If you're anything like me, you love anything sweet and apple flavored. It doesn't matter if it is apple crumb cake, apple strudel, or a caramel apple.. I'm interested! It's hard to find a good recipe, even harder when you're trying to match your grandmothers homemade recipe. That one special recipe that had the whole family gathered, the smell of apples, cinnamon and warm vanilla frosting seeping through the air. 

My grandmother baked her apple fritter pie each Thanksgiving for us. Most kids look forward to some juicy turkey, fluffy stuffing, or sweet cranberry sauce, but not with us! We hurried through dinner and waited patiently for the smell of the apples baking in a nutmeg, cinnamon sauce that can't even be explained. If you aren't already drooling, then just wait for the smell of this delicious dessert to hit your nostril. If you're dying for a look at this down-home, backwoods, apple fritter pie, than look no further! Enjoy readers and keep on baking! 

For Filling: 

1 huge cup of sliced apples (I peeled, cored and sliced)

1/3 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon cinnamon  (split into two 1/2 teaspoons)

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 

2 tablespoons cornstarch 

2 teaspoons water 

1/2 cup brown sugar (light)

For Cake: 

1/3 cup butter

1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce 

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 

2 1/4 cups flour 

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

2 large eggs

1 1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

1 cup Greek yogurt (plain)

For Glaze:

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla 

6 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

For filling: 

Make your filling by combining apples, sugar, water, cinnamon (1 part) and cornstarch in a small saucepan.  Cook on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened and the apples are a bit soft (not mushy).  Set aside to cool.  In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together until well combined and set aside.

For Cake: 

Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and flour a 9×13 baking dish.  Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.  Add applesauce and vanilla and mix till combined.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift the dry ingredients together.  Add the dry ingredients to the batter in three parts alternating with the yogurt in two parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Beat until just combined.

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.  Spoon the cooled apple mixture over the batter carefully and spread as evenly as possible.  Sprinkle 2/3 of brown sugar cinnamon mixture over apples and cover with the rest of the batter.  Sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture over the top.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

For Glaze: 

While the cake is baking, make the glaze.  In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until the glaze is desired consistency.  When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately but carefully pour onto hot cake.  Try to pour as evenly as possible.  You might have to pick up the cake and tilt it to spread the glaze evenly.  I even poured some out that pooled at the corners and re-poured that over the top.  Let the cake sit for awhile for the glaze to set.

To anyone trying this recipe, I hope that you enjoy it as much as my family has. I can't wait to pass this recipe onto my children and I'm sure my grandmother would love to see her recipe in such a great light. Cooking isn't always easy, but she always said that if you are patient and you love the people you are feeding, you can't go wrong. It takes more than love to make a cake, but to make a cake, you need love. 

Adios Amigos! Come back for some Authentic Mexican Sweets!

-Sarah E. Seuell