Tuscan Apple Cake With a Crackly Meringue

Submitted by evelynathens

"From The Italian Country Table: Home Cooking from Italy's Farmhouse Kitchens by Lynne Rossetto Kasper (Scribner 1999). Found at the Splendid Table."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 45mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 10-12

ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (organic preferred)
• 1 1⁄2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• generous pinch salt
• 3⁄4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 3⁄4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 shredded large lemon, zest of
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 large about 1 pound apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Gala)
• 1 large egg white
• 2 tablespoons sugar

directions

1. Place the rack in center of the oven and preheat to 375°F Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan. In a large bowl, with your fingertips, rub together the first measure of flour, the 1 1/2 cups sugar, salt, and butter until crumbly. Remove 1 cup of the crumbs and press them onto bottom of the springform pan and about 1/2-inch up the sides, making a crust about 1/8-inch thick.
2. Make a well in the remaining crumb mixture. Pour into it the milk, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, the second measure of flour, and baking powder. With a whisk, blend this mixture thoroughly without incorporating the crumbs. Then with a wooden spoon stir in the crumbs until well blended but still a little lumpy. Fold in the apples. Scrape the batter into the pan.
3. Beat the egg white until foamy. Beat in the 2 tablespoons sugar until whites barely stand in peaks. Zigzag it over the top of the batter, leaving 2/3 of the batter uncovered.
4. Bake 65 to 75 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Remove from oven and cool 30 minutes on a wire rack. Slip off sides of the pan and finish cooling cake. Serve at room temperature. Covered in plastic wrap, the cake holds well at cool room temperature for 2 days. It keeps a week in the refrigerator. Warming in the oven makes it even tastier.