French Apple Cake

I’ve had baking a French Apple Cake on my bucket list for a long time. A celebratory Valentine’s Day dessert was my excuse! ❤ This version was custardy and absolutely wonderful. We ate it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream but it could also served with a dollop of softly whipped cream.

This recipe was adapted from Marie-Hélène Brunet-Lhotse, a top editor of Louis Vuitton City Guides (and a restaurant critic for the Paris edition), published in Around my French Table: More than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, via Epicurious.com.

Greenspan emphasized the importance of using diverse fruit in the cake to include crisp, soft, sweet, and tart apples for the best result. I used a combination of Fuji, Granny Smith, Envy, and Opal apples. I also increased the vanilla, and substituted apple cider for the rum. Delicious!

Yield: Serves 8

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch of coarse salt
• 4 large apples (if you can, choose 4 different kinds)
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons dark rum or fresh apple cider
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• whipped cream of ice cream, for serving

1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, preferably on convection.
2. 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.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in small bowl.
4. Peel the apples, cut them in half and remove the cores. Cut the apples into 1- to 2-inch chunks.
5. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until they’re foamy.
6. Pour in the sugar and whisk for a minute or so to blend.
7. Whisk in the rum/apple cider and vanilla.
8. Whisk in half the flour and when it is incorporated, add half the melted butter, followed by the rest of the flour and the remaining butter, mixing gently after each addition so that you have a smooth, rather thick batter.
9. Switch to a rubber spatula and fold in the apples, turning the fruit so that it’s coated with batter.
10. Scrape the mix into the pan and poke it around a little with the spatula so that it’s evenish.
11. Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted deep into the center comes out clean; the cake may pull away from the sides of the pan. Transfer to a cooling rack and let rest for 5 minutes.
12. Carefully run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake and remove the sides of the springform pan. (Open the springform slowly, and before it’s fully opened, make sure there aren’t any apples stuck to it.)
13. Allow the cake to cool until it is just slightly warm or at room temperature. If you want to remove the cake from the bottom of the springform pan, wait until the cake is almost cooled, then run a long spatula between the cake and the pan, cover the top of the cake with a piece of parchment or wax paper, and invert it onto a rack. Carefully remove the bottom of the pan and turn the cake over onto a serving dish.
14. To Serve: The cake can be served warm or at room temperature, with or without 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 combination.

Note: The cake will keep for about 2 days at room temperature. (The flavor may even improve with time!) The cake is too moist to cover completely; leave the cake on its plate and just press a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper against the cut surfaces.

One Year Ago:

• Momofuku Milk Bar’s Crack Pie
• Momofuku Milk Bar Corn Cookies

Two Years Ago:

• Fudgy Brownie Cake
• Baby Sea Turtles, a Volcano, & the Perfect Spritz Cookies

Three Years Ago:

• Valentine’s Day Whoopie Pies

Four Years Ago:

• Cheesecakes with Raspberry Hearts
• Double-Chocolate Brownies

About Josette@thebrookcook

I live in Stony Brook, New York on Long Island. I love garlic and baking. My hobby (and love) is to try new recipes. My favorite recipe resources include The New York Times, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, and Martha Stewart Living. Enjoy!

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