The Easy Apple Cake That Builds Community

"I grew up in New England, where fall is a personality trait. When I was little, we would go to a farm in rural New Hampshire that offered hayrides and the best apple cake I've ever had in my life. We didn't keep this ritual to ourselves-any visiting family, friends from my class, or various houseguests that stopped by were invited along with the promise of a great cake. It was a way of saying come with us, be a part of this."

"This idea runs through my new cookbook, What Can I Bring?: Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life. It's 75 of my best answers (aka recipes) to that simple-yet-stressful question we've all had to ask. These are dishes you can tuck in your tote and bring along to any gathering to share-dips, breads, salads, drinks, and, of course, sweets. But really it's a book about getting together, making community, and spending time with the people you love."

"When the air gets chilly and the apples are ripe for the picking, this Easy Apple Cake is all I want to eat. The batter starts simply, with sour cream for tenderness, cinnamon, and diced apples, plus a crunchy topping of chopped walnuts and brown sugar. But the curveball here is a splash of apple cider vinegar, which not only adds a tangy apple flavor, but also gives the cake a lofty, fluffy lift."

Feel-good food combines delicious flavors with the power to create connection and welcome. Fall traditions in New England include shared hayrides and apple cake offered to visitors as an invitation to join. Portable dishes such as dips, breads, salads, drinks, and sweets function as easy contributions for gatherings and encourage community and hospitality. An Easy Apple Cake uses sour cream for tenderness, cinnamon, diced apples, and a crunchy walnut–brown sugar topping. A splash of apple cider vinegar adds tangy apple flavor and helps the cake rise, producing a lofty, snackable cake that expresses joy, generosity, and inclusive feeding.

Read at Bon Appetit