German Apple Cake and Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

This cake smelled so good while it was baking that I couldn’t wait till I could taste it. And taste it I did, straight from the oven. I have zero patience (hee hee). My taste buds were in heaven with the first bite…soft apple chunks, a slightly crispy top and cinnamony super moist cake , ahhhhh! I had to have more, and the cream cheese frosting wasn’t even on it yet!

As far as I’m concerned , this cake is good just like this. I didn’t have tart apples , what I had was yellow delicious, which I think made it sweeter and perfect without the cream cheese frosting. BUT! There is a cream cheese frosting for this little baby and that was good too! Whether you like it with or without frosting this cake needs to be made by people who adore apples and cinnamon.

GERMAN APPLE CAKE
Taste Of Home

Ingredients:

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups chopped peeled tart apples
3/4 cup chopped pecans (I didn’t use these)

FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Fold in apples and nuts. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter. Add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth. Spread over cake. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
I think we need some cupcakes for dessert after this delightful dinner. How about Chocolate Orange Cupcakes. These cupcakes get they’re orange flavor from the zest and juice of an orange. Remember the chocolate that use to look like an orange, it even had sections in it like an orange would, I can’t remember the name of it but I loved those things! These cupcakes are brownie like and gooey, don’t you just love gooey! They’re also made with mayonnaise, that’s what makes them so moist. Throw in some chocolate chips and you’ve got a cupcake that’s (in the words of our 11 yr old daughter) AWESOME!!!! No frosting required .

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUPCAKES
Taste Of Home

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Confectioners’ sugar

Directions: In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine the mayonnaise, orange peel and vanilla; gradually add orange juice until blended. Stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips (batter will be thick). Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 18-23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Yield: 9 cupcakes