3/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
5 med. to lg. apples (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Cortland)
2 tbsp. butter, melted
2 tbsp. sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter 11" tart pan or 9"x9" or 9"x13" oblong cake pan (I've used 10" pie pans too).

Beat together softened butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Combine flour and baking powder. Stir flour into butter mixture to make stiff batter. Spread into pan. Peel and halve and core apples lengthwise. Place flat side down and cut each half crosswise into 1/4" thick slices. DO NOT SEPARATE! Press whole apple halves flat side down into batter in pan, spacing evenly. Leave some batter exposed in center. Brush apples with melted butter, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake in oven 30 to 35 minutes until apples are tender and cake is golden.