Welcome to February! February is for lovers, and I'm so happy it's finally here!
Valentine's Day is a big deal around these parts, and I've got loads of cute desserts for two to share with you this year. First up: this spicy cinnamon apple cake. I made a cinnamon cake in a 6" round cake pan, sliced it in half, and spread it with cinnamon buttercream. I left the edges of the cake bare, but you can frost the edges if you wish. Then, I cooked apple slices in a mixture of cinnamon red hots and sugar. (Here's a link to the exact candy I used for my overseas friends: Cinnamon Imperials). The apple slices that I did not eat straight out of the skillet, made it on the cake. They were the lucky ones.
I can't resist these bright red candied apple slices.
Over the holidays, my husband's Grandma served us a ham casserole with a big bowl of these apples. Since dessert on the dinner table is my favorite thing ever, I had no fewer than 3 servings. I can't remember the last time I've had a meal that reminded me so much of being a kid. Doesn't Grandma always cook slightly naughty recipes? Only Grandmas serve candy as a side dish at dinnertime. Moms serve steamed broccoli. And I think we all feel the same way about that.
Candy for dinner + dessert = the good life.
If you're a veteran dessert for two baker, all we're doing here is making my recipe for mini lemon layer cake minus the lemon. I substituted cinnamon (obviously). The buttercream recipe is brand spankin' new (because I love you).
If you're a new mini dessert baker, look for a 6" round cake pan at a hobby store, a specialty cookware store, or Amazon (I linked to mine). I bought mine at Hobby Lobby, but I just saw a similar pan at Sur La Table. My pan is only 2" deep; I do not recommend the super deep ones. Those are meant for the top layer of wedding cakes. I'm sure it would bake up fine in it, but I just haven't tested it.
Will you be my Valentine?
A mini layered apple cinnamon cake topped with red hot apples.Red Hot Cinnamon Apple Cake
Ingredients
For the cinnamon cake:
For the apples:
For the cinnamon buttercream:
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 1960Total Fat: 73gSaturated Fat: 43gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 266mgSodium: 418mgCarbohydrates: 325gFiber: 5gSugar: 260gProtein: 10g
Erika says
Those apples look stunning on top of that cake.. I mean apples cooked in red hots.. for real that's genius..
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
I'm loving those apples! What a brilliant idea!
Stephie @ EYHO says
Yes, yes I'll be your Valentine! ;-) Partly because I just can't get over how pretty those apples are on this little cake.
Heather Disarro (@heathersdish) says
I've never been so excited about the fact that I now own a 6" cake pan. OMG.
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Yes, yes YES I will be your valentine!! I'm totally crazy for these cinnamon apple slices and this cinna-riffic cake. You are the Valentine dessert queen :)
Tieghan says
Oh my gosh! That topping is amazing! Yay for Valentines day!
bakerbynature says
This is incredible! The perfect V-day cake, lady! xo
steph@stephsbitebybite says
Oh whoa!!! This is calling my name! Loving these flavors!
chris says
My heart is singing for this cake! Love love!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
A layer cake for two just makes me SO happy!