Description
This Quick Irish Apple Cake is a delightful traditional dessert that combines tender cake with tart, thinly sliced apples and warm spices. Easy to prepare and bake, it offers a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, making it ideal for a cozy family treat or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Fruit
- 2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
Topping
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8-inch round cake pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until evenly combined.
- Add Butter: Incorporate the softened unsalted butter into the dry mixture, mixing until the texture resembles coarse crumbs, ensuring an even distribution of fat for a tender cake.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract together until smooth and well blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir until a thick batter forms, taking care not to overmix to maintain cake lightness.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples into the batter until they are evenly distributed throughout.
- Transfer to Pan and Top: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar and extra granulated sugar over the top to add a sweet, crunchy finish.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
- Cool Before Serving: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally with custard, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Traditional Irish apple cake is often served with custard sauce, but this quick version is delicious on its own or paired with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- Tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp provide the best flavor contrast with the sweet cake base.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter once the wet and dry ingredients are combined to keep the cake tender and light.
- Allowing the cake to rest for 10 minutes before slicing helps it set and makes serving easier.
