Caramel Apple Dapple Cake

I love a quick cake. I have made this one on a couple of occasions! It is a wonderful seasonal treat. Apparently, it is named a “dapple” cake because the apple chunks create a rippled effect on the surface of the cake where the glaze can settle. The coffee in the batter balances the sweetness and gives it a beautiful brown color.

This recipe is from Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland by Shauna Sever. I weighed the ingredients and used heavy cream in the glaze. We ate it for dessert but it could also be served as a coffee cake. Super moist and yummy.

Yield: One 9×13 cake, about 12 to 15 servings

For the Cake:

• nonstick cooking for pan
• 320 g (2 1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose, spooned and leveled
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 113 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 150 g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
• 170 g (3/4 cup) firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup (4 T, 57 g) canola or vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, cold
• 3/4 cup (170 g) lukewarm brewed coffee
• 4 cups peeled, cored, and chopped Honeycrisp apples (cut into 1/2-inch/1.25 cm pieces)(I used 2 very large apples)

For the Glaze:

• 170 g (3/4 cup) firmly packed light brown sugar
• 4 T (57 g) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup (57 g) whole milk or heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

To Make the Cake:

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees (180 C), preferably on convection.
2. Spray a 9×13-inch light-colored metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. (I use binder clips to hold the parchment overhang in place to prevent it from falling onto the surface of the cake.)
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy.
5. Add the granulated and brown sugars and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
6. Reduce the speed to medium-low and slowly stream in the oil until well blended.
7. One at a time, beat in the eggs.
8. On low-speed, spoon in half of the flour mixture.
9. Slowly pour in the coffee.
10. Stir in the remaining flour until the batter is smooth.
11. Fold in the apples by hand.
12. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth evenly.
13. Bake until the cake is deeply golden all over, begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. (I baked mine for 40 minutes but may check it even earlier next time.)
14. Let cool slightly in the pan set on a wire rack.

To Make the Glaze:

1. In a 1 to 1 1/2-quart (1 to 1.4 L) saucepan over high heat, combine the brown sugar, butter, milk, and salt.
2. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring often, and boil until you can see it has thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes depending on your pan.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. (I forgot to do this every time- by accident, of course )
4. Let the glaze cool just until it stops bubbling.
5. Pour the hot glaze over the still-warm cake. Working quickly, use a spatula to spread the glaze so thinly and evenly that it covers the entire the surface of the cake.
6. Let the cake cool completely, uncovered, on the rack.

Note: Leftover cake can be stored loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Ina Garten’s Easy French Apple Tart

I already have a couple easy fall apple desserts that I make every year- French apple cake and apple pie bars. I had to add this one onto the list this year. I love fruit desserts! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten, via epicurious.com. I used the puff pastry shortcut, reduced the amount of jam in the glaze, and modified the baking method.

The apple juices, sugar, and butter collect on the edges of the tart (and become quite dark!) but can be trimmed prior to serving. We ate it with vanilla ice cream which was completely unnecessary but delicious.

For the Pastry:

(Alternatively, use one sheet of store-bought puff pastry- I used Trader Joe’s)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
• 1/2 cup ice water

For the Apples:

• 4 Granny Smith apples or a combination of apples (I used 1 1/2 Granny Smith, 1 1/2 Honey Crisp, and 1 Juici apple)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, small-diced
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup apricot jelly or warm sieved apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons Calvados, rum, or water

For the Puff Pastry Crust:

1. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for 2 hours at room temperature.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; remove from the pan.
3. On the parchment, roll the thawed crust into a 10×14-inch rectangle. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the edges.
4. Place dough (on parchment) on the rimmed baking sheet and keep in the refrigerator to chill while the apples are prepared.

To Make the Pastry Crust:

1. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse for a few seconds to combine.
2. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas.
3. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together.
4. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
6. Roll the dough slightly larger than 10×14 inches. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the edges. (I would roll it out on the parchment paper.)
7. Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while the apples are prepared.

To Prepare the Apples and Finish the Tart: 

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, preferably on convection.
2. Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller.
3. Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch-thick slices. (I used a mandoline.)
4. Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally down the middle of the tart and continue making diagonal rows on both sides of the first row until the pastry is covered with apple slices. (I tend not to use the apple ends in order to make the arrangement beautiful.)
5. Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup sugar and dot with the butter.
6. Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through.
7. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, preferably on convection, and continue to bake 15 to 30 minutes more, until the pastry is browned, the edges of the apples start to brown, and the apples are tender. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. *Don’t worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tart will be fine!
8. When the tart’s done, heat the apricot jelly together with the water or Calvados and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture. (I used apricot jam and used a whisk to break up large chunks. It could also be strained.)
9. Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn’t stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

Caramel Apple Skillet Cake with Browned Butter Glaze

I have made this sweet treat on a couple of occasions. I love skillet desserts! This one is perfect for fall or even in the winter. It has an amazing texture.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Erin Jeanne McDowell. I used a browned butter glaze from our favorite apple pie bars instead of the salted caramel frosting suggested in the original recipe. I also modified the method. Yum.

Yield: One 10-inch round cake, about 10 to 12 servings

For the Caramel Apples:

• 4 tablespoons/55 grams unsalted butter
• 2 large baking apples (about 12 to 16 ounces/340 to 454 grams), such as Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith or Braeburn, peeled, cored and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup/110 grams dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the Cake:

• 1/2 cup/115 grams unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature
• 1 1/3 cup/290 grams dark brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 2/3 cup/215 grams all-purpose flour (I used 100g whole wheat pastry flour + 115g all-purpose flour)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

For the Browned Butter Glaze:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• milk or heavy cream, as necessary, to achieve desired consistency
• pinch of coarse salt or fine sea salt

1. Make the Caramel Apples: In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Add the apples, brown sugar and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the apples soften slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees, preferably on convection.
4. Make the Cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and mix to combine.
6. Scrape the bowl well, then beat in the vanilla.
7. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to combine.
8. Add the flour mixture to the mixer and mix just until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
9. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the apple mixture (including all of the caramel-like liquid in the pan) into the batter. Mix just until incorporated.
10. Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and spread into an even layer. Bake until the surface is evenly golden brown and appears set – a toothpick inserted into the center should have a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely. (I baked it on convection for 30 minutes but may add a few minutes onto the baking time next time.)
11. Make the Glaze: In a small pot or pan, melt the butter. Continue to cook until browned and fragrant.
12. In a small bowl, whisk together browned butter, powdered sugar, a splash of milk, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth. Add milk as needed until drizzling consistency is achieved.
13. Spoon into a ziplock bag and cut a tiny tip off one corner of the bag.
14. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake before slicing.

Perfect Apple Pie

This pie is Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen’s updated Perfect Apple Pie to her “Even More Perfect Apple Pie.” I had to try it because the filling is loaded with an enormous amount of apples. Yum.

She introduced me to a new technique which I was very surprised to have never seen before or thought of myself! She covers the pie with a foil dome to prevent the crust from over-browning. Absolute genius.

This recipe was adapted from Smitten Kitchen.com. The updated pie recipe modifies the baking temperature and cooking time, increases volume of apples (with a link on how to choose pie apples), decreases the thickness of the apple slices, omits the lemon juice and zest, and uses tapioca as the thickener.

The incredible mound of apple filling keeps the finished pie from becoming concave after baking. Beautiful and delicious.

Yield: Serves 8 to 12

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup (95 grams) light or dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp coarse salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnnamon
• freshly grated nutmeg, to taste, or about 1/4 teaspoon ground
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 pounds baking apples (I used a combination of several types of apples)
• 3 T tapioca flour or starch (I used minute tapioca)

For the Crust:

• 2 1/2 cups (315 grams) flour
• 1 T (15 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp coarse salt
• 2 sticks (8 ounces, 225 grams tablespoons or 1 cup) unsalted butter, very cold
• 1 egg, lightly beaten, optional
• coarse or raw sugar for sprinkling, optional

To Serve:

• vanilla ice cream, optional

Make the Filling:

1. Combine sugars, salt, and spices in your absolutely largest bowl.
2. Peel, halve, and core your apples and cut them into thin (scant 1/4-inch) slices, adding them right to the big bowl.
3. Toss to coat the slices as much as possible. Set aside for 1 to 4 hours at room temperature.

Make the Crust:

1. Gather your ingredients: Fill a one cup liquid measuring cup with water, and drop in a few ice cubes; set it aside.
2. In a large, very wide bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt.
3. Dice two sticks (8 ounces or 1 cup) of very cold unsalted butter into 1/2-inch pieces. (If the butter becomes slightly warm, re-refrigerate until very cold.)
4. Sprinkle the butter cubes over the flour and begin working them in with a pastry blender, using it to scoop and redistribute the mixture as needed so all parts are worked evenly.
5. When all of the butter pieces are the size of tiny peas — this won’t take long — stop- even if it looks uneven.
6. Start by drizzling 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the ice-cold water (but not the cubes, if there are any left!) over the butter and flour mixture. Using a rubber or silicon spatula, gather the dough together.
7. Add an additional 1/4 cup (60 ml) of cold water to bring it together, one tablespoon as a time. Once you’re pulling large clumps with the spatula, take it out and use your hands to gather the damp clumps together into one mound, kneading them gently together.
8. Divide the dough in half, and place each half on a large piece of plastic wrap. I like to use the sides to pull in the dough and shape it into a disk.
9. Let the dough chill in the fridge for one hour, but preferably at least two, before rolling it out. (I make my dough a day in advance.)
10. Once the dough is chilled and ready to go, roll out the first half on a well-floured counter into a 14-inch circle and transfer it to 9-inch standard (not deep-dish) pie plate.
11. With scissors or kitchen shears, trim overhang to one inch all around. Refrigerate dish and dough until needed.
12. For a regular pie lid, roll out the second dough half into the same sized circle, transfer it to a large parchment-lined baking sheet and chill this as well until needed. For a lattice or woven pie lid, you can use the same sized circle, or you can just roll it into a rectangle at least 14″ in one direction, and then as long or wide you can get it in the other. Transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill this as well until needed. (I made a 10-piece lattice top.)

Do ahead: Dough will keep in the refrigerator for about a week, and in the freezer longer. If not using it that day, wrap it in additional layers of plastic wrap to protect it from fridge/freezer smells. To defrost your dough, move it to the fridge for one day before using it.

To Make the Pie:

1. Heat the oven to 400°F, preferably on convection.
2. Stir tapioca starch into the apple pie filling.
3. Pour filling into prepared bottom crust and use your hands to pack and heap those softened apples as mounded as you can get them, then add a few more.
4. Pour any juices that have accumulated carefully over apples; do not leave any behind.
5. Either place your second pie dough round over the filling or cut it into strips to lattice the top.
6. Trim the top crust or lattice strips to the edge of the pie dish. Fold the overhang from the lower crust over to form a thick rim, and crimp it together with your fingers or a fork to seal it.
7. Brush top crust with egg, then sprinkle with sugar if desired. If your top crust is in one piece, cut a few vents in it with a sharp knife.
8. Place a sheet of parchment paper on the large baking sheet for easier cleanup, then transfer your prepared pie onto it.
9. Bake for 75 minutes, turning once or twice for even color. If your pie is browning too fast, take a large square of foil, mold it over the back of a large bowl into a convex dome, then use that to cover the pie in the oven for the remaining baking time so it doesn’t brown much further. The pie is done when juices are bubbling visibly through the vents or lattice, or when the internal temperature reads 195°F. A tester inserted into the pie shouldn’t hit any overtly crunchy apple pieces. (I added an additional 10 minutes to the baking time t achieve the 195°F internal temperature.)

To Serve: Cool pie for at least one hour at room temperature before cutting into it. However, your filling will not fully thicken until it has fully cooled, ideally in the fridge for a couple hours. You can rewarm slices as you serve them, if desired. Leftovers keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, and in the fridge for 1 week. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.