Harvard Farmers Market

Recipe From the kitchen of Risa Tracey:

For the cake:

Ingredients:

1 pound Grannysmith apples- peeled, cored, diced

1/4 cup water

2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup dried currants

1 cup walnuts, chopped

2 cups sugar

2 sticks unsalted butter,softened

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 large eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch-cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Combine apples and water in small saucepan. Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Place in processor; purée until smooth and set aside. Sift 2 1/2 cups flour and next 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Toss currants with remaining 1 tablespoon flour in small bowl to coat; mix in walnuts.

Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter and vanilla in large bowl until blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in half of flour mixture and 1 1/4 cups apple purée, then remaining flour mixture. Stir in currants and walnuts. Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes; turn cakes out onto racks and cool.

For the frosting:

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 cups walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until blended. Beat in cream cheese, then maple syrup. Chill for about 20 minutes.

To assemble cake:

Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with second layer; spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with third layer. Spread 1 cup frosting in thin layer over cake. Chill 15 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over cake. Press 2 cups walnuts halfway up sides of cake. Chill until frosting is set, at least 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)