Wedding Anniversary and an Apple Cake Recipe

While he probably could have, I personally could not think of a better way to celebrate our third wedding anniversary than a hand in hand stroll through a young apple orchard. I'm not quite sure he fully shares my joy of picking apples, but he took me here because I told him to  because he loves me! And, we went out for lunch afterwards, so he had a good afternoon too. :) I love this man! We've had a wonderful three years together, full of moving, pregnancies, hectic schedules and lots of games; especially Phase 10.

Just this past week he received a phone call offering him a position at his dream job. I am so proud of him having succeeded in something he has been working towards for so long! He got off the phone and in sharing the news with me, handed me a secure future all wrapped up in smiles and I could not have been given a more perfect anniversary gift! Though yes, he did buy me flowers too... as did my grandma and my cousin brought in some fall colors too. They're all so beautiful!

Back to picking apples... There were none! Not in the trees, not on the ground. I couldn't believe it! But, I still loved the stroll and the fact that my visiting- from- out- of- state cousin spent the morning at home with our daughter added to my ability to enjoy the serenity that emanates from the orchard. Cool crisp air, silence, rows upon rows of trees...

This is one of my favorite places in the whole world! Luckily, we've already been here a few times, which is why I've already had bags of dried apples to snack on, bowls of homemade cinnamon and brown sugar apple sauce, generous spoonfuls of apple crisp, apple dumplings, and my new find: Spiced Apple Honey Cake with Cream Cheese frosting! (Recipe below.) Bummer the apples were all gone by today, but we still had a good time and hubby snapped a few pictures of my pregnant self. So here is what I look like 33 1/2 weeks pregnant!

And now, on to the recipe. Yes, of course this is a gluten free recipe- but you'd never know it! And, I promise you: No weird ingredients!

Spiced Apple Honey Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from Opera Girl Cooks Spiced Apple Honey Cake.
*Opera Girl suggests baking this in two loaf pans instead (increase baking time by ten minutes.)

Cake (Yields two 9" round cakes.):
3 Cups oat flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

5 eggs
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup apple sauce

3 cups shredded, (fresh picked) apples
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325 and prepare two 8 or 9 inch cake pans by spraying with non stick cooking spray and lining with parchment paper.

Combine the dry ingredients and set aside. Combine the eggs, honey and apple sauce together before adding to the dry ingredients. Stir. Combine shredded apples, pecans and raisins together and then fold into the batter. Pour mixture into the two cake pans and bake for 35 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into center comes out clean.

Let cakes cool on a wire rack to room temperature before frosting and assembling.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
~2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix ingredients well.

I garnished my cake with cinnamon powdered sugar. This recipe is posted on my food blog.