Another cozy recipe by Giada De Laurentiis is this Apple Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Icing that you can whip up for celebrations, prepared with tart apples, pure maple syrup, fresh eggs, creamy cheese, and crunchy walnuts.

This tasty Apple Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Icing recipe works wonderfully as a dessert that takes about 155 minutes to prepare and serves up to 12 people.

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Recipe Ingredients

• Butter, for greasing the pan
• All-purpose flour, for dusting

For the Cake:

• 3 medium green apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and diced into ¼ to ½-inch pieces
• 1½ cups of pure maple syrup
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar
• ¾ cup of vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp of pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp of baking powder
• 1½ tsp of baking soda
• 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp of ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp of ground ginger
• ½ tsp of fine sea salt
• 1 cup of chopped walnuts

For the Icing:

• 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar
• ¼ cup of heavy cream
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 tsp of pure vanilla extract

How To Make Giada Spiced Apple Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

1. Preheat Your Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and position a rack in the center. Liberally grease a 10-inch Bundt pan with butter and dust it with flour to prevent sticking.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the apples, maple syrup, eggs, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir until everything is well mixed.
3. Prepare the Dry Mix: In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until evenly combined.
4. Combine and Fold: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture in batches, folding gently to combine. Add the chopped walnuts and fold them in just until evenly distributed.
5. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely for about 1 hour.
6. Prepare the Icing: In a food processor, blend together the confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and 3 tbsp of water until smooth. Add more water 1 tsp at a time until the icing reaches a pourable consistency.
7. Finish and Set: Spoon the icing over the cooled cake, letting it naturally drizzle down. Allow the icing to set for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Recipe Tips

• Choose the Right Apples: Using tart, firm apples like Granny Smith is key for this cake. They hold their shape during baking, preventing the cake from becoming overly mushy or losing its texture.
• Toasting the Walnuts: For an added depth of flavor, toast the walnuts lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes before folding them into the batter.
• Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet cake, you can reduce the amount of maple syrup slightly. The natural sweetness of the apples and icing will still balance the flavor well.
• Adding a Caramel Drizzle: For a richer finish, consider making a simple caramel sauce by melting sugar and butter until golden. Drizzle the caramel over the icing for an indulgent touch.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More cake Recipes:

• Giada Lavender Honey Cake
• Giada Chocolate Amaretti Cake
• Giada Chocolate Coconut Cake Recipe