Marie-Hélène’s French Apple Cake is a Dorie Greenspan recipe that’s a repeat performer at my home. I’ve a penchant for apple desserts, and Dorie’s easy, rustic cake is packed stuffed with apples and one in every of my favourite fall desserts.
I’ve made this Apple Cake Recipe a number of instances all through the years. It began once I joined a bunch of bloggers who had been cooking their approach by way of Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook, Round My French Desk.(affiliate hyperlink).
Why You Should Make
- Dorie Greenspan ate this recipe at a cocktail party in Paris. She cherished it sufficient to recreate it at residence and publish it in one in every of her cookbooks!
- The ratio of apples to batter is increased than in a typical apple cake so it’s good for apple lovers.
- Huge chunks of apple are held along with a candy, eggy cake batter.
- Topped with whipped cream or a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream earlier than serving makes for a chic, company-worthy dessert!
- Good within the fall, however simply made and adored any time of the yr.
Skilled Suggestions
- PRO-Tip: Use quite a lot of apples for the perfect taste. I’ve discovered Granny Smiths are nonetheless somewhat underdone on the finish of the cooking interval so should you use that selection, you might want to chop these items a bit smaller. I like selecting 4 completely different baking apples for probably the most scrumptious taste palate. Crisp, mushy, candy, and tart!
- PRO-Tip: Test for doneness by piercing an apple or two on the tail finish of the baking time with a pointy knife. The knife ought to slide in with out a lot resistance. If the apples nonetheless appear exhausting, add extra baking time. You’ll be able to at all times cowl the pan with somewhat foil should you’re involved in regards to the high getting too darkish.
- This apple-laden dessert was great at room temperature, however attributable to our heatwave, I saved the leftovers within the fridge. Because it’s a really moist cake, Dorie recommends simply protecting the uncovered lower floor with plastic wrap.
- I used to be shocked at how a lot the chilly cake jogged my memory of a clafoutis, virtually like a distinct French dessert. Nonetheless, this straightforward apple cake is one particular dessert.
- If you happen to don’t prefer to bake with or like the flavour of alcohol, be at liberty to depart out the rum. You’ll be able to up the vanilla extract to 1 full teaspoon. PRO-Tip: Word that alcohol is a taste enhancer, like salt, and most will evaporate over the baking time.
Methods to Make
- Combine collectively the peeled and chunked apples, the eggs whisked with sugar then flavored with rum and vanilla, the dry substances and melted butter.
- Be certain that all of the apple items are coated with a little bit of batter, then scrape right into a well-buttered 8-inch springform pan.
- Utilizing a springform pan makes it straightforward to take away the cake to a serving plate for the reason that sides launch from the bottom. Use an offset spatula to verify the highest is comparatively even.
- Bake till golden brown, about an hour. A knife inserted into the middle ought to come out clear and the apples ought to be tender.
- Cool for five minutes earlier than utilizing a knife to run across the perimeter of the pan, then rigorously launch the edges and permit to chill till simply heat or to room temperature.
- Serve wedges with the topping of your selection.
Continuously Requested Questions
Search for baking apples available in the market. Ask the produce supervisor if the apples aren’t labeled with their makes use of.
As Dorie recommends, I buy completely different varieties which make for a extra attention-grabbing flavored and textured cake. Honeycrisp, Golden Scrumptious, Pink Woman, Jonathans, Cortland, Northern Spies, and even Gala are glorious apples for cake. As talked about above, I additionally prefer to range the textures and sweetness of the apples.
A dusting of powdered sugar is all I want, however a slice of cake can also be scrumptious served with a dollop of evenly sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Leftovers might be saved at room temperature for a day or two, however because it’s a moist cake, don’t cowl to high with plastic wrap. As a substitute, solely press plastic towards the lower floor. Transfer it to the fridge when you’ve got leftovers after a few days.
Ingredient Notes
- Pantry Staples – All-Objective Flour, Salt, Sugar, Massive Eggs (have at room temperature for simpler incorporation), Vanilla Extract (actual, not artificially flavored; I take advantage of the Nielsen-Massey model).
- Baking Powder – This isn’t the identical as Baking Soda and has a a lot shorter life span. Test the date in your tin and exchange if wanted. To check its efficiency, put a spoonful right into a cup of highly regarded or boiling water. If it’s nonetheless energetic, it can bubble vigorously. If it doesn’t, don’t make this recipe till you will have a contemporary provide.
- Apples – 4 massive baking apples; utilizing a spread will give higher depth of taste to your cake. I like Golden Scrumptious, Granny Smith, Northern Spys (my favourite selection for baking, however not simply present in Indiana!), Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Pink Woman are some tasty choices (should you can, select 4 completely different sorts)
- Darkish Rum – Alcohol provides a delicate depth of taste. Since this dessert is baked, the alcohol will evaporate within the oven, making it OK to serve to youngsters. It’s positive to omit.
You Could Additionally Like:
For an Italian apple dessert, do this lovely Apple Crostata, an apple tart.
Elements
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 4 massive apples (should you can, select 4 completely different sorts)
- 2 massive eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons darkish rum
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Directions
- Middle a rack within the oven and preheat the oven to 350º. Generously butter an 8-inch springform pan and put it on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and put the springform on it.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt collectively in a small bowl.
- Peel the apples, lower them in half, and take away the cores. Reduce the apples into 1 to 2-inch chunks.
- In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk till they’re foamy.
- Pour within the sugar and whisk for a minute or so to mix. Whisk within the rum and vanilla.
- Whisk in half the flour and when it’s included, add half the melted butter, adopted by the remainder of the flour and the remaining butter, mixing gently after every addition so that you’ve a easy, slightly thick batter.
- Swap to a rubber spatula and fold within the apples, turning the fruit in order that it is coated with batter. Scrape the combination into the pan and poke it round somewhat with the spatula in order that it is evenish.
- Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or till the highest of the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted deep into the middle comes out clear; the cake could draw back from the edges of the pan.
- Switch to a cooling rack and let relaxation for five minutes.
- Rigorously run a blunt knife across the edges of the cake and take away the edges of the springform pan. (Open the springform slowly, and earlier than it is totally opened, be sure that there are no apples caught to it.)
- Enable the cake to chill till it’s simply barely heat or at room temperature.
- ¾If you wish to take away the cake from the underside of the springform pan, wait till the cake is sort of cooled, then run a protracted spatula between the cake and the pan, cowl the highest of the cake with a bit of parchment or wax paper, and invert it onto a rack. Rigorously take away the underside of the pan *and switch the cake over onto a serving dish.
To Serve:
The cake might be served heat or at room temperature, with or with out a little softly whipped, barely sweetened heavy cream or a spoonful of ice cream. Marie-Hélène’s served her cake with cinnamon ice cream and it was a terrific mixture.
To Retailer:
The cake will maintain for about 2 days at room temperature and, in response to my husband, will get extra comforting with every passing day. Nonetheless lengthy you retain the cake, it is best to not cowl it – it is too moist. Go away the cake on its plate and simply press a bit of plastic wrap or wax paper towards the lower surfaces.
Beneficial Merchandise
As an Amazon Affiliate and member of different affiliate packages, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Vitamin Info:
Yield:
8
Serving Measurement:
1
Quantity Per Serving:
Energy: 303Whole Fats: 13gSaturated Fats: 8gTrans Fats: 0gUnsaturated Fats: 5gLdl cholesterol: 77mgSodium: 83mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 3gSugar: 30gProtein: 3g
