It’s finally shoulder season, when summer begins to give way to fall. At the farmers markets there are the last tomatoes and the first apples, cool mornings turn into warm afternoons, and there’s an anticipatory energy in the air. And, as always, there are things to bake and reasons to bake them, from cookies to keep lunchboxes full to an apple cake that can sweeten any gathering — and of course, the first pumpkin bakes of the season.

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

A classic apple fritter is transformed into a glazed cake.

1) Apple Fritter Cake

In this recipe, the beloved apple fritter is reimagined as a sliceable, snackable bake. The moist, sturdy cake, made using the reverse creaming method , supports a huge heap of diced cinnamon-scented apples.…