World Flavors Cookbook

Appalachian Stack Cake

Name: Appalachian Stack Cake
Cook time: 90 min
Cuisine: United States
Ingredients: For cake layers: 500g flour, 200g sugar, 150g butter, 2 eggs, 100ml sorghum molasses, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt; For apple filling: 500g dried apple slices, 400ml water, 100g brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp cloves

Traditional Appalachian wedding cake — thin gingerbread layers stacked high with dried apple filling, made by neighbors each bringing a layer as a contribution.

Cuisine: United States

Ingredients

For cake layers: 500g flour, 200g sugar, 150g butter, 2 eggs, 100ml sorghum molasses, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt
For apple filling: 500g dried apple slices, 400ml water, 100g brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp cloves

Instructions

Make filling: simmer dried apples in water until very soft (30 min). Add sugar and spices. Mash to chunky paste. Cool.
Make dough: cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and molasses. Add dry ingredients. Mix to a stiff dough.
Divide into 6-7 portions. Roll each thin (1/4 inch).
Bake each layer on a round pan at 350F for 10-12 minutes.
Stack cooled layers with generous apple filling between each.
Wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 24 hours for layers to soften and meld.