Apple Streusel Cake

For the Streusel
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp butter, melted

For the cake
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup orange juice

For the glaze
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 tsp orange juice

Making the streusel:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 or 10 inch tube pan. To prepare stresuel, in a medium bowl combine brown sugar, apples, almonds, flour and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter

Making the cake:
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; mix well. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time; beat well after each addition. Add vanilla.

Set mixer to low; alternatly beat flour mixture and orange juice into egg mixture. Spoon half of batter into tube pan. Sprinkle with half of streusel.

Spoon the remaining batter over the streusel, spreading to make an even layer. Swirl batter with a knife to create a marble pattern.

Bake for 15 mintues. Remove cake from oven; sprinkle top with remaining streusel. Return cake to the oven; bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely.

Making the glaze:
Combine confectioners' sugar and orange juice. Mix well. Turn cake out onto a serving plate; inver so streusel is on top. Drizzle glaze over cake; Serve.

Variations:
Muffins:
Alternate layers of batter and streusel mixture in a greased muffin tim, finishing with a sprinkling of streusel mixture. Shorten the baking time.

Skillet Apple Cake:
A cast-iron skillet can be used to bake the cake. Watch closely while baking as cas-iron absorbs and retains heat more efficently.

**Substitute chopped pears for the apples. Or, for a double treat, try a combination of the 2.