Apple Crumb Cake

INGREDIENTS  

• 2 large baking apples, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
• 2 T. granulated sugar
• 1 T. flour
• ¾ t. ground cinnamon
• ¼ t. ground nutmeg
• butter (for the pan)
• flour (for the pan)
• 1½ cups flour
• 1 t. baking powder
• ¼ t. baking soda
• ½ t. salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk
• confectioners sugar (for sprinkling)

For the Crumb Topping  

• ¼ cup flour
• 2 T. granulated sugar
• 2 T.s light brown sugar
• 2 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup walnuts, chopped

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, granulated and brown sugars, and butter.
2. With your fingers or 2 blunt knives, cut the butter.

DIRECTIONS  

1. In a bowl, combine the apples, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
3. Butter a 9-inch spring form pan. Sprinkle the pan with flour and tap out the excess.
4. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to blend them.
5. In an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat the butter and granulated sugar until well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
6. With the mixer set on its lowest speed, blend in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Spread about ⅔ of the batter in the pan. Arrange the apple mixture on top. Drop the remaining batter over the apples and spread with a spatula. Sprinkle the crumbs on top.
7. Bake the cake for 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool. Dust with confectioners sugar and cut into wedges.

Recipe Author: The Boston Globe