Apple Baba (Yablochnaya Baba)

Posted by Joyce'S at recipegoldmine.com 9/1/2001 6:50 am

4 tart apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled,
    cored, quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Confectioners' sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch tube pan.

Place the apples in a large bowl, sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the sugar and the cinnamon and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the remaining 2 cups of sugar with an electric mixture until pale yellow and thick. Gradually beat in the oil, orange juice and vanilla extract.

Sift together the flour and baking powder. Gradually add it to the egg mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon. You will have the consistency of thick honey. Fold the apples into the batter, making sure they are well distributed. Pour the apple batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until the top is well browned and splitting, about 1 1/2 hours.

Invert the baba onto a rack and cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

Serves 8 to 10.