Spiced Mushroom Apple Cake

Serves 8 · 25 min prep · 55 min cook

Ingredients

• 6 oz finely chopped cremini mushrooms
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups diced peeled tart apples
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with parchment so the cake lifts out cleanly after baking.
2. 2Melt one tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until they release moisture and turn golden-brown and fragrant, about 6 to 8 minutes.
3. 3Stir the diced apples into the same skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes more until the apples just begin to soften and pick up the mushroom fond. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
4. 4In a mixing bowl cream the remaining butter with both sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes with a hand mixer.
5. 5Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, scraping the bowl so everything is smooth.
6. 6Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, and salt in a separate bowl.
7. 7Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in two additions, alternating with the milk, and mix just until no flour streaks remain.
8. 8Fold the cooled mushroom-apple mixture gently through the batter so the pieces are evenly distributed without overmixing.
9. 9Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake 50 to 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
10. 10Cool in the pan 15 minutes, then lift out onto a rack to finish cooling. Dust with powdered sugar, slice thick, and set out on a board for easy weekend sharing.