Old Fashioned Apple Cake

I am on an apple cake mission this fall.  This is the second cake I have tried, both delicious in their own way.  I'll share the other soon.  This is a dark, moist cake with a texture like a fruit bread.  I think it would also bake up nicely in loaf pans.  My kids inhaled it.  I will have to make it again soon, as the flavor haunts me in my empty kitchen....

Old Fashioned Apple Cake
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1/2 c. water
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 c. flour
2 Tbsp. baking cocoa
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. ground cardamom
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 medium tart apples, peeled and grated
1 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cardamom sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy.  Beat in water and extracts.  Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture.  Stir in apples, nuts and chips.  Pour into a greased and floured 10 inch fluted tube pan. Bake at 325 for 60-70 min. or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 min; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.  Combine sugar and cardamom in a blender; process 1 min.  Sprinkle 3-5 Tablespoons over cooled cake.  Store remaining sugar in an airtight container for another use.  Yield 12-15 servings.

Notes:  This is the original recipe from Taste of Home 1998.  I used oil instead of butter.  I also combined only 1/4 c. sugar with a little cardamom to use for sprinkling.  If you don't have cardamom, I am sure the cake will still be excellent.  You could use cinnamon sugar for sprinkling.

Jenny