Grandma’s Yankee Apple John Cake – Holiday Recipes

Once again we head back to that Country Kitchen in the little town of Corinth for another one of Grandma's favorite recipes.  We caught her making this one while listening to the Statler Brothers' Christmas CD.

Grandma Carrie tells me that this delicious dish actually comes from her mother, Laura Shaw, who made this when she was a young girl.  The recipe is thought to be over 100 years old. Later in life, Grandma Carrie found a copy from the National Grange Coobook, which was passed on by the local pennysaver.

Yankee Apple John Cake

6 tart apples

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups flour (sifted)

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

2/3 cup milk

**nutmeg sauce (see bottom)

Slice apples thin and put them into a greased  glass baking dish (9 x 12)
Combine sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together and sprinkle over apples
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together
Cut in shortening add milk and mix to form a soft dough
Roll out the dough and place over the apple mixture
Brush with milk
Bake in preheated oven at 425 degrees for 25 minutes

Serve with nutmeg sauce to put over the top on each serving

**Nutmeg Sauce

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups boiling water

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon vinegar

Mix sugar, nutmeg, flour and salt together in a saucepan
Add boiling water; stir constantly until blended
Add butter; bring to a boil for 5 minutes
Stir in vinegar
Serve hot  over your cake