Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush three 8-inch round cake pans with butter; line bottoms with parchment paper rounds. Brush paper with butter, then dust pans with flour (tapping out excess); set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugar, and eggs until well combined; fold in apples.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt; add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Divide among prepared pans, smooth top.
4. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of cakes comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool 20 minutes in pan, then invert onto cooling racks; peel off parchment. Reinvert cakes and let cool completely, top sides up.
5. To ice cake: Place one layer on a serving plate. Spread a quarter of the buttercream over the layer and top with another, then another quarter of the buttercream. Top with third layer and spread remaining buttercream over the top and sides of the cake. Chill at least 1 hour before slicing with a serrated knife.