Moist Apple Cake

Ingredients:
Four large gala or granny smith apples
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 1/4-cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon plus 1/2-teaspoon cinnamon
Two eggs
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
Cooking spray
1/3 cup heavy cream, lightly sweetened and whipped (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325-degrees.

Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Thinly slice eight apple quarters into a medium-sized bowl. Add lemon juice and toss; set aside. Using a box grater's coarse side, grate the remaining apples onto a plate; set aside.

In medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1-cup of the sugar, and 1/2-teaspoon of the cinnamon. In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir in 1-1/2 cups grated apple and walnuts. With a rubber spatula, scrape wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix; set aside.

Line the bottom of an 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pan with parchment or wax paper and coat with cooking spray. Mix apple slices with remaining cup sugar and 1/2-teaspoon cinnamon, then layer evenly over bottom of pan. Scoop batter on top and spread to completely cover apple slices.

Place pan on middle rack of oven. Bake approximately 50 minutes. Test with a toothpick; when it comes out dry, remove cake from oven and cool 15 minutes on a rack. Run a knife around edge of pan and turn cake over onto a plate. Slice into wedges and serve with a small dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Recipe makes eight to ten servings.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 343
Total Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Protein: 4g
Carbohydrate: 55g
Fiber: 3g
Cholesterol: 53mg
Sodium: 198mg