It has a good combination of sponge to apple (lots of apple, but enough sponge to balance it) a very nice texture, doesn't call for anything I'm not likely to have to hand (or relatively expensive, like ground almonds), doesn't have almost a kilo of sugar in it (I have a recipe that does, it's a good cake, but bloody hell - that's a lot of sugar), is quick to throw together, and is absolutely delicious. A total winner in fact.
Luisa tells us that in Germany cakes like this are often called Mittwochskuchen - Wednesday cake - because they're so easy to throw together when time is short but cake is wanted. I love the idea of mid week cake.
This one wants a 9 inch springform tin lined with baking parchment, the oven set to 180 degrees C (a bit less in a fan oven) and 3 apples (or there abouts) peeled cored and cut into quarters. The quarters then want to be cut, not quite all the way through, lengthways - they will fan out a bit as they cook. (I used Bramley's because I had them, and I like their flavour, but they do go very mushy - something that stays a little firmer might be better).
Apples set aside, grate half a lemon rind into a bowl, add 130g of soft butter, and 125g of sugar, then beat together until light and fluffy. Add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3 eggs, 1 at a time. Finally add 190g of self raising flour, (or plain with 2 teaspoons of added baking powder), 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt, and the juice from the half a lemon. Beat together until combined. Stick in the baking tin, press the Apple quarters into the mix (core side down), sprinkle with a tablespoon of Demerara sugar, and bake for 35-40 mins or until a skewer comes out of the cake clean.
There are so many things I want to make in 'Classic German Baking', if they all turn out as well as this Apple cake (I'm sorry about Apple with a capital A, I can't cure the iPad of it so am embracing it instead) I'll be very happy indeed.
If you like apple cakes, this is clearly your book! There are so many different apple cake recipes to try! I've made this one a few times and it's been a hit with everyone I've fed it to. I'm having trouble tracking down almond paste (marzipan is everywhere but less sweet almond paste not so much) but once I do I'm eager to try her Apple Almond cake recipe. It sounds like another winner.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the answer might be to make my own almond paste - it's something I've meant to try for ages but not got round to (blanching the almonds is my first sticking point, such a fiddly job when short of time). If it turns out okay it would be quicker and easier than trying to track it down. Cheaper to I suspect.
ReplyDeleteThis Apple cake is a little piece of joy though isn't it! Very pleased with it indeed :)
I might try this one, I didn't make apple cake yet, this year, and I have the required pan, so nothing to stop me when I get some apples.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good!
DeleteAcross the western ocean here in America we have something called applesauce cake made with unsweetened applesauce (even homemade -- which you can make with peel [wash off sprays] if you cook them down in apple juice or cider and then mash), nuts, raisins, and spice. If you want an icing you can either use a cream cheese/sugar/slight amount of butter and vanilla frosting, or even just a glaze, or nothing -- use it like a tea bread. Pecans or walnuts and golden raisins or dried cranberries are wonderful. It is very versatile and quite moist so it is a real keeper. Doesn't use a lot of sugar, and you can use Demarara or light brown and better yet if you really want, you can cut down on the amount of sugar without adverse effects. In fact I routinely cut down the amounts of sugar specified by at least a third. If you need a recipe look in THE BOSTON COOKING-SCHOOL COOK BOOK by Fanny Farmer which I'm almost certain has a recipe.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, it sounds fantastic. I prefer recipes that don't go overboard on sugar simply because to much is bad for us, and if I know there's to much it takes some of the pleasure out of eating the cake - everything in moderation and all that.
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