This is our authentic, slightly spicy, Irish Apple Cake recipe. You’ll find this dessert recipe or a version of it, in just about every family’s recipe collection in Ireland; probably in Irish homes in the United States as well.
Recommended Apples for baking include Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Empire and Jonathan. We prefer Granny Smith for this recipe. You can try combining different apples for slightly different flavors.
STREUSEL TOPPING
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup rolled oats
6 tbsp cold butter cut into small pieces
½ cup granulated sugar
Prepare this topping before you mix the cake and place topping in the fridge. Combine flour, oats, sugar and salt in medium bowl. Mix in the butter until fully blended and achieved a texture of course breadcrumbs.
OPTIONAL CUSTARD SAUCE
A tasty touch when serving. Make ahead of time.
6 large egg yolks
6 tbsp granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups whole milk or cream
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
Bring milk to a boil and simmer over medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk yolks and sugar until well blended. Then using a mixing spoon, drizzle a little of the hot milk into the mixture and continue to whisk. Drizzle a little more, blend and then pour into the pan of hot milk, stirring constantly until mixture coats the back of your spoon’ Mixture will become velvety and smooth. Don’t over cook because it will thicken as it cools. Stir in vanilla.
THE CAKE
Preheat oven to 350° F
Grease a 9” round cakepan or a springform pan
INGREDIENTS
½ cup unsalted butter; better if room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3 tbsp milk or cream
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
3 Granny Smith apples peeled and thinly sliced. Should weigh a little over a pound after slicing.
confectioner’s sugar for dusting.
DIRECTIONS
- Cream butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl using a mixer on medium high speed until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla and beat in eggs one at a time.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt
- Along with the milk, fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients using a spatula.
- After batter is thoroughly mixed, pour into your prepared pan.
- Arrange sliced apples on top of cake in an even layer.
- Cover apples with your streusel topping.
Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until top is golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and cool slightly, then turn out on rack. When ready to serve, place on a plate and dust with confectioner’s sugar.
