This Dutch apple cake is the right mixture of fluffy cake and spiced apples, baked till golden. Cozy, comforting, and filled with autumn taste, it’s a easy but spectacular seasonal dessert!
This simple Dutch apple cake is the form of recipe that makes the entire kitchen odor like fall. With its tender, buttery crumb and cinnamon sugar apple topping, it’s much like my apple cinnamon cake, making it cozy, comforting, and excellent for crisp autumn days.
Unlike an American-style Dutch apple pie with a pastry crust and crumb topping, that is like the standard model you’d discover within the Netherlands. It has a young cake base with apple slices pressed into the highest then baked till golden; slightly like my Italian apple pie and apple cake in a single, however lighter and excellent for serving with a cup of espresso or tea.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple but spectacular: The batter for this Dutch apple cake recipe comes collectively shortly, and the apple topping makes it look bakery-worthy with out further effort.
- Perfect for apple season: A comfortable dessert that highlights recent apples and heat cinnamon, very best for fall gatherings or a day deal with.
Ingredient Notes
- Apples: Firm, barely tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp maintain their form finest throughout baking and stability the sweetness of the cake.
- Butter: Use softened butter for the batter so it lotions simply, and really tender butter for brushing over the apples earlier than baking to assist them caramelize.
- Granulated sugar: Added to the cake batter for sweetness.
- Lemon zest: Brightens the flavour and provides a touch of freshness that enhances the cinnamon and apples.
- Cake or pastry flour: Gives the Dutch apple cake a softer, extra tender crumb.
- Brown sugar and cinnamon: The basic topping that provides sweetness, spice, and delicate caramelization because it bakes.
- Milk: Whole or 2% milk provides the richest taste, however you need to use what you might have available.
How to Make Dutch Apple Cake
To begin, preheat your oven so it’s able to go when the batter is combined. Lightly grease and flour the cake pan, or give it a fast spray with baking spray to maintain the cake from sticking.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, and salt. This step makes certain the leavening is evenly distributed so that you don’t get any pockets of baking powder within the cake.
In one other small bowl, stir the brown sugar and cinnamon collectively, this will probably be your candy, spiced topping.
Next, in a mixing bowl, utilizing a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest till mild and fluffy. This is what provides the cake its tender crumb. Beat within the egg.
Alternate including the dry components and the milk, mixing simply till easy.
Spread the batter evenly in your ready pan.
Press the apple slices gently into the highest in a pleasant sample, they’ll sink in barely as they bake. Brush the highest of the apples with the softened butter and sprinkle generously together with your cinnamon sugar combination.
Bake till the cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clear. Let it cool for a bit so the slices maintain collectively, then serve heat with ice cream or whipped cream for the last word deal with.
recipe ideas
- Check for doneness: The Dutch apple cake is prepared when the highest is golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear. If the apples look finished however the heart nonetheless feels moist, give it a number of extra minutes.
- Make your personal cake flour: If you solely have all-purpose flour, take away 2 Tablespoons of flour from every cup and exchange it with 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift properly earlier than utilizing.
- Choose the suitable apples: Firm, barely tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady maintain their form and taste finest whereas baking.
- Don’t overmix: Once the dry components are added, combine simply till mixed to maintain the cake mild and tender.
- Pattern issues: Arranging the apple slices in a neat circle or spiral not solely seems to be fairly however ensures even baking on this Dutch apple cake recipe.
Variations to Try
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or floor ginger to the cinnamon sugar topping for further heat.
- Nutty crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the apples earlier than baking for added texture and taste.
- Citrus twist: Swap the lemon zest for orange zest to provide the cake a softer, sweeter citrus observe.
- Extra tender crumb: Use half butter and half impartial oil, resembling vegetable or canola, for an excellent softer texture that stays moist longer.
- Powdered sugar: For a sweeter end, sprinkle the Dutch apple cake with powdered sugar earlier than serving.
This basic Dutch Apple Cake is a straightforward and filled with taste cake, it’s the right on a regular basis cake for fall or any time of 12 months. I hope you get pleasure from it too!
- ¼ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 giant egg room temperature
- 2 cups cake/pastry flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 pinch salt (if utilizing unsalted butter then add ¼ teaspoon salt)
- ¾ cup milk (complete or 2% milk)
EXTRAS
- 2-3 tablespoons butter very tender
- 2-3 medium apples (cored, peeled and sliced into eighths)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
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Pre-heat oven to 350F/180C. Grease and flour or spray an 8 inch spherical pan.
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Whisk collectively the flour, baking powder and salt.
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In a small bowl mix the brown sugar and cinnamon.
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In the mixer cream collectively the butter, sugar, vanilla and zest. Add the egg and beat till fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Alternately add the dry components with the milk, beat till easy 1 minute.
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Transfer the batter to the ready pan, unfold evenly. Press the reduce apples into the batter in an everyday sample. Brush evenly with the softened butter. Sprinkle with the brown sugar combination. Bake for roughly 40-45 minutes or till finished. Serve heat with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
How to retailer the Dutch Apple Cake
Once cooled, cowl the cake tightly or retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for as much as 4 days.
To freeze the cake – wrap the cooled slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than serving.
Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 347IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg | Phosphorus: 140mg
recipe FAQs
I’ve not examined it, however you can strive swapping the cake flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking mix. Results might range, so be sure you test the feel and baking time.
I like to make use of an 8-inch spherical pan for the standard look, however you can too bake it in an 8-inch sq. pan. Just keep watch over the baking time since a distinct form might cook dinner barely sooner or slower.
Once cooled, cowl the cake tightly or retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for as much as 4 days.
Yes. Wrap cooled slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than serving.
Warm particular person slices within the microwave for 10–15 seconds or in a low oven till simply heated via.
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