Apple Cinnamon Cake: A Delightful Fall Treat

INGREDIENTS:

For the Cake:

– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1 cup granulated sugar
– 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
– 2 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
– 2 cups peeled and diced apples (any firm variety, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)

For the Topping:

– 1/4 cup brown sugar
– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
– 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat and Prepare the Pan

– Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan and lightly dust it with flour. Set aside.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients
– In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3. Cream Butter and Sugar
– In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 2–3 minutes.

4. Incorporate Wet Ingredients
– Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract and Greek yogurt (or sour cream) until the batter is smooth.

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
– Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender. Fold in the diced apples …