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HomeItalian FoodDutch Apple Cake Recipe - An Italian in my Kitchen

Dutch Apple Cake Recipe – An Italian in my Kitchen


This Dutch apple cake is the proper 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!

Apple cake on a piece of brown paper.

 

This straightforward Dutch apple cake is the type of recipe that makes the entire kitchen odor like fall. With its mushy, buttery crumb and cinnamon sugar apple topping, it’s just like my apple cinnamon cake, making it cozy, comforting, and excellent for crisp autumn days.

In contrast to 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; a little bit 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

  • Easy 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.
  • Good for apple season: A comfy dessert that highlights recent apples and heat cinnamon, very best for fall gatherings or a day deal with.

Ingredient Notes

  • Apples: Agency, barely tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp maintain their form greatest throughout baking and steadiness the sweetness of the cake.
  • Butter: Use softened butter for the batter so it lotions simply, and really mushy 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: Offers the Dutch apple cake a softer, extra tender crumb.
  • Brown sugar and cinnamon: The traditional topping that provides sweetness, spice, and delicate caramelization because it bakes.
  • Milk: Entire or 2% milk provides the richest taste, however you should utilize what you have got available.
Ingredients for the recipe.Ingredients for the recipe.

The right way to Make Dutch Apple Cake

To begin, preheat your oven so it’s able to go when the batter is blended. Frivolously 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.

The dry ingredients whisked in a glass bowl.The dry ingredients whisked in a glass bowl.

In one other small bowl, stir the brown sugar and cinnamon collectively, this will likely be your candy, spiced topping.

Mixing the brown sugar topping in a glass bowl.Mixing the brown sugar topping in a glass bowl.

Subsequent, in a mixing bowl, utilizing a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest till gentle and fluffy. That is what provides the cake its tender crumb. Beat within the egg.

Beating the wet ingredients in the bowl.Beating the wet ingredients in the bowl.

Alternate including the dry elements and the milk, mixing simply till clean.

Adding the dry and milk to the wet ingredients.Adding the dry and milk to the wet ingredients.

Unfold the batter evenly in your ready pan.

The batter and in the pan.The batter and in the 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 along with your cinnamon sugar combination.

The apples on the batter and the cinnamon mixture on top.The apples on the batter and the cinnamon mixture on top.

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.

The baked cake in the pan.The baked cake in the pan.

recipe ideas

  • Verify 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 executed however the middle nonetheless feels moist, give it just a few extra minutes.
  • Make your personal cake flour: For those who solely have all-purpose flour, take away 2 Tablespoons of flour from every cup and change it with 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift effectively earlier than utilizing.
  • Select the proper apples: Agency, barely tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Girl maintain their form and taste greatest whereas baking.
  • Don’t overmix: As soon as the dry elements are added, combine simply till mixed to maintain the cake gentle and tender.
  • Sample issues: Arranging the apple slices in a neat circle or spiral not solely appears fairly however ensures even baking on this Dutch apple cake recipe.
A piece of apple cake with a scoop of ice cream.A piece of apple cake with a scoop of ice cream.

Variations to Strive

  • 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 present the cake a softer, sweeter citrus be aware.
  • Further tender crumb: Use half butter and half impartial oil, akin to vegetable or canola, for a fair softer texture that stays moist longer.
  • Powdered sugar: For a sweeter end, sprinkle the Dutch apple cake with powdered sugar earlier than serving.
Dutch apple cake with slices cut.Dutch apple cake with slices cut.

This traditional Dutch Apple Cake is an easy and filled with taste cake, it’s the proper 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 (entire or 2% milk)

EXTRAS

  • 2-3 tablespoons butter very mushy
  • 2-3 medium apples (cored, peeled and sliced into eighths)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pre-heat oven to 350F/180C. Grease and flour or spray an 8 inch spherical pan.

  • Whisk collectively the flour, baking powder and salt.

  • In a small bowl mix the brown sugar and cinnamon.

  • Within the mixer cream collectively the butter, sugar, vanilla and zest. Add the egg and beat till fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Alternately add the dry elements with the milk, beat till clean 1 minute.

  • Switch the batter to the ready pan, unfold evenly. Press the lower apples into the batter in an everyday sample. Brush calmly with the softened butter. Sprinkle with the brown sugar combination. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or till executed. Serve heat with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Get pleasure from!

The right way to retailer the Dutch Apple Cake

As soon as 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.

Energy: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 347IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg | Phosphorus: 140mg

Please go away a remark beneath or pin it to your Pinterest account!

recipe FAQs

Can I make this cake gluten free?

I’ve not examined it, however you might attempt swapping the cake flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking mix. Outcomes could differ, so you’ll want to examine the feel and baking time.

Do I would like to make use of a spherical cake pan?

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. Simply regulate the baking time since a special form could cook dinner barely sooner or slower.

How do I retailer leftovers?

As soon as 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.

Can I freeze Dutch apple cake?

Sure. 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.

How do I reheat it?

Heat particular person slices within the microwave for 10–15 seconds or in a low oven till simply heated by means of.

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