Apple Cake Season

This fresh apple cake, one of the easiest confections imaginable, is a variation on a recipe that has been around for years. The original version called for a substantial amount of oil, but my revision substitutes a little butter for the oil, with extra grated apples to add moistness.

INCREDIBLY MOIST FRESH APPLE CAKE

Flour

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups peeled, cored, coarsely grated apples (Granny Smith and McIntosh work well)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 quart frozen vanilla yogurt or ice cream

6 tablespoons water

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Spray 8-inch-square baking pan with non-stick vegetable cooking spray. Line with sheet of wax paper or parchment paper cut to fit pan. Spray paper with cooking spray. Sprinkle about 3 tablespoons flour in pan and shake to coat well. Shake out excess flour.

Cream butter in electric mixer bowl on medium speed. Gradually add 1 cup brown sugar, packed. Beat until well blended. Beat in egg, then vanilla.

Combine 1 cup flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in separate bowl. Beat into creamed mixture. Batter will be thick. Add grated apples and nuts. Mix just until incorporated. Scrape batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees until cake is firm and wood pick inserted into center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove and cool 10 minutes. Invert cake onto serving platter and remove pan and paper.

To prepare icing, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed), water, 2 generous teaspoons flour and butter in small heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Pierce top of cake with tines of fork and pour icing over cake. Set cake aside to allow icing to firm up.

To serve, cut cake into 6 portions and top with scoops of frozen vanilla yogurt. Makes 6 servings.