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
Danae @ reciperunner says
Cinnamon, apples, and cakes meant for two, this is perfect!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) says
I'm happy January is over. I'm a fan of February too :-) That's a pretty gorgeous cake!
Garrett McCord says
Love love love this. XD
freshfitnhealthy says
This looks too delicious to be true! Mmmm. Cinnamon and apple topping? so creative and yummy sounding!
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Willow @Will Cook For Friends says
Cinnamon is one of my favorite flavors in dessert, but I don't think I've ever had a cinnamon cake before -- needless to say, I would be all over this!
Carla | Carla's Confections says
Love this cake Christina!
Food Stories (@FoodStoriesBlog) says
Gorgeous ~ Would love to see this submitted at FoodFotoGallery.com so I can share with all my foodie friends :-)
The Domestic Rebel says
OMG, I freakin' love red hot candies! And I am IN LOVE with these naughty candied apples! Theeee perfect way to top a cake, ifyaaskme.
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
Love those red hot apples! Gorgeous!
Valentina says
I LOVE this! Beautiful!