Spiced-apple Enchantment

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 4 red apples or 4 green apples, divided
• 1 (14 ounce) box gingerbread cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups apple juice, warm
• 1 lemon, zested, juiced and divided
• 2 (3 ounce) boxes vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 tablespoon crystallized ginger, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups milk
• 1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Recipe

• 1 1. heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. core and chop 1 apple. prepare cake mix according to directions, using apple juice instead of water. add chopped apple and 1 tbs. lemon zest, pour into greased 9" springform pan. bake 35 minute or until done. let cool in pan 15 min.; invert onto rack. let cool.
• 2 2. in bowl, blend next 4 ingredients, fold in whipped topping. halve and thinly slice 1 apple; toss with lemon juice. peel, core and chop 2 apples; microwave 4 minute let cool.
• 3 3. cut cake into 2 layers; place 1 in clean springform pan. line sides with apple slices. fill with cooked apples and pudding mixture. add cake layer. chill 4 hours/ garnish with cream and apples if desired.