Simple Apple Honey Cake for a Sweet Rosh Hashanah (Parve)

Introduction

At Rosh Hashanah, we dip apples in honey to symbolize our hope that the coming year will be a sweet one. Using apples in dishes is a practical reminder of this hope in the shape of a fun dessert at your beautiful Rosh Hashanah table! Or perhaps it’ll serve as your cozy treat on the side of a hot cuppa as you take a moment to pause from the holiday preparations.

The Bible uses the image of the fruit tree as a picture of those who are

Shanah tova u’metuka! May this be a good and sweet new year!

Simple Apple Honey Cake (Parve*)

This apple honey cake is parve* (and dairy-free), which makes it compatible with either a dairy or meat meal according to Jewish dietary laws

Dessert

Active Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40-50 minutes (depending on your oven)

Total Time: 60-70 minutes

Ingredients

4 medium (preferably Granny Smith) apples, peeled, cored and cut half into 1 cm / ⅓ inch cubes and slice the other half thinly

2 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp allspice (optional)

¼ cup lemon juice

4 large eggs, at room temperature

¾ cup light brown sugar

¼ cup honey

¾ cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract1

¾ cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

Supplies for Cooking

2 medium bowls

1 large bowl

1 round Bundt pan (24-26 cm) or loaf pan

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).

2. Grease the cake pan with oil.

3. Peel and core the apples, cutting half the amount of apples into cubes and slicing the other half thinly. Mix the cubed and sliced apples in a medium bowl with the lemon juice, and set aside.

4. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until they are frothy. Whisk in the sugar, honey, oil and vanilla until well mixed.

5. In a separate medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

6. Incorporate the flour mixture into the egg mix until just combined (and not beyond). Fold in the cubed apples and lemon juice.

7. Pour into cake pan and decorate with apple slices.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-50 minutes, depending on your oven. When the edges darken and pull away from the sides of the pan, and the cake browns across the surface, insert a toothpick deep into the thickest part of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.

9. Allow to cool before removing from the cake pan and slicing. Enjoy!