Tennessee Mountains Stack Cake
Discover the charm of Southern Appalachia with this Tennessee Mountains Stack Cake—a nostalgic dessert packed with rich flavors and heritage. This rustic cake features layers of tender, spiced molasses cake interspersed with a sweet and tangy dried apple filling, creating a perfect balance of warm, comforting flavors. The dough is uniquely dense, resembling a cookie texture, which bakes into thin layers that soften beautifully as the cake rests, allowing the flavors to meld together. Made with ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, and buttermilk, this traditional recipe is a true celebration of Appalachian culinary history. Perfect for gatherings or holiday tables, this stack cake rewards patience with its deep, complex flavor and show-stopping presentation.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Dried apples
- 4 cups Water
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 0.5 cup Brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 cup Molasses
- 2 large Eggs
- 4 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Ground ginger
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Buttermilk
Instructions
Prepare the apple filling: Place the dried apples and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook until the apples are soft, about 20 minutes.
Use a potato masher or the back of a spoon to mash the apples into a chunky paste. Stir in the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Let cool completely before using.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease 6 (8-inch) round cake pans. If you don't have enough pans, bake in batches.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and molasses until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated.
In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, and salt.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the wet ingredients, starting and ending with the dry mixture. Mix just until combined. The dough will be stiff, more like a cookie dough than a traditional cake batter.
Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. Press each portion evenly into the prepared cake pans, spreading it out to the edges. The layers will be thin.
Bake each layer for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and set. Allow the layers to cool completely before assembling.
To assemble the cake, place one layer on a serving plate and spread a generous amount of the apple filling over the top. Repeat with the remaining layers, finishing with a layer of apple filling on top.
Cover the cake and let it rest for 12-24 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. Slice and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
5374 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 118.7 g | 152% | |
| Saturated Fat | 69.3 g | 346% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 657 mg | 219% | |
| Sodium | 3754 mg | 163% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1013.8 g | 369% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 42.1 g | 150% | |
| Total Sugars | 592.6 g | ||
| Protein | 79.1 g | 158% | |
| Vitamin D | 5.2 mcg | 26% | |
| Calcium | 930 mg | 72% | |
| Iron | 32.9 mg | 183% | |
| Potassium | 5208 mg | 111% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
