Grandma Lorraine’s Apple Angel Food Cake Recipe

This Grandma Lorraine’s Apple Angel Food Cake recipe is an easy and elegant recipe, which is made with a store-bought angel food cake and a warm apple-caramel sauce. It’s a no-fuss dessert, ready in about 30 minutes.

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Grandma Lorraine’s Apple Angel Food Cake Ingredients

A simple list for an impressive dessert using a smart shortcut.

• 1 (10-inch) store-bought angel food cake
• 5 Cortland apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 1 (12-ounce) can citrus soda (like 7-Up or Sprite)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup apple brandy
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup raisins

How To Make Grandma Lorraine’s Apple Angel Food Cake

A step-by-step guide to this wonderfully simple and elegant dessert.

1. Prep the Apples: Place the thinly sliced apples in a large bowl. Pour the citrus soda and water over them and let them sit for about 5 minutes. This will help prevent them from browning.
2. Make the Caramel Syrup: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Continue stirring until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture begins to simmer.
3. Simmer the Topping: Drain the apples well. Carefully add the drained apples, apple brandy, pecans, and raisins to the simmering syrup in the skillet.
4. Reduce and Thicken: Reduce the heat to low and let the entire mixture simmer for about 15 minutes. The apples should become tender and the liquid should reduce to a thick, syrupy consistency.
5. Serve: Cut the angel food cake into wedges. To serve, place a slice of cake on a plate and spoon the warm apple mixture generously over the top.

Recipe Tips

• What are the best apples for this? The recipe calls for Cortland, which is a great all-purpose apple. You can also use any firm, tart baking apple that holds its shape, like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Granny Smith.
• Can I make this non-alcoholic? Yes, absolutely. To make this alcohol-free, simply replace the 1/2 cup of apple brandy with 1/2 cup of good-quality apple cider or apple juice.
• Can I make the apple topping ahead of time? Yes. This topping is perfect for making ahead. Let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it gently in a saucepan over low heat before serving.
• What if I don’t have molasses? The molasses adds a deep, rich, and slightly bitter flavor that balances the sweetness. If you don’t have it, you can substitute it with an equal amount of dark brown sugar, though the flavor will be slightly less complex.

What To Serve With Apple Angel Food Cake

This dessert is fantastic as-is, but the warm topping makes it a perfect partner for…

• A large scoop of vanilla bean ice cream (highly recommended!)
• A dollop of fresh, unsweetened whipped cream
• A hot cup of coffee or a spiced chai latte

How To Store Apple Angel Food Cake

• Storage: This dessert is best stored in separate components. Store the angel food cake in an airtight container at room temperature. Store the cooled apple topping in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Reheat the topping in a small saucepan over low heat or in the microwave in 30-second bursts.

Grandma Lorraine’s Apple Angel Food Cake Nutrition Facts

(Per serving, assuming 10 servings)

• Calories: ~410 kcal
• Total Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 25mg
• Sodium: 140mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 68g
• Dietary Fiber: 3g
• Sugars: 52g
• Protein: 3g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

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