Every year Pittsburg State University celebrates “Apple Day”. This yearly event dates back to 1903 when the newly established University needed funds for a new building, and thus the University Principle, Pittsburg Mayor and all faculty descended on Topeka to lobby for the funds for the building. The bill was passed, and Clarence Price, Pittsburg’s mayor was fined a barrel of apples for lobbying on the floor of the legislature. Since back then students were disciplined for their absences, so the students decided to fine Principal Russ and members of his faculty a barrel of apples by the students because they had been gone to Topeka to help lobby.
Since that 1907 “Apple Day” has been celebrated on campus with a number of apple related events, including a “Apple Pie and Apple Dessert” contest. I thought it would be fun to enter the contest. Since I felt too many people had a preconception as to what apple pie should taste like, I decided to enter the apple dessert portion of the contest.
Two Thanksgivings ago I made a delicious Dutch Apple Cheesecake and knew in an instant that this would be my dessert entry.
- 1 package white cake mix divided
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 1/2 lbs (3 8 oz packages) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp apple pie or pumpkin pie spice
- 4 medium sliced apples
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- 10-inch springform pan, greased
- Reserve 1/3 cup cake mix for topping.
- Combine remaining cake mix with melted butter.
- Mix well until soft dough forms.
- Press evenly over bottom of prepared pan .
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until starting to set but still soft and not golden.
- Cool in pan on wire rack.
- In large mixer bowl, combine cream cheese, brown sugar and sour cream.
- Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Beat in vanilla, cinnamon, and pie spice.
- Pour filling into prepared crust.
- Arrange apple slices on top in circular pattern, overlapping slightly as necessary.
- In a bowl, combine reserved cake mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter, mixing until crumbly. Sprinkle topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or just until edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle to it. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cake.
- Cool completely on a wire rake.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight before cutting.
- Store in refrigerator.
The winners would be announced during the Apple Day reception, and I eagerly awaited all the speeches and presentations until they announced the winner. I was hoping I’d get third place, but after the second place winner was announced, I thought “Oh well, better luck next time” but then. When the announcer said that she hoped she was saying the name right, as she began to say the first place winner’s name, I thought, “No way could it be” and yes it was.
I won first place in the Apple Day Dessert contest, and as a prize I got this adorable apple trophy.
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