cakes onto a rack. Remove the parchment paper and cool the cakes completely.
The Frosting & Assembly
  1. Use an electric mixer to combine confectioners’ sugar with the cream cheese, ½ cup butter and the vanilla until smooth and creamy.
  2. You can mix in a teaspoon or two of milk to get the consistency that you prefer for frosting. Place one cake onto your serving platter.
  3. Slather the cake with frosting.
  4. Top with the remaining cake. Cover the sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting.
  5. Sprinkle the top of the cake with chopped walnuts.