Shelly's Recipe

APPLE STREUSEL CAKE

Category: Cakes

1/2 cup shortening, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp almond extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
4 medium or 5 small apples, peeled and finely chopped

Streusel:
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 tsp cinnamon
4 tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 - 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (or use as much nuts as you like)

Preheat oven to 350 (oven rack set to second-lowest position). Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

For the streusel; in a small bowl combine the brown sugar with cinnamon; add in the butter and mix until crumbly, then mix in the nuts; set aside.

For the cake; In a mixing bowl cream the shortening with sugar for about 3 minutes. Add in eggs and vanilla; continue to beat until light and fluffy (there should be no sugar granules in the mixture, this may take about 4 minutes of beating).

In a bowl sift the flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream mixing until blended. Fold in chopped apples. Spread half of the mixture into the prepared pan, then half of the streusel. Dollop the remaining batter on top then spread with a spoon (it may not cover the streusel completely, that is okay). Sprinkle the remaining streusel over the top of the cake. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the cake tests done.