October is National Apple Month as well as National Caramel Month, and what a great culinary combination that is! Celebrate October with this delicious recipe for Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce.

Fresh Apple Cake

2 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1½ teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

4 cups diced apples

1 cup chopped nuts

¼ cup raisins

2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9"x13" baking dish.

In a mixing bowl, blend sugar, oil and eggs until smooth; add flour, salt, soda and cinnamon, and beat until creamy. Add in the apples, nuts, raisins and vanilla. Pour batter into baking dish, and bake 60 minutes. Allow cake to cool in baking dish, and top with caramel icing.

Cut in squares to serve. Serves 12-15.


Best-Ever Caramel Icing

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

milk

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in brown sugar. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and add confectioner’s sugar and vanilla. Add milk to make the desired consistency.

Source: Country Treasures from Virginia Farm Bureau Kitchens