Very Fine German Apple Cake

Submitted by Inge 1505

"This is a very nice, easily prepared cake. It tastes good still slightly warm or the next day. I serve it with whipped cream sweetened with vanilla sugar. The recipe is from one of the most popular German books on baking "Backen macht Freude" (baking makes joy?). I hope, you will enjoy it with a cup of coffee or tea or milk or whatever you like."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 35mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Yields: 12 pieces
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• For the topping

• 2 lbs small tart apples
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1⁄8 cup raisins (optional)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted (30 grams)

• For the batter

• 9 tablespoons butter, at room temperature (125 grams)
• 3⁄4 cup sugar (150 grams)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh lemon zest
• 3 small eggs
• 1 1⁄2 cups flour, plus
• 5 tablespoons flour (225 grams)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 -2 tablespoon milk

• For the glaze

• 2 tablespoons apricot preserves
• 1 tablespoon water

directions

1. Grease 11 inch springform.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°C.
3. For the topping: Peel, quarter and core apples.
4. Make lengthwise cuts on the outer rounded side 1/8 inch apart, so that the apple quarter still holds together but will cook quicker.
5. Brush with lemon juice to avoid browning.
6. For the batter: Mix flour with baking powder.In a bowl cream butter with sugar, vanilla and lemon peel with a mixer.
7. Add eggs, one at a time.
8. Beat until mixture turns light yellow and has increased in volume.
9. Add half of the flour and 1 tbs milk, mixing just until blended.
10. Add rest of flour.
11. Dough should have the consistency to drop slowly and heavily from a spoon, forming long tips.
12. If too firm add another tbs of milk, if to soft add another tbs of flour.
13. Mix to blend.
14. Pour batter into greased form.
15. Make a level surface with a wet spatula.
16. Arrange apple quarters rounded side up on the dough to make a nice pattern,but leave a 1/2 inch rim along the side of your form.
17. Apples will sink into dough while baking.
18. Brush with melted butter.
19. Sprinkle with raisins (optional).
20. Put in the middle of the oven.
21. Bake for 40-50 min at 350°F, until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
22. Remove cake from oven.
23. Melt apricot jam with water over low heat, pass through a sieve and brush the hot cake with it.
24. Remove cake from the springform,let cool and serve with whipped cream.

Reviews

[kerstin.hammes]

This is the nicest cake recipe ever, a true Dr Oekter German original - and just what I was looking for!

 

[SallyBates]

My daughter had to make this for her German class feast. We made 4 of them...it is a very easy recipe to double and turned out very well. Great with whipped cream!

 

[Chef AprilAllYear]

I grew up eating this one (my mom's German) along with many other Dr. Oetker recipes and puddings/mixes, etc. I wanted to make this but didn't want to tip her off and ask for the recipe. THANK YOU for printing the recipe I grew up eating (my mom made a cake every week). All of them were "dry" by U.S. standards; my mom always said her favorite cakes as a kid were those she could pick up and go outside to eat.

 

[-Sylvie-]

This makes such a pretty cake, that tastes great too. I followed the recipe apart from using a 9-inch springform and sprinkling a little sugar/cinnamon mix over the apples prior to baking. I used 2 1/2 large bramley cooking apples, which weren't quite 2lbs, but I couldn't fit any more in. The cake was for a buffet at work and there was non left. The only thing I should have maybe done is to add one more tbsp of milk to the batter, as it turned out a little dry, but since the apples were so moist and yummy that didn't really matter so much.

 

[Rita1652]

Very Fine Indeed! I weighed my apples and 4 apples came to 2 pounds. And I had some left over to munch on. I found that the apples didn't sink so I do suggest pressing them in slightly. I did use an 11 inch springform pan and the apples had a tight fit. I used dried cranberries. I enjoyed this and it had a pretty presentation. I topped the apples with cinnamon and I do wish I added some to the batter along with a pinch of nutmeg! The apricot preserves a just mix to loosen and spread over the hot apples. Dusted with powdered sugar!