1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. molasses
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
6 c. plain flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine buttermilk, soda and baking powder in a small bowl and stir. Cream together butter, sugar and molasses. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add all to milk mixture and mix with spoon. Sift together flour, salt, and ginger. Stir dry ingredients into liquid. Add enough flour and the vanilla to make dough easy to handle.

Divide into 8 or 9 balls on floured wax paper. Line bottoms of 9-inch round cake pans with wax paper. Roll out or pat each ball in pan, very thin. Bake 10 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn out on rack, remove wax paper from bottom of cakes and cool.

Stack layers with apple mixture: 2 c. sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. cloves

Let set 24 hours before cutting.