This is a torte recipe that I have been preparing for many years. I am sure that it was originally a contest winner, but I can’t remember where. It is definitely a keeper. You will want to make it over and over again.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup finely chopped almonds
2 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples (6 ounces each), peeled, cored and cut in thin wedges (2 ½ cups)
½ cup (6 ounces) apple jelly
½ cup sliced almonds
For garnish: Confectioner’s sugar
Directions:
Place the oven rack at the lowest position; heat oven to 350° degrees F.
Grease a 9-inch spring form pan.
Mix flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.
In a large bowl beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs one at a time, then lemon juice and vanilla.
Stir in flour mixture and chopped almonds until well blended.
Measure out 2/3 cup batter and set aside.
Spread remainder in bottom of prepared pan.
Starting ¼ inch from the edge of pan, arrange about 1 ½ cups of the apples in a circle, slightly overlapping.
Form another circle on top with remaining apples, starting ½ inch from center of pan. Meanwhile melt ¼ cup jelly and brush over apples.
Drop teaspoonfuls of the reserved batter around outside edge and spread with back of spoon to make a ½ inch border (or pipe through pastry bag fitted with plain round tube with an opening of about ½ inch).
Fill center of torte with remaining batter.
Arrange some sliced almonds in center; sprinkle remainder over border.
Bake 1 hour or until golden.
Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Remove pan sides.
Melt remaining ¼ cup jelly and brush the apples again.
Cool completely on rack. Sprinkle border and center with confectioners’ sugar.
Makes 12 servings.