¾ cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup apple jelly
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-3-inch springform pan.
Pare apples and cut each into 6 wedges; remove cores. Place wedges in a bowl and sprinkle with the 2 Tablespoons of sugar mixed with the 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Toss until wedges are coated; set aside.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In large bowl of electric mixer combine butter, 1 cup sugar, eggs, and almond or vanilla extract. Beat at high speed, scraping often, until mixture is very light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in half of flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Stir in sour cream until combined. Add rest of flour, mixing until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Arrange the coated apples on top of batter, slightly pushing pieces partly into batter, just enough to anchor them. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and the sides have started to pull away. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack for 10 minutes. A few minutes before the 10 minutes is up, melt the apple jelly in a small pan or skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until completely melted. Carefully loosen the cake around the edges with a knife, release the spring and carefully lift off side of pan. Using a fine pastry brush, brush the entire top of cake with hot melted jelly, trying to keep jelly from running over edges. Sprinkle top with toasted almonds. Serve warm or cooled by itself, or with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.
Recipe by The Culinary Cellar at https://theculinarycellar.com/jelly-glazed-apple-cake/