Apples, apples, and more apples! Recently, my family visited an apple orchard and I purchased a bushel of apples. (That is about forty pounds!) They were only sixty cents a pound, so I couldn’t resist! Today I am going to show you how I freeze my apples. In less than two hours, I was able to wash, peel, core, slice, bag, and freeze every apple! Later, I will share my favorite apple cake recipe…..mmmm!
Choose sweet apples for baking. These are a combination of Fuji and Golden Delicious apples.
Thouroughly wash the apples. I use Liquid Organic Cleaner (L.O.C.) from Amway.
Peel, core, and slice the apples. Usually, I use the one I have from Pampered Chef, but mine broke. So, I borrowed this one from a friend. It is called Peel Away.
This is what the apple should look like when you are done.
Cut the apple into fourths (or smaller). At this time, cut off blemishes, bruising, or any apple seeds that might remain.
Gather lots of bowls! This is what a bushel of sliced apples looks like! Note: the apples will turn brown. I have heard that you can make a syrup to prevent this, but I only use my frozen apples for baking, so I don’t care if they turn brown.
Can you envision all of the yumminess that I will be able to create?
Measure the apples. I put 3 cups of apples in some bags. (The amount needed for my apple cake recipe.) I put 6 cups of apples in other bags. (The amount needed for apple crisp and apple pies.) If I wanted to make applesauce, I would use two bags of the apples with 6 cups.
I use quart size freezer bags to avoid freezer burn. If you don’t have the freezer quality bags, then double bag them. After bagging, remove as much air from the bag as possible.
One bushel made 10 bags containing 3 cups of apples and 16 bags containing 6 cups of apples. That will make 10 apple cakes and 16 apple pies or apple crisps!
Place all of the bags in the freezer. If properly bagged, they will freeze up to a year.
Let’s bake!
One of my closest friends gave me this recipe for apple cake. She used to have an apple tree in her backyard, so she has all kinds of yummy apple recipes!
Alisha’s Apple Cake
2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups of shortening or oil
1 1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups of flour
3 cups of apples (peeled, cored, and diced)
Optional: 1 cup nuts
Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Combine sugar, eggs, shortening/oil, soda, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla. Combine. Slowly add in the flour until thouroughly mixed. Stir in the apples. (and nuts, if using) Pour into a greased bundt pan or 9x 13 pan. Bake about 35-40 minutes for a bundt pan or 30-35 minutes for a 9×13 pan. While it bakes, make the icing below.
Icing
Powdered sugar
1/2 cup of hot water
Starting with 1/2 cup of water, gradually combine powdered sugar and water until it is a thick syrup-like consistency. (not watery) While the cake is still hot, pour the icing over the cake. The mixture will harden as it cools.
Little Man making an apple cake.
Add in the apples.
Try to share with others. It will be hard, but you can do it!
