Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp dark rum
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cubed
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with melted butter and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper.
  3. Peel, core, and cube the apples into small, uniform pieces. Toss them in a bowl with the cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of sugar until evenly coated.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Stir in the melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and rum until the mixture is smooth.
  6. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking gently until just combined; do not over-mix.
  7. Gently fold the cinnamon-coated apples into the batter using a spatula until the fruit is evenly distributed.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
  9. Bake for 35–45 minutes until the top is mahogany-colored and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  10. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.