Before I get around to telling you about this so, so good Caramel Apple Spice Cake and why you must go ahead and make it very soon. let’s back up to the why and how I put this cake together.
So what do you do when the ice and snow win? At some point you realize that maybe the stretch bands have won as well and you turn to those chores you’ve been putting off for weeks. Okay. Maybe months.
And, honestly – really – truly, I’m a fairly organized person. So when you see my kitchen and pantry in a state of yucky mess, you know it’s seriously in need of help. And mine definitely did. Here’s proof.
When you can’t find something you KNOW you’ve bought – when you’ve bought multiple quantities of the same item that you don’t need – when opening the cabinet brings life-threatening potential – that’s the time of reckoning. And that’s exactly what happened to me this week.
My sweet friend, Lyndi over at NWAFoodie, shared some excellent tips earlier on how you might best purge and organize. Her key points are ones that we all know, or should know, to do. But do we do them?
Do you have a place for everything and everything in its place? Do you expired pantry items including those spices that have been hanging out in your cabinets since the Pilgrims landed? Why do you need a gazillion grocery sacks or Wal Mart bags? Those dishes that you inherited from your Great Aunt Bethel – the ones that you can’t stand – why are you hanging onto them? (No. Neither your daughter nor your son want them either.) Lyndi helps you walk through all of that clutter so you can ultimately unclutter your kitchen and your life.
Go visit her then come back and make this cake — which is soooooooooooooooo good!You may be wondering just how I managed to hook this spistle on decluttering to this cake. This cake is the result of purging my pantry.
I had completely forgotten about buying this cake mix (tsk. tsk.), I had random amounts of chips and bits and brickle leftover from holiday baking, and I had some Greek yogurt in the frig that needed to be used. All of that added up to this cake.
What a happy surprise! Which just goes to show you that even in the midst of chaos, goodness reigns. Or something like that!
And so as not to eat the whole thing, I farmed it off gifted it to the people in Hubby’s office.
- 1 caramel apple cake mix *
- 1 3.4 ounce Instant Pumpkin Spice
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 8 ounces plain Greek yogurt or sour cream warm apple cider, apple juice or water
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Spray a tube or Bundt pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Mix together cake mix, instant pudding, eggs, oil, water, maple extract and sour cream. The mixture will be thick.
- Stir in plumped cranberries, caramel bits and butterscotch chips.
- Pour evenly into cake pan.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool upside down on a cake rack while still in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely before serving.
- This make a rich, dense cake that does not really need any glazing or icing. Garnish with caramel drizzle or powdered sugar if you prefer. I prefer this cake slightly warm.
- *A spice cake mix can be substituted with butterscotch pudding instead of the pumpkin spice. Decrease the oil to 1/2 cup and add 4 ounces of applesauce.
I love this! The ultimate in organizing is making everything better — and cake always make everything better!
I suppose accidental cakes and accidental organizing work however you get there! Thanks for the inspiration.
Can’t wait to discovery what delicious concoction is waiting to be uncovered in my pantry! Thanks for the suggestions, the inspiration and the recipe! I’m still wondering, though, what it is that was “Naked” in your pantry!
That’s hilarious!! You have me my first laugh of the day. Naked coconut water! I use it mostly in smoothies:). You can get naked with other flavors as well
My pantry gets cluttered too. This spice cake looks delicious. Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you soon.
It doesn’t take long for that to happen especially duri.ng busy baking times. Thanks for hosting the party