Molly O'Neill's Apple Cake

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9½-by-12-inch baking pan and set aside. Cut the apples into quarters, peel, core and then slice as thinly as possible. Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apples and toss to combine. Add ½ cup of the sugar and toss, cooking until the apples are barely limp, about 5 minutes.

2. Step 2

   Carefully remove the apples and set aside. Return the skillet to the heat and cook until the juices begin to turn gold. Remove immediately and set aside.

3. Step 3

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining sugar and the flour with the baking powder. In a second bowl, beat the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter with the lemon zest. Add the milk, the salt and the lightly beaten eggs and yolks to the butter mixture, stirring with a fork to combine. Beating constantly with a fork or whisk, add the sugar and flour mixture until combined.

4. Step 4

   Pour the batter into the prepared pan, top with the apples, drizzle the honey-hued juice over the apples and bake for about 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake can be removed dry. Serve immediately, with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or mascarpone cheese if desired.