Mixing Bowl: RECIPES! Autumn Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Bonfire Chocolate Chip Cookies and Fall Salad

Linda Thomson

4 hours ago

3 min read

Marlene’s Autumn Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe is packed with fresh apple chunks and cinnamon for a tasty autumnal treat. Perfect for fireside nights and cozy autumn days.

Meet my first contributor, Marlene. She and I have known each other since high school! Enjoy her recipe with a friend and get caught up!

Ingredients:

3 large eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

4 cups chopped peeled tart apples

¾ cup chopped pecans

Frosting:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

¼ butter, softened

3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Cake Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
In a mixer bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla
Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well
Fold in the apples and the pecans
Pour into a greased 13x9-in. Baking dish
Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
Cool pan on a wire rack

Frosting Directions:

In a small bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter.
Add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth, spread over cake.
Refrigerate left overs.

Hannah’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Perfect to take on a hayride or bring to a bonfire!

Meet my second contributor, my great niece Hannah, she is 16 and is sharing her family Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. Her and her mom, my niece Janelle, her dad John, and sisters - Ella and Norah live in Illinois. She shares this picture of their families yearly fall bonfire at there home. Enjoy her cookies!

Ingredients:

½ cup unsalted butter, melted. (let cool for 5 minutes)

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ⅓ cup flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 cup chocolate chips

Flacky sea salt

Decorative sprinkles

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

In a mixer mix the cooled melted butter with the brown sugar and the white sugar until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix until well combined.

To the same bowl, add flour, baking soda and salt mixing by hand until just combined, do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Using a cookie scoop, form dough into balls (approximately 1.5 Tablespoons).

Place dough balls in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes, (the longer the better).

When ready to bake, remove the dough balls from the refrigerator, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the dough balls on the baking sheet.

Bake for 10-11 minutes until the edges are golden brown. It’s ok if the cookies are a little undercooked, they will continue to bake as they cool.

Sprinkle with sea salt or decorative sprinkles.

Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.

Pam's Fall Salad with Pears & Blue Cheese.

Dig into this fresh pear and blue cheese salad, made with chopped walnuts, dried cranberries (or fresh red grapes), and a delicious honey mustard dressing. This salad is easy to make and ultra-flavorful.

Meet my last contributor for this post, my dear friend Pam. We had the pleasure of meeting when our girls (who are in their 30's!) were in kindergarten.