I’ve perfected this simple rustic apple cake that tastes like traditional apple pie but requires just a fraction of the effort. Drawing inspiration from European farmhouse baking, this recipe creates a tender, moist cake studded with apples and topped with a unique grated butter crumble that melts into a delicate crust.
Prep & Baking Time
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Baking Time: 45-50 minutes
- Cooling Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: 8-10 slices
Ingredients
For the Cake Batter
- 220g (1¾ cups) all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 130g (⅔ cup) granulated sugar
- 1 lemon, zested
- 120ml (½ cup) whole milk
For Apple Filling & Topping
- 1kg (2.2 lbs) apples (about 6 medium)
- 113g (½ cup) cold butter
- 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan
- Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F)
- Grease 23cm (9-inch) springform pan
- Line bottom with parchment
- Prepare Apples
- Peel and core apples
- Cut into 1cm (½-inch) cubes
- Set aside
- Make Cake Batter
- Whisk flour, baking powder, salt
- Beat eggs and sugar until pale (3-4 minutes)
- Add lemon zest
- Alternate adding flour mix and milk
- Mix until just combined
- Assemble Cake
- Pour batter into prepared pan
- Spread evenly
- Arrange apple cubes over batter
- Press lightly into surface
- Add Topping
- Grate cold butter over apples
- Sprinkle with sugar
- Work quickly to keep butter cold
- Bake and Cool
- Bake 45-50 minutes
- Test with skewer
- Cool 15 minutes in pan
- Remove collar gently
Expert Tips
- Keep butter very cold until needed
- Don’t overmix batter
- Choose tart baking apples
- Test doneness in center
- Place pan on baking sheet
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: 2 days covered
- Refrigerator: 5 days
- Do not freeze
- Best served slightly warm
Nutrition Information (per slice)
- Calories: 315
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
- Sodium: 230mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 48g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 28g
- Protein: 5g
- Iron: 1.5mg
- Calcium: 85mg
Variations
Apple Options
- Mixed Varieties
- Combine sweet and tart apples
- Use seasonal varieties
- Mix textures
- Spice Additions
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Apple pie spice
- Cardamom
- Extra Toppings
- Sliced almonds
- Demerara sugar
- Streusel crumbs
Serving Suggestions
Warm Accompaniments
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Custard sauce
- Caramel sauce
Perfect Occasions
- Breakfast treat
- Afternoon tea
- Casual dessert
- Holiday gatherings
Troubleshooting Tips
Common Issues
- Soggy Center
- Bake longer at lower temperature
- Check oven accuracy
- Use less juicy apples
- Butter Melting Too Fast
- Freeze butter briefly
- Work quickly
- Use coarse grater
- Uneven Baking
- Rotate pan halfway
- Check oven hot spots
- Use light-colored pan
Make Ahead Tips
Day Before
- Prepare pan
- Measure dry ingredients
- Grate lemon zest
Morning Of
- Bring eggs to room temperature
- Prepare apples
- Keep butter cold
This rustic apple cake is perfect for both novice and experienced bakers. Its simplicity belies its delicious results, making it an ideal recipe for impromptu entertaining or family desserts. The unique grated butter topping creates a delicate, crispy crust that complements the tender cake and sweet-tart apples perfectly.
Remember that the key to success lies in not overmixing the batter and keeping the butter very cold until the last possible moment. This ensures a tender crumb and the perfect crispy topping that makes this cake so special.
