Best Apple Stack Cake

Adapted from Taste of the South

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 16
• Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients

• 4 (5 ounce) packages  dried apples, chopped
• 4 -5  cups water
• 1  cup  firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1  cup apple butter
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  gr. ginger
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  gr. nutmeg
• 1⁄4  tsp.gr. clove
• 4 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1⁄4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1⁄4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup milk, room temperature
• 2  teaspoons lemon juice
• 1  large egg
• 1  large  egg yolk
• 1⁄4 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened
•  fresh apple slices tossed in lemon juice (to garnish)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Coat 2 cake pans with flour type baking spray.
3. Bring apples and enough water to cover them to a simmer till apples are completely softened- about 10 mins.
4. Drain apples - reserve 1/2 Cup water.
5. Combine apples, brown sugar, apple butter, cinnamon,ginger, nutmeg and cloves in a lg. bowl.
6. Combine milk and lemon juice in a sm. bowl. Let sit for 10 mins.Add egg , egg yolk and lemon zest- whisking to blend.
7. Beat sugar and butter at med-high with mixer until light and fluffy.
8. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alterantively with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
9. Beat on low until well combined.
10. Divide into 5 equal portions. Pat 1 portion into the 2 prepated pans reserving 3 portions.
11. Bake until edhes and top are brown 10 to 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes then remove from pans.
12. Repeat with remaining layers until all are baked.
13. To assemble.
14. Place 1 cake on a cake stand Spread about 1 1/2 Cups apple mixture.
15. Repeat with remaining layers and apple mixture until all are used.
16. Cover tightly and store in refrigerator overnight.
17. Garmish with apples.