Granny Ragland's Apple Stack Cake

There are certain foods that anchor us, their scents and tastes intrinsically tied to our memories. They may evoke a special person, or a certain event or time in our lives.

For me, there's no one recipe that is more strongly evocative of this than Apple Stack Cake.

It's a specialty my grandmother made throughout my childhood. She would bake it for special occasions throughout the year -- you could always count on one at Christmas -- but for me, this will always be a birthday cake. For as long as I can remember, this was the cake I would ask my granny to bake for my birthday.

And since my birthday is in the fall, this cake, with its heady aroma of apples, has always evoked autumn for me.

Last year, when Granny asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I asked her just to write down some of her favorite recipes. When she handed me the paper-clipped stack of recipe cards on Christmas, I knew without looking what two of them would be. One was for her signature chocolate gravy, which we wrote about on The Bitten Word last spring. The other was her Apple Stack Cake.

Granny passed away last month, two weeks before my birthday. After going home to Tennessee for her funeral, I knew I wanted to try making the Apple Stack Cake myself for the first time.

So I spent a quiet afternoon on a recent rainy Saturday baking this cake, and loving the scents that filled the kitchen, and the memories of birthdays, autumns and my grandmother that filled my heart.

This cake is delicious, but it's not at all fancy. If you're in a crunch, you can make it with essentially two ingredients: a yellow cake mix and some apple butter. (Yeah, a yellow cake mix. Like I said, not fancy -- and who am I to mess with this recipe?)

But it's well worth your time to make the apple spread yourself. It doesn't take all that long, and the spices you add really make the cake special.

It's incredibly simple to make: You can prepare the apple spread while you're baking the cake layers. The more layers you add, the better it will taste (and the more apple spread you'll need).

The only hard part is waiting to eat it. Letting this cake sit for a day or so before you cut into it is key. The layers of cake soak up the delicious apple spread, making the whole thing amazingly moist and tasty. In fact, the longer you wait, the better this cake seems to get.

Bake an Apple Stack Cake and share it with people you love. Indulge yourself in good memories, and create some new ones.

--Zach

Granny Ragland's Apple Stack Cake

This recipe ought to make a cake with four layers and enough apple butter for the whole thing. If you want to add layers, add another cake mix and make more spread. (That might be a good idea anyway -- this apple spread makes a delicious topping for toast or English muffins.)

1 box yellow cake mix (which probably will call for a couple eggs and some oil)

For the apple spread (You may also substitute apple butter):

4 cups cooked, dried apples
1 tsp powdered cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp sugar

Bake the cake according to its directions. Split the batter into a couple cake pans -- or more, based on how many layers you want.

On the stove, cook the apples in 2 cups of water until they are soft. Using a food processor or by hand, mash to the consistency of apple butter. Add cinnamon, cloves, allspice and sugar. Mix well, adding water if necessary to make the apple butter spreadable. Let cool completely.

Once the cake layers have cooled completely, slice in half lengthwise to get thin layers of cake. Spread the apple mixture between each layer and on the top and sides.  If time allows, let the cake sit for 24 hours -- slice and serve.

Comments

[Cassidy]

Perfection...and that totally made me cry.

[Jon]

That post was as touching as it was delicious.

[vanessa]

Beautiful post Zach, and a great homage to granny. I'm sure she's proud. And i'm hungry for apple stack cake.

[Brenda Lewis]

A beautiful tribute to a loving and lovely woman.

[ingrid]

Grandmas are so awesome! Mine past away this spring and while I didn't get any written recipe cards I did learn to make a few of her dishes though not her most famous one but that's okay 'cause it wasn't my favorite.

Thanks for sharing!
~ingrid

[Lori]

A tear for you. Sounds very delicious. What a sweet Granny.

[My Sweet & Saucy]

I am loving the layers...

[MaryBeth]

This is a wonderful posting and a great looking cake. I love the many layers, it truly looks very elegant.

[sunflour81]

I'm so glad you put this up. I think my house will have the wonderful smell of apples and cake tomorrow.
This was the one thing food wise that I looked forward to every year for Christmas. This is also my birthday cake too :) Thank you so much for posting this.

[Karyn]

Zach, what a wonderful post, and a delicious looking cake. Happy belated birthday!

[Sara]

Very touching post. Thank you for sharing your granny's love with us. I had all the ingredients on hand so I made it right away. It was simple and absolutely delicious.

[Sara]

Very touching post. Thank you for sharing your granny's love with us. I had all the ingredients on hand so I made it right away. It was simple and absolutely delicious.

[Zach @ The Bitten Word]

@ Sara -- So happy to hear you made it and you liked it!

Thanks for letting us know!

[Pamela]

It was awesome to see this cake, it was like a blast from the past. My Grandmother used to make these all the time when she was alive. Since your from TN, you might know what gingerbread is (not a cake lol)and I am so missing this too :-(
I have tried making both but not as good as my memories of my Grandmothers ....
Pam

[Zoe]

I am gonna make your grannie's homey little masterpiece tonight... and cookies so I won't be tempted to cut into the cake!

God bless you sweet Grannie Ragland. I will think sweet thoughts of her as I make and assemble your pretty cake.

[Zach @ The Bitten Word]

Thanks, everyone, for all the nice comments and your sweet words about my grandmother!

[Zoe]

Hi Zack! I made your grannies cake last night. The hungry animals in my house were like jackals this morning so it did not survive the requisite 24h. It was so freaking good and actually perfect for breakfast (not too sweet). I had initially intended to tinker with the recipe by adding a bottom of apple, pecans and nuts in a caramelization for the top layer. Glad I rethought that. I instead made a boatload of applebutter (like a gallon). I am gonna use some for 2 more cakes for company coming for Thanksgiving, save some for breakfast slathering and giving a little jar to the neighbors.

For anyone tempted to mess with Grannie's recipe - don't.

Happy holidays guys. Bless your sweet gran.

[Haley]

Just stumbled upon your blog and love it! Recipes laced with memories are always the best :)

I would love to write about your grandmother's apple stack cake on our blog. If interested just send me an email.

Thanks!
Haley, KI Blogger

[gg]

Hi, I knew when I first saw your picture that I wanted to make this cake. I had just made a ton of apple butter so the timing was perfect. Brought it to Thanksgiving dinner and it got lots of ohs and ahs...It was a delicious cake and a great contrast to the very sweet pecan and pumpkin pies. Thanks for the great idea and the beautiful picture!

[hillary]

somehow, i haven't found this post until today. thanks for the good cry and great memories. even though spring is almost here, i'm going to have to make this soon - i can taste it already.

[Beth]

My Nanny makes this for us at each family reunion and sometimes we can convince her at other times. (I'm from the "hills of Tennessee.") This cake, I think, reminds all of us of family and love. I hope this recipe never dies. It is truly a wonderful thing to enjoy!

Did she by chance pass along a recipe called "Potato Candy?" My Nanny refuses to share this one with us! And it is a favorite1