Winter Apple Cake

This apple-packed cake is a gratifying way to enjoy apples in winter. The icing is optional, but really, why not slather it on.

Makes one 22cm (9x9inch) square cake, or a 22cm (9in) round spring-form cake

3 eggs

1 cup (250ml) vegetable oil

1 1/2 cup (375 ml) sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups (500ml) flour (use a mixture of whole wheat flour if desired)

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

4 cups peeled and chopped apples (about 4 apples)

For the icing:

1 cup (250ml) cream cheese

1 cup icing sugar

1 tsp butter

zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F. Great desired pan and set aside.

Beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla in a bowl until thick and light. In a separate bowl stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add dry mixture to wet and stir, just to combine. Stir in apples. Spoon mixture (it will be thick) into pan and bake for 45 minutes.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Beat cream cheese with sugar, butter, lemon zest and vanilla until smooth. At the 45 minute mark, remove cake from oven and top with icing. Return pan to oven and bake for 15 minutes more, or until a skewer pierced into the center of cake no longer emerges with gooey batter. Testing is tough with icing on top; 1 hour is usually enough baking time.

Allow to cool, a little, before serving.

For more information on seasonal ingredients and recipes, visit www.SelectNovaScotia.ca