Apple Spice Cake

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven and pan
   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan or tube pan. Make sure to coat all crevices thoroughly to prevent sticking.
2. Mix the dry ingredients
   In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until well combined. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar
   In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add eggs and vanilla
   Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients
   Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Do not overmix. The batter will be thick.
6. Fold in apples and nuts
   Gently fold in the diced apples and walnuts (if using) with a rubber spatula until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
7. Bake the cake
   Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
8. Cool and glaze
   Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, whisk together powdered sugar and milk or apple cider to create a glaze, then drizzle over the cake. Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.