Honey and apples

As families gather for a holiday meal at Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, among traditional foods are honey and apples — served as symbols of sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

This cake combines that sweetness of honey with apples and cinnamon.

Honey Apple Cake

Developed for the Associated Press by the National Honey Board

1 1/2 cups honey

1 tablespoon almond extract

1/4 cup very strong coffee

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups peeled, chopped Granny Smith apple

1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan.

Stir together honey and almond extract. Set aside 1/2 cup of the mixture.

Combine remaining honey mixture with coffee, oil and eggs; whisk until well blended. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Stir into wet ingredients, stirring until flour is thoroughly incorporated. Add chopped apple and raisins, stirring just until moistened.

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Tent with foil halfway through baking if necessary to prevent over-browning.) Spread warm slices of cake with butter and drizzle with remaining honey mixture.

Yield: 10 servings

Approximate nutrition per serving: 375 calories, 7 grams fat (.7 grams saturated, 16 percent fat calories), 5 grams protein, 75 grams carbohydrate, 42 milligrams cholesterol, 1.8 grams dietary fiber, 322 milligrams sodium.