Hi Michaela,
I don't know if this is the exact cake you are looking for, but this one comes from a mother of a good friend. All of her baked goods are excellent. I have not had time to make it yet, but it's one of her most requested recipes and so I know it's good! I hope this is the cake your dear mother is looking for!
Enjoy!
Stacy

Fresh Apple Cake

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
juice from 1/2 of a lemon
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
3 cups chopped apples
1 cup chopped nuts

Combine sugar, oil,eggs, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix well. Combine dry ingredients in another bowl. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Mixture will be very thick. Add chopped apples and nuts. Bake in a tube or bundt pan that has been greased and floured for 1 1/2 hours (or until cake tester comes out clean) at 325° Leave in pan and glaze immediately when cake is done.

Apple Cake Glaze

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and cook sugar,milk and butter on top of stove, stirring constantly! When it comes to a boil (around 2 1/2 minutes), remove from heat and add vanilla. Mix well and then pour over hot apple cake. When cake cools a little, turn out on a plate.