Irish Apple Cake with Whiskey Hard Sauce

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and roughly chopped
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• A few microplane scratches of whole nutmeg
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup buttermilk*
• FOR THE WHISKEY HARD SAUCE:
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• A pinch of kosher salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup Irish whiskey (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract