Apple Crown Cake

Step 1: Place oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a 10 inch tube pan with removable bottom.

Step 2: Peel, quarter, core and slice apples 1/4 inch thick. Place in a bowl with honey and cinnamon. Toss to coat and set aside while preparing cake.

Step 3: In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer on low speed, mix flour, sugar, oil, eggs, juice, baking powder, vanilla, and salt until combined. Increase speed to moderately high and mix until well blended, about 2 minutes.

Step 4: Pour 1/3 of the batter into prepared pan. Arrange 1/3 of apple slices over the batter and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Cover with 1/2 of remaining batter. Arrange 1/2 of remaining apples slices over batter and top with remaining batter, spreading evenly. Over lap the remaining apple slices around the tube of the pan, extending out like petals. Pour remaining juices from the bowl over the apples. If desired, arrange nut halves along the outer edge to encircle the of the cake.

Step 5: Place cake on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 80 to 90 minutes or until a toothpick or skewer inserted to center comes out clean.and top springs bake to touch , this is a tricky cake to get done so check it carefully. If top gets too brown, cover loosely with foil.

Step 6: Remove cake from oven and cool 10 minutes. Go around inside edges of pan with a knife and remove sides of pan. Cool cake to room temperature.

Step 7: Cut around the tube and bottom of pan with a knife. Carefully lift the cake from the pan to a serving plate (cake may be stored, covered, at room temperature up to 2 days or frozen).