Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cake

Gather the ingredients. Diana Rattray Peel and core the apples; chop them finely. Diana Rattray Transfer the chopped apples to a medium saucepan. Add the water and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar; stir to combine. Diana Rattray Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Remove the apples from the heat and let them cool. Diana Rattray Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube cake pan. Diana Rattray Crack the eggs into a small bowl and beat lightly with a whisk or fork. Set aside. Diana Rattray In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, oats, raisins, and chopped pecans. Diana Rattray To the dry ingredients, add the cooled apple mixture, the lightly beaten eggs, the remaining brown sugar, and the vegetable oil or melted shortening. Beat until all of the ingredients are moist; don't overbeat. Diana Rattray Spoon the apple cake batter into the prepared tube pan. Spread the batter evenly. Diana Rattray Bake the apple cake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs clinging. Place the cake on a rack and cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. Invert the cake onto the rack to cool completely. Diana Rattray Transfer the cooled cake to a large plate or platter. Slice the cooled cake and serve. Diana Rattray Dust servings with confectioners' sugar or drizzle with a simple vanilla icing. Enjoy.