Apple Pie Layer Cake

Name: Apple Pie Layer Cake
Yield: makes 1 (6-inch) layer cake, 5 to 6 inches tall; serves 6 to 8
Ingredients: 1 recipe Barely Brown Butter Cake (recipe follows); 1 recipe Apple Cider Soak (recipe follows); 1 recipe Liquid Cheesecake (page 149); 1/2 recipe Pie Crumb (page 79); 1 recipe Apple Pie Filling (recipe follows); 1/2 recipe Pie Crumb Frosting (recipe follows); 1 (6-inch) cake ring; 2 strips acetate, each 3 inches wide and 20 inches long

December 14, 2011

Image may contain Cutlery Fork Pottery and Saucer

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

When we opened Ko, we did so with a deep-fried apple pie. It resonated so much with people that we decided to use the apple pie as inspiration for a cake. We already had the crumb-into-ganache-into-frosting down and we loved the pie crumb we had developed for a few Noodle Bar and Ko desserts seasons before. This cake will make you seem like a genius, though all you are doing is layering apple pie fixins between layers of slightly nutty (with brown butter) cake. Leftovers make especially delicious impromptu cake truffles (see page 122).

Recipe notes

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

An extra-silky filling (no water bath needed!) and a smooth sour cream topping make this the ultimate cheesecake.

Cod With Lemon Butter Sauce

A flurry of fresh tarragon makes this speedy weeknight dish of seared cod and luscious, sun-colored pan sauce feel restaurant worthy.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Crème Anglaise

The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.