Apple Nut Coffee Cake from The Grand Anne Bread and Breakfast in Keokuk, Iowa

Apple Nut Coffee Cake
from The Grand Anne Bread and Breakfast in Keokuk, Iowa
With fall here, this is the ideal apple nut crumb cake. Moist, delicious - just like grandma would make.

½ cup shortening (I use butter)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
¼ teaspoon salt (I use a dash only)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sour cream ( I use low fat vanilla yogurt instead)
2 cups peeled and diced applies (I use 3 cups Granny Smith apples, unpeeled, and diced)
½ cup chopped pecans (I use one full cup)
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter

Topping:
½ cup chopped pecans (I use one full cup)
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter

Cream together shortening (butter) and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Stir in flour, salt, and baking soda. Add sour cream (yogurt). Fold in apples. Spread in a well-greased 13x9x2 baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For topping, combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle over batter. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Yields 1 to 14 servings.
(Do not over bake. Cake is much better when baked to a more moist consistency and a light golden brown. Guests love it.)