Apple Picking With My Son (And the Cake We Made After)

My son and I went back to our favorite farm, this time for apples. The trees were full, the sky was bright blue, and we took our time choosing a mix of green and red apples to bring home.

It was just the two of us again. We walked through the orchard with our picking bag, stopped at the big apple sign, and came home with more apples than we could carry in one hand.

From the orchard to my kitchen

Those apples became my apple walnut cinnamon cake. It is based on my mom's recipe, with a few tweaks of my own. My mom spread the apple, cinnamon, walnut and sugar mixture over the biscuits first, then poured plain batter on top. I fold the apples and walnuts straight into the batter instead — it bakes more evenly, slices more cleanly, and comes together faster.

The apples keep the cake moist, the walnuts add texture, and the cinnamon makes the whole kitchen smell like fall. The biscuit layer underneath turns buttery as it bakes and gives every slice a neat, cozy base.

The best way to serve it

We like it warm, when the apple and cinnamon flavors are strongest. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top makes it even better, but it is just as good on its own with coffee or tea.

Bake it with your apples

The full recipe is linked below, with the ingredients, directions, and step-by-step photos from the biscuit layer to the finished slices.