Description
This Authentic Irish Apple Cake is a traditional dessert featuring a tender spiced cake filled with fresh apples and topped with a buttery streusel. Perfectly balanced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this cake offers a comforting winter treat that pairs wonderfully with whipped cream or custard.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to combine all dry spices and leavening evenly.
- Cut in Butter: Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the cold cubed butter into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. This gives the cake a tender, crumbly texture.
- Add Sugar: Stir the granulated sugar into the crumbly mixture to sweeten and balance flavors.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and whole milk together until well blended.
- Mix Wet and Dry: Add the egg and milk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold in the peeled, cored, and sliced apples, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer and spread the batter evenly into the prepared cake pan to create an even layer.
- Prepare Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar, then cut in the cold cubed butter until the mixture becomes crumbly like coarse crumbs.
- Top the Cake: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the batter in the pan, adding a crunchy, sweet crust.
- Bake: Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm with whipped cream or custard for the best experience.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Bramley for the best balance of sweet and tangy flavors.
- Ensure the butter is cold when cutting into the flour to achieve a proper crumbly texture for both the batter and streusel.
- Do not overmix the batter once the wet ingredients are added to avoid a dense cake.
- Let the cake cool slightly to firm up before slicing and serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
