Hindman Settlement School
Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
Courtesy of Hindman Settlement School. This Apple Stack Cake Cobbler recipe from Hindman blends two traditional Appalachian desserts: the stack cake and the cobbler. Appalachian tradition holds that members of the bride's family would bake thin cake layers to be assembled and served at the wedding meal.
Ingredients
SERVINGS: 16 Serving(s)
Apple Compote
- 8 cups dried apples
- 4 cups apple cider
- 1½ tablespoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- ¾ cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 4 cups chopped fresh apples
Batter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup sorghum or molasses
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 and 1/3 cups cake flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 and 1/4 cups unsalted butter, melted and cooled, divided use
- ¾ cup buttermilk
Preparation
ALL COMPOTE
Combine first seven ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes over medium-low. Stir occasionally and mash apples with back of spoon or potato masher. Add 4 cups chopped fresh apples and stir. Continue cooking 45 minutes more, stirring and mashing to desired texture. If too much liquid is absorbed and apples are dry, add 1 cup water. Remove from heat and cool.
BATTER
In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix sugars, eggs, sorghum and vanilla paste on medium speed for 6 minutes.
Mix together flour, spices and salt. With mixer on low speed, add dry ingredients in two batches; mix until just combined. Combine buttermilk and 3/4 cup melted butter; add to batter and mix until combined.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour apple compote into a greased 9-by-13-inch pan. Pour batter over apples, and drizzle 1/2 cup melted butter over the batter, pouring carefully around the edges. Bake for 45 minutes without opening oven, then check for doneness. If it is still wet in the middle, bake 5 more minutes. Cool at room temperature overnight. Dust with powdered sugar.
Related Stories & Recipes
