Honey Apple Cake

This is a marvelous recipe to serve with a buffet brunch or at an after-dinner party. It looks decorative, though old-fashioned in appearance, and it tastes just as good as it looks. You may want to make more than 1 cake if serving more than 6 people. Serve with vanilla ice cream while the cake is hot for an extra special treat.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

3 Gala or Rome apples: peeled, cored and sliced into 1/8-1/4 inch slices.
Set apple slices aside in a separate bowl.

1/4 cup honey, set aside.

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons honey
2 beaten egg yolks
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and/or cinnamon
1 teaspoon orange peel or orange zest

1. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, butter, 2 tablespoons honey, egg yolks and milk. Thoroughly mix the ingredients.

2. Grease a 9 inch round pan with a removable bottom. (A 9 inch pie pan will work fine.)

3. Spread the dough all over the bottom and sides of the prepared pan. (The edge of the dough will over hang from the pan about an inch to or more, do not trim this extra dough.) You may roll the dough out into a floured surface for ease if you like, I do not however.

4. Place apples in the dough with cut side down.

5. Pour 1/4 cup honey over the apples. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and/or cinnamon over the honey. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of orange peel or zest over the spices.

6. Gently fold the extra dough over the apples, so that it covers about 1 1/4 inches of the apples.

7. Bake 30-40 minutes. Serve warm for best flavor.