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–+ servings

Mom’s Fresh Apple Love Letter Cake

A deeply moist apple Bundt cake packed with chopped apples, crunchy pecans, and warm vanilla flavor, finished with a luscious homemade caramel glaze. Rich, comforting, and nostalgic, this cake feels like fall wrapped in sweetness.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling & Setting Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Cake, Comfort Food, Dessert, Holiday Treats, Southern Classics
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 620 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups red apples peeled and chopped
  • 1/3 cup Tennessee whiskey optional
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups pecans chopped
  • 1 stick unsalted butter for glaze
  • 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • 3/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt for glaze
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract for glaze

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly grease and flour a Bundt pan, making sure all grooves are coated.
  • Place chopped apples in a bowl and pour whiskey over them. Let sit while preparing the batter.
  • In a large bowl, beat together vegetable oil and sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in thirds, mixing on low speed.
  • Fold in vanilla extract, apples with soaking liquid, and chopped pecans by hand. Batter will be very thick.
  • Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for 20–30 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool cake in the pan for 20 minutes, then carefully unmold onto a serving plate.
  • For the glaze, melt butter and brown sugar together over medium heat, stirring 6–8 minutes until smooth.
  • Remove from heat, stir in evaporated milk, then return to heat for 2–4 minutes. Remove from heat again and stir in vanilla and salt.
  • Let glaze cool for 15 minutes to thicken slightly, then pour generously over cooled cake. Allow glaze to set for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Use tart apples like Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best flavor balance. This cake tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Calories: 620kcal
Keyword apple cake, bundt cake, caramel glaze, fall baking, Pecan Dessert
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