Harvest Apple Cake

4 cups diced applies (Cortland, Granny Smith or a variety with good flavor or being on the green side)
2 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup  vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a bowl add the sugar to the apples and let sit for an one hour.
Mix the eggs and oil together in a large bowl with a mixer.
Sift together all of the dry ingredients in another bowl.
Add in the apples mixture and mix together. Scoop the batter into a tube pan and even out batter in pan.
Bake in a lightly oiled tube pan for one hour and 10 minutes at 325 degrees F.
Let the cake cool in the pan completely sitting right side up. Then remove from the tube pan and plate.

Optional : cream cheese buttercream frosting if desired

This is very similar to a traditional German Harvest Cake. Recipe is also similar to the Western NY Apple Growers Recipe cookbook from my 4-H days and Apple Dessert contest recipes.  Using black walnuts is also common for this recipe.

Picture Credit to Roberta Johns Woodring who posted in a Facebook Group for Christmas Cookies and Baking in October 2019