Here in the Missouri Ozarks, the leaves have just passed their colorful prime, scattering across the ground leaving their tell-tale message. Winter is coming. “Boo!” I say! If I lived in a perfect world, it would be fall every day of the year, except for one snowy day on Christmas.
I do not like to be cold, and I do not like to be hot. (Is it just me or am I starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss book?) So fall is just right for me. The only thing that makes the colder weather redeemable is getting to enjoy all the cozy, warm seasonal desserts. When I came across this recipe submitted by Tasty Kitchen member novakgirls, I was immediately drawn by the name.
Naturally, a dessert named after the area I live in was something I had to try.
I can’t believe I’ve never tried Ozark Apple Pudding before. Rustic is a great way to describe this yummy treat. The batter is so thick and packed with fresh, chopped apples and walnuts, you just know it will be perfectly comforting on a cold day. When you add a generous helping of cinnamon-infused whipped cream, it’s sinful.
Let’s begin shall we?
This is a simple recipe—my favorite kind. You’ll need flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, oil, eggs, apples, and walnuts (optional).
In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the sugar, oil and eggs. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Now add your sugar mixture to the dry ingredients. Your dough will be very thick and shaggy and it will actually resemble cookie dough rather than cake batter. That’s okay.
Stir in the chopped apples and nuts (if using). Use your elbow grease for this part. I used my ultra high tech manual mixing equipment, a.k.a my hands.
Spread the dough into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350ºF for 45 minutes.
Remove cake when top is golden brown and resembles what I don’t want to look like in 20 years.
This cake is wonderful served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. I actually had a tub of cinnamon-flavored whipped topping in the fridge. It went PERFECTLY with the warm, soft cake. I could even imagine cinnamon ice cream would be great with this too. Once the cake has cooled, it becomes even more moist and the flavors really come out.
Special thanks to novakgirls for sharing this wonderful recipe!
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Description
My mother-in-law calls this a pudding, but we call it apple cake. It’s yummy and goes great after dinner, or with a cup of coffee for breakfast. Great use for apples that are close to being too ripe.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1-¼ cup Oil
- 2 whole Eggs
- 3 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 3 cups Diced Apple
- ½ cups Chopped Nuts
Preparation Instructions
Mix together sugar, oil and eggs.
In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients, then add to the sugar mixture. Stir in apples and nuts.
Spread in a greased and floured 13 x 9 pan. Bake at 350ºF for 45 minutes.
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Amber is a stay at home mom who lives in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks. It’s a long way from where she grew up, in Wales (yes, way over in the U.K.). The recipes in her blog Sprinkled with Flour include her original creations as well as her family recipes. Go check them out!
45 Comments
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Magic of Spice on 12.1.2011
Such a wonderful recipe and so gorgeous!
Monica on 11.26.2011
We decided to make appetizers instead of the traditional turkey dinner. Made about 10 different things, and pigged out while watching football.
I think making a turkey dinner would have been easier than all those appetizers though.
Erika on 11.25.2011
Every year, we go to a family friend’s home and they do an excellent job hosting Thanksgiving, starting with a bloody Mary bar! They do a buffet spread of appetizers, sides, and desserts. This holiday is always a 10 as we feast like Kings and Queens! In addition, my sister decided to also host in the eveing and I loved seeing my family and seeing our kids play together. The evening time was more about the family experience and I felt like this was an added bonus to our Thanksgiving.
Marci Hecht on 11.25.2011
As far as my Thanksgiving goes, the family & food was wonderful as always. We had lots of desserts. I would say a scale of 9. We have no dishwasher, so the old fashion way we do our dishes. This is our first Thanksgiving without my mom, so that was hard. But we all made it work. We had the traditional baked turkey and ham cooked on the grill, the ham was wonderful.
AngAK on 11.16.2011
for Leilani—use any apples you have on hand. it doesn’t matter in this cake.
Kelly on 11.16.2011
Saw this recipe and had to make it…delicious! Everyone at work says THANK YOU!
Lisa on 11.13.2011
Made it…and loved it! Will definitely be making this again. I have to agree, the longer it sits, the better it tastes.
RochelleM on 11.13.2011
I have this almost exact recipe; called just “Apple Cake”! We serve it cut into squares; it’s delicious.
Leilani on 11.13.2011
Nobody said what kind of apples to use?
Sam on 11.12.2011
Made a half recipe of this for dessert tonight. Put it in an 8×8 dish and took it out of the oven about 3 minutes before the 45 minute timer went off. It was perfect! This definitely is a keeper and will go on our list for a dessert to serve to company or to take to a potluck.
Frosty on 11.12.2011
perfect comfort food
Dianne on 11.12.2011
I’ve baked this recipe for years and I love it…this “Ozark Mountain Apple Cake”. The beauty of this recipe is that it is actually better the second day!
PrairieJenn on 11.12.2011
We call it apple cake too:) For those that like it more like a pudding, we omit the whipped cream/ice cream. Instead, we melt a little butter with a spoonful of brown sugar and juice from half an orange then pour it on top of the cake. Yum!
Mikael on 11.12.2011
Hi Amber! This looks delicious, especially with walnuts,going to try this!
Crissa on 11.11.2011
My daughter and I baked this today, planning it for tomorrow morning’s breakfast (we don’t eat healthy on Saturday mornings ;)). I had to sample it this evening — to make sure it was safe for the family.
Yummo!
CarrieMtn on 11.11.2011
Ok-I made this Thursday morning for a brunch. It was perfect! Everybody loved it. Because of a nut allergy, I left out the walnuts, but left the rest as written. This is going in my permanent cookbook as a winner. Thank you.
TinaK on 11.11.2011
Yum…I made this last night and it was a hit at my house.
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes on 11.11.2011
This looks absolutely lovely, Amber! Fantastic photographs and I love that you were able to make something from your own home area of the country!!
Ian on 11.11.2011
Made this last night with the 2C white sugar, and it was fantastic. Used some Haralson Apples, and it left them with a little crunch, but were still soft. I was confused because I wrote the recipe down at work, but then remembered seeing the pic of the brown sugar.. Next time I’ll go 1/2 and 1/2 and see how it is. Thanks for the recipe!
Melissa on 11.10.2011
This reminds me an a gooey apple cake that I make every year. To be extra naughty, when the cake comes out of the oven, punch holes in the top of it with a knife and then pour on caramel sauce. You can buy pre-made or make a sauce by heating and stirring a stick of butter and brown sugar. Delicious! This is my husband’s favorite dessert.
Toni on 11.10.2011
very similar to an apple cake in Nov 2010 Southern Living that offered a choice of toppings- I have made it twice with a browned butter frosting – excellent!
CarrieMtn on 11.9.2011
Although, I’m a mountain gal now, I am an Ozark hill billy by birth. I love anything to do with them hills! I am so grateful for this recipe tonight. I have a bowl full of apples that are getting a bit soft. I was just wondering what I should do with them. This is perfect. Thanks for explaining about the brown sugar. I was wondering too.
Alicia W. on 11.9.2011
I think I will make this tomorrow! I have some apples that need using!
Laurie - Simply Scratch on 11.9.2011
Ditto what Suzanne said!
Suzanne on 11.9.2011
I have this evil idea to make this recipe and top it with Ree’s “Hard Sauce” recipe… oooh I think I will do that and serve to my mama and my girlfriends and we’ll die and go to fat kid heaven!!
Krystal on 11.9.2011
This looked so yummy, I’m making it for our dessert contest at work tomorrow.
Heather (Heather's Dish) on 11.9.2011
i’ve never heard of ozark apple pudding but now that i have i am going to have to make it and probably eat the whole thing. taste-testing. you know.
Shelly Boggs on 11.9.2011
This is almost the exact recipe my family has for what we call a Southern Apple Cake. It is so wonderful and is must for every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. We make a caramel sauce and pour over the warm cake and it soaks into it and becomes even richer and gooey-er.Is that even a word? Well, it is once you try this cake.
Julie P on 11.9.2011
What kind of apples would be best??
Food on the Table on 11.9.2011
Yum this rich, thick, warm combination looks just perfect to warm up a fall or wintry day!
MaryfromSoDak on 11.9.2011
A similar recipe can be found at the Taste of Home website but that recipe also includes a Butter Cream Sauce top you pour over cake slices. Let me tell ya girls this stuff puts the cake over the top. Give it a try with this cake; you won’t regret the extra added kazillion calories I promise. Apple Bundt Cake @ T.O.H
Molly B on 11.9.2011
try making the buttermilk syrup recipe from this site from a few months ago and pouring it over the warm cake and letting it soak in. . .my mom made a cake like this for her restaurant and it sold like crazy
Amber {Sprinkled With Flour} on 11.9.2011
Hi Kim!
This recipe could easily incorporate some healthier ingredients. Since the batter is very heavy and thick, I could see whole wheat flour/whole wheat pastry flour being used very well. You could also cut back on the amount of sugar and oil a bit.
Anne,
You are right, the original recipe calls for 2 cups of white sugar. I just decided at the last minute to use half white and half brown sugar. Either way is fine.
Amber (Sprinkled With Flour)
Anne on 11.9.2011
The illustrated recipe shows brown and white sugars, but the printed recipe only includes “2 cups sugar.” Where does the brown sugar come in? The pudding looks great and I can’t wait to make some!
kathleen on 11.9.2011
Could this be done as muffins??
Kim on 11.9.2011
Does anyone have any ideas on how to incorporate a few healthier options in this recipe? Maybe some oatmeal or whole wheat flour?
Thanks.
Brittney Lee on 11.9.2011
Almost identical to an old recipe we have (cut out from our local newspaper years and years and years ago) that is called German Apple Cake. We love it and top it with a cream cheese icing.
Katrina on 11.9.2011
Mmmm this sounds lovely! Can’t wait to try.
Louise on 11.9.2011
My mom made this, but called it Ozark pudding and claimed that it was President Truman’s favorite dessert!
Betsy Adams on 11.9.2011
I’m making this tonight. I live in the “Apple Capitol of the World” (Wenatchee Wa.) and we have lots of apples here so it’s fun to try new recipes. Last night I made the Pork roast with apples and onions and it was delicious too. Love your blog and enjoyed seeing you beat Bobby Flay on the Thanksgiving throwdown.
Amy on 11.9.2011
“Remove cake when top is golden brown and resembles what I don’t want to look like in 20 years.” LOL.
All Good in Mommyhood on 11.9.2011
looks divine. wonderful treat for the season!
cookbooked on 11.9.2011
Loooved the “…what I don’t want to look like in 20 years” remark! Oh how I needed that good , hearty laugh. And the pudding looks good, too. I shall make it and smile.
bc in edmond on 11.9.2011
i’ve made this recipe for years – my cookbook calls it baked apple pudding – the consistency is somewhat soft and extra yummy! my recipe adds nutmeg and vanilla – perfect for fall
emilyrw on 11.9.2011
yummy!