German apple cake delight (Printable Version)
Tender apple cake flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a caramel drizzle for extra sweetness.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fruit
01 -
4 medium apples (about 1 ½ lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 -
1 tablespoon lemon juice
→ Dairy
03 -
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
04 -
½ cup whole milk
→ Sweeteners
05 -
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
06 -
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
07 -
¼ cup caramel sauce, for drizzling
→ Bakery
08 -
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
09 -
2 teaspoons baking powder
→ Spices
10 -
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 -
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 -
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Eggs
13 -
4 large eggs, at room temperature
→ Extracts
14 -
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and generously grease it with baking spray or butter.
02 -
Toss sliced apples with lemon juice in a bowl and set aside to prevent browning.
03 -
Beat the softened butter and 1 ½ cups granulated sugar together in a large bowl on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
04 -
Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating thoroughly after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract and mix until fully combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
05 -
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl.
06 -
Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and fold by hand. Follow with one-third of the milk, folding by hand. Repeat until all flour mixture and milk are incorporated, mixing until uniform.
07 -
Spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Arrange half of the apple slices atop the batter. Dollop remaining batter over apples and gently spread into an even layer without disturbing the slices. Top with remaining apple slices and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar.
08 -
Bake in the center of the oven for 70 to 80 minutes. If apples brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil after 50 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 -
Remove cake from oven and cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edges and unlatch the springform pan.
10 -
Serve warm, optionally sprinkled with additional sugar, powdered sugar, or drizzled with caramel sauce.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Use room temperature ingredients for optimal mixing and texture.
02 -
Cover apple slices with lemon juice to prevent discoloration.