Fall, 1989. As the leaves turned a beautiful burnt orange and the cold-weather clothing was retrieved from storage, I’d hear a familiar warning as I reached into the refrigerator:
“Don’t drink all the apple juice!”
I can still hear my mom’s voice, issuing the command as I hurriedly selected a different beverage. Because in my childhood home, fall meant long walks, oversized hoodies and my mom’s special Apple Juice Cake. I’m not quite sure why it was only baked in those selected months; perhaps it’s because the cake paired well with strong, hot coffee and was the perfect comfort food on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Regardless, as soon as the weather cools and the days become shorter, I find myself thinking about that cake, made with simple ingredients that I always have on hand. Today, I continue the tradition during the autumn months with my own boys. To them, it’s Grandma’s Apple Juice Cake. To me, it’s a piece of my childhood.
This spicy, aromatic cake features the goodness of Allen’s Apple Juice and plump sultana raisins. Served simply with a dusting of powdered sugar, it’s just sweet enough to serve with coffee or with a drizzle of caramel sauce for dessert. The best part? It’s so easy to make that the kids can take the reins. You can mix everything by hand (no electric mixer required) and it freezes beautifully, too.
Grandma’s Apple Juice Cake
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 cup Allen’s Apple Juice
1 cup sultana raisins
Preheat oven to 325° F. Mix sugar and butter until soft and creamy. Add egg and stir well.
Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Add flour mixture alternately with apple juice to sugar mixture (about four additions of each).
Bonus marks if your kid grimaces as he tries to stir the tough cake dough. It builds muscles, son!
Stir in sultana raisins.
Bake in a greased and floured 8-inch round pan for 1 hour. Cool completely; dust with powdered sugar before serving. (Or, once cooled, cut into slices and freeze for up to six months.)
My husband, who is not a fan of desserts (I know, I can’t believe it either) loves this cake. I’ve made it twice this season; I’ll make it at least twice more before the holidays roll around. Perhaps one day, my grandkids will think of this cake as belonging to their Great Grandma.
“Great Grandma’s Apple Juice Cake” – it has a nice ring to it!
Are there certain foods that bring back childhood memories? Do you continue the tradition with your own kids?
This post is sponsored by Allen’s. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
Oh yes, plenty bring back memories such as perogies and cabbage rolls. This cake sounds delicious.
lol your son is soooooo cute! I would’ve never thought to use apple juice in cake, fab recipes thanks! I hope to try it this weekend.
Sounds very good and easy to make.
What a wonderful recipe,thanks i’m going to try this on the weekend !
I definitely prefer apple flavors over pumpkin for fall and this sounds lovely.
Sounds like an awesome cake, my grandmother every winter made potato candy and in the fall she made beet jelly, I miss those two the most and have tried making them myself, but always failed, it was the love that she put into making them that was so special!
Oh this looks yummy! Sounds even better!! My gramma use to make the most amazing donuts, gravy and ice cream.. it was always a great weekend if she made all 3!!
I’m not a big fan of dessert either so I can relate to your hubby. This sounds not super sweet though so I might give it a try!
It’s so special when a recipe from grandma is nostalgic, rich with memories, for you to create with your own children. I like the simplicity of the recipe & would love it with a cup of coffee on a snowy day like today!
Never heard of an applesauce cake before but it sounds really good, will have to make it for dessert on of these days, thanks for the recipe Lena!
Sounds yummy minus the raisins.
Sounds yummy!!
I love the simplicity of this recipe – these classics are by far the best recipes :) Thank you for sharing
apple juice in cake – that is new to me! gonna have to try this one it looks yummy :)
This looks so yummy! I am going to give it a try. Thank you for sharing.
Love the expression on your son’s face as he mixes the dough, hilarious. :-)
Sounds like an easy but delicious cake.
This cake looks so yummy and I can’t wait to try this easy recipe. I’m already craving to have it with a cup of tea.
I love the sound of this recipe! Can’t wait to try it out! Cherry Cheese cake brings back memories of my childhood!
This looks like an easy and delicious recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
I would hate to play with Grandma’s recipe, but I would probably use golden raisins and leave out the allspice to suit my gang’s tastes. Otherwise – yum!
I love the looks of this recipe, warm and full of scent. I make Honey cake because it reminds me of my childhood. Also the smell of rum does. It always smelled like rum at Christmas time.
often the most delicious and classic recipes are the most simplistic! i love how straightforward this recipe is and it really looks amazing! will definitely have to try this with my kids :)
What a simple recipe that looks delicious
This sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing, I’m definitely trying this recipe
apple juice cake? k i am totally intrigued! i would love to give this a try. I know my daughter would love it. she has a thing for apple juice
I absolutely love anything apple flavored. This cake sounds so very delicious! Thanks for sharing.
I really like the flavour of adding apple juice to baked goods and savoury dishes too. My family would love this.
Homemade bread and homemade soup brings back memories of my childhood.My grandfather used to make fudge for us at Christmas time too.I love this unique apple juice cake recipe and will be making it for a treat. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
This cake looks really moist & yummy!
This sounds delicious and easy to make!
I’ve never heard of Apple Juice Cake but I can’t wait to try it because I love raisins and like that fact that they are included in this cake.
It is so great to have a good recipe that reminds you of your Grandmother. We have a couple of cookie recipes that also remind us of my grandmother.
I’ve never heard of a cake like this, but it sounds delicious! Going to have to make this one day. Definitely prefer apple over the pumpkin craze for fall.
This recipe sounds amazing and I love that the ingredients are items you would have available in your pantry!!
This recipe is delicious and we made it again this weekend pass with the grandkids and they put pineapple juice in by accident….oh no,i cooked it anyway and it was not as good as the Apple but was eatable !
This sounds great!
I make muffins with applesauce, but I’ve never baked with apple juice! Looks delish! You have a handsome helper!
That cake looks amazing! Carrot cake muffins bring back childhood memories for me.
Sounds so simple and so delicious!
Looks so good – off to buy some apple juice
This looks like an easy family friendly recipe.
When my grandson visits now he asks for the apple juice cake !
Looks so yummy and looks easy to make too!
I think everyone in my family would like this cake!
Wonderul recipe, I love apple flavoured things
We had this for breakfast this morning,it’s always a hit with great-grandmother!
This comes together quickly and is really nice–not too sweet.
Can I make this in a loaf pan and serve it as a breakfast quick bread? Any reason not to try? I realize the baking time may be affected…
I made this with some white grape juice that was lurking in the fridge — SO delicious! Now I have to decide if I go buy some more white grape juice on purpose so I can make it again!
I used this recipe as a base to use up some cookie icing (instead of sugar) and apple cider caramel (instead of juice), so my comments are really notes to self and not very accurate to the recipe as printed. 1/2 cup icing should’ve been thinned out with more than 1/2 cup water, or juice, or sub some oil as the cake came out a little dry. Applesauce on top was very good. Maybe reduce sugar and put it on top as a streusel instead of in the cake itself.