Description
This Authentic Irish Apple Cake recipe offers a moist and warmly spiced dessert featuring tender apple slices folded into a lightly cinnamon- and nutmeg-infused batter, topped with a buttery crumbly streusel. Baked to golden perfection, it’s perfect served warm with whipped cream or custard, capturing the classic flavors of Ireland in every bite.
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 the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare an 8-inch round cake pan by greasing and flouring it or lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to ensure an even distribution of spices and leavening agents throughout the batter.
- Incorporate the butter: Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the cold, cubed butter into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, creating a crumbly texture essential for a tender cake.
- Add sugar: Stir in the granulated sugar thoroughly into the crumb mixture to sweeten the cake base.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and whole milk until smooth, then add this to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Fold in apples: Carefully fold the peeled, cored, and sliced apples into the batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed without breaking up the slices.
- Transfer batter: Pour the prepared batter into your cake pan and spread it out evenly to form a uniform layer.
- Prepare streusel topping: In a small bowl, mix together the flour and sugar for the topping, then cut in the cold, cubed butter with a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Top the cake: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the batter to create a buttery, crisp crust after baking.
- Bake the cake: Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the cake is fully cooked.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly in the pan before serving. Enjoy warm, ideally accompanied by whipped cream or custard for a traditional Irish dessert experience.
Notes
- For best results, use tart apples like Granny Smith or Bramley to balance sweetness and add a tangy flavor.
- Cold butter is crucial for the streusel and cake crumb to achieve a tender, flaky texture.
- This cake can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Reheat slices gently before serving to enjoy the cake warm.
- Optional: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients for extra flavor depth.
