Old Fashioned Warm Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp sea salt or table salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 4 cups peeled, cored and 1/4-inch diced apples
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, for topping, optional
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt or table salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. For the apple cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 13 by 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for 20 seconds, then put it aside. In another medium bowl, toss the diced apples with the lemon juice and set those aside too.
2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter until the mixture looks light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each one. Turn the mixer to low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, and mix only until it comes together; the batter will be very thick.
3. Add the apples and mix just until they are worked through the batter, which will still be thick. Scrape it into the prepared baking dish and smooth it out into an even layer.
4. Bake until a toothpick poked into the center comes out without wet batter on it, though a damp crumb is fine, about 33 – 38 minutes. Make the topping during the last 5 – 10 minutes of baking so the cake and sauce are both warm when served.
5. Let the cake cool for about 5 minutes, then slice it into squares. Serve it warm, spooning sauce over each piece and adding the optional pecans if you like.
6. For the sauce: Combine the butter, brown sugar, milk, and salt in a medium saucepan; add a little more salt if you want a stronger salted caramel or toffee note. Set the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring now and then.
7. Once it boils, let it cook for 1 1/2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool the sauce slightly, then serve it warm over the warm cake.