Irish Apple Cake Recipe

why make this recipe

This Irish Apple Cake is warm, simple, and full of apple taste. It uses common ingredients and steps you can follow. If you like simple fruit cakes, try a banana coffee cake recipe as well.

introduction

This cake has soft batter, sliced tart apples, and a crunchy streusel top. You will also make a smooth custard sauce to pour over slices. The cake bakes in one pan and makes a homey dessert for family or guests.

how to make Irish Apple Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Make the custard sauce first so it can cool: heat 1 1/2 cups milk until it just simmers. Whisk 6 large egg yolks with 6 Tbsp sugar until smooth. Slowly add a little hot milk to the yolks while whisking, then pour the yolk mix back into the saucepan. Cook gently, stirring, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain, add 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, and chill.
3. Make the streusel topping: mix 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup sugar, and 6 Tbsp cold butter. Rub or cut the butter into the dry mix until it makes coarse crumbs. Chill in the fridge while you make the batter.
4. Cream 1/2 cup room-temperature unsalted butter with 1/2 cup granulated sugar until light. Beat in 2 large eggs one at a time.
5. Whisk together 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp salt. Fold the dry mix into the butter-egg mix with 3 Tbsp milk or cream. Do not overmix.
6. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Arrange about 3 peeled and thinly sliced Granny Smith apples over the batter (they should be a little over a pound after slicing). Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly over the apples.
7. Bake for 50–60 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick in the center comes out mostly clean. Let cool slightly in the pan.
8. Dust the top with confectioner’s sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature with chilled custard sauce.

Ingredients :

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 Tbsp whole milk or cream
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• about 3 Granny Smith apples (peeled and thinly sliced; mine weighed a little over a pound after slicing)
• confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Streusel topping:

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 6 Tbsp unsalted cold butter (cut in small pieces)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Custard sauce:

• 6 large egg yolks
• 6 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk (you can also use half and half or cream)
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

how to serve Irish Apple Cake

Slice the cake and spoon chilled custard over each slice. You can also serve with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake is good warm or at room temperature.

how to store Irish Apple Cake

Keep leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for one day. For longer, refrigerate up to 4 days. Store custard sauce in the fridge in a covered container for up to 3 days. Warm the cake slightly before serving if chilled.

tips to make Irish Apple Cake

• Use tart apples like Granny Smith so the cake stays balanced.
• Keep butter and eggs at room temperature for a smooth batter.
• Do not overmix the batter once you add flour. Fold gently.
• Chill the streusel so it holds shape and gives a crunchy top.
• Test doneness with a toothpick near the center of the cake.

variation (if any)

• Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel for extra crunch.
• Swap half the apples for pears for a different flavor.
• Add a pinch of nutmeg or ground cloves with the cinnamon for more spice.
• Skip the streusel and brush apples with honey for a simpler top.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a different pan?
A: Yes. A similar-sized round cake pan works. Baking time may change a few minutes.

Q: Can I make the custard with whole eggs?
A: The recipe uses yolks for a rich sauce. You can use whole eggs, but the sauce will be lighter and set faster.

Q: Can I use frozen apples?
A: Fresh is best. If you use frozen, thaw and drain them well so the cake batter does not get too wet.

Q: Can I make the cake ahead?
A: Yes. Bake the cake a day ahead and store it covered. Make custard the same day you serve for best texture.

Irish Apple Cake

• Author: bennacer-blogbrandinggmail-com
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Total Time: 80 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Irish
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

A warm, simple fruit cake made with tart Granny Smith apples and topped with a crunchy streusel, served with a smooth custard sauce.

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Ingredients

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• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 Tbsp whole milk or cream
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• About 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced (a little over a pound)
• Confectioner’s sugar for dusting
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (for streusel)
• 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 6 Tbsp unsalted cold butter (cut in small pieces, for streusel)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for streusel)
• 6 large egg yolks (for custard sauce)
• 6 Tbsp granulated sugar (for custard sauce)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk (for custard sauce)
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla (for custard sauce)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Make the custard sauce first: heat 1 1/2 cups milk until it just simmers. Whisk 6 large egg yolks with 6 Tbsp sugar until smooth. Slowly add a little hot milk to the yolks while whisking, then pour the yolk mix back into the saucepan. Cook gently, stirring, until the custard thickens. Strain, add 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, and chill.
3. Make the streusel topping: mix 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup sugar, and 6 Tbsp cold butter until coarse crumbs. Chill in the fridge.
4. Cream 1/2 cup butter with 1/2 cup sugar until light. Beat in 2 eggs one at a time.
5. Whisk together 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp salt. Fold the dry mix into the butter-egg mix with 3 Tbsp milk. Do not overmix.
6. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and arrange sliced apples over the batter. Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly on top.
7. Bake for 50–60 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
8. Dust the top with confectioner’s sugar and serve warm with chilled custard sauce.

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Notes

For extra flavor variations, add chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel, or swap some apples for pears. Keep butter and eggs at room temperature for a smooth batter, and do not overmix.

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 28g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 105mg