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1
For the cake, preheat oven to 350?F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans (I use cooking spray that includes flour). Whisk together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and clove in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, brown sugar, eggs and molasses. Add the dry ingredients and milk, alternately, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Do not over mix. Measure 1 1/2 cups of the batter and pour into one cake pan. Pour the remaining batter into the other pan. Bake at 350?F for 20 minutes. Remove the smaller layer from the oven. Bake remaining layer for another 25-30 minutes. OR, if you have 3 cake pans, put 1/3 of the batter into each pan and bake 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool all layers on a wire rack in the pans.
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2
For the custard, make a paste of the egg yolks, flour, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and small amount of the milk in a heavy medium saucepan. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat remaining milk 1 minute. Slowly add milk to the egg mixture and, stirring constantly, cook over medium low heat 7-10 minutes or until thickened (mixture will thicken more as it cools). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour custard into a medium bowl, then press plastic wrap onto the surface to eliminate a skin. Refrigerate until cool, about 30-60 minutes.
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3
Melt butter in a large skillet till foamy (but not brown). Add apple slices, cinnamon and remaining sugar. Cook apples a few minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.
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4
Soften the gelatin in the water for about 5 minutes in a microwave-safe dish. In a medium chilled bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. In a small bowl, cream together cream cheese and 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar. Microwave gelatin until it dissolves and starts to bubble around the edges, around 30 seconds. Stir 1/2 of the dissolved gelatin into the cream cheese mixture and combine well. Stir the other 1/2 of the gelatin into the custard and combine well. Make sure you integrate the gelatin thoroughly or you will have chunks of gelatin in your fillings! Fold 1/2 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Sweeten the other 1/2 with remaining teaspoon powdered sugar and save for garnish. Put both fillings back into the fridge for another 30-60 minutes.
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5
To assemble, place the smaller layer of cake on a cake plate. Place the apples over the cake, reserving a few for garnish. Cut the larger layer in half horizontally. Place the bottom half of the cake layer on top of the apples. Spread cream cheese filling over 2nd cake layer. Place remaining cake layer on top. If the cake domed a lot while baking, trim off the dome to make it flatter. Spread custard over the top cake layer. If any of the fillings are still not set, stick the cake into the freezer for 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Top with apples, walnuts and whipped cream garnish. Refrigerate any leftover cake.
