French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (2024)

Jump to Recipe
French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (1)

What Is French Apple Cake

French Apple Cake is really a lot of apple with a little bit of batter joining the apples together, baked till tender then a sugary, butter topping finishes off the cake. It’s more of a crustless tart than a cake, and perfect for serving after a hearty meal.

This French Apple Cake recipe is from Patricia Wells, an American cookbook author and teacher, who has lived in Paris for years. The story goes that Wells asked a Parisienne stall holder selling apples from her family orchard for a recipe.

This is her resulting French apple cake recipe. It’s a homely recipe, typical of French provincial home cooking. Delicious served cold with some Quick No Churn Vanilla Bean Ice cream, or hot with a Super Simple Creme Anglaise (custard).

At a Glance This Is What You Need To Make French Apple Cake

French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (2)

We grew up surrounded by apple orchards so consequently apples featured heavily in our dessert repertoire. Although this particular cake recipe wasn’t about in the day, it would have been snaffled up, had it been.

All In One Apple Cake

This French Apple Cake is a little winner. You’re simply making a batter and coating the apple slices with the batter and baking for 30 minutes then pouring a little topping made with egg, sugar and butter that bakes till its golden and a little crunchy on top. Super easy and delish! 😄

What Apples Are Best For Apple Cake

We used Granny Smith apples that are moderately sweet with crisp flesh, fresh from the orchard of our friend Carol. You can use whatever apples you like, but some apples contain more moisture than others, so the cooking time won’t be a constant.

When it comes to baking, the best baking apple varieties maintain their structure. The slices hold their shape and don’t go all mushy.

There are lots of other varieties that you can use such as:

  • Fuji – sweet and juicy
  • Pink Lady – balance between tart and sweet
  • Golden Delicious – firm, with a mild sweet flavour
  • Jazz – crisp and sweet
  • Honeycrisp – honey-sweet and tart flavour
  • Jonagold – tangy sweet flavour

Hot Tip # 1

Using a mandolin makes short work to slice the apples, but a sharp knife will do the job. Try to get the apple slices as thin as possible.

French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (3)

The Batter

Hot Tip # 2

The batter for French Apple Cake is quite thin and the best way to make sure each slice of apple is coated is to use your hands to rub the apple slices ensuring that each slice is covered in the batter.

The Topping

The topping of melted butter, sugar and an egg mixed together sets to a thin crunchy golden topping that really finishes off the cake beautifully.

  • French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (4)
  • French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (5)

How To Store French Apple Cake

French Apple Cake is best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Before serving remove cake from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature for an hour or so.

Can I Freeze French Apple Cake

French Apple Cake can be frozen. Wrap the cooled cake in plastic film then wrap in alfoil. Freeze for 6-8 weeks. Take cake from freezer and remove alfoil and place on a plate in the refrigerator still covered to thaw overnight. Bring the cake to room temperature for an hour or so, removing plastic wrapping just before serving.

If you’d like to serve it warm unwrap the cake and preheat oven to 160c (320f) and pop the cake on a baking sheet for around twenty minutes. You’re not looking for the cake to be piping hot just simply to warm the cake if you don’t want it cold.

Watch How To Make French Apple Cake

Still Hungry?

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow along onPinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagramfor all of the latest updates.

Don’t forget to rate this recipe and let us know what you thought when you make these fabulous French Apple Cake in the reviews below.

French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (6)

Yield: 10 serves

French Apple Cake

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

French apple cake is really a lot of apple with a little bit of batter joining the apples together, baked till tender then a sugary, butter topping finishes off the cake. It's more of a crustless tart than a cake, and perfect for serving after a hearty soup or stew.

Ingredients

Cake

  • lightly butter a 22cm (9 inch) cake tin and line base with baking paper
  • 1/2 cup plain (all purpose) flour
  • 1/2 cup caster sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, beaten lightly
  • 1/3 cup full cream milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 large apples (about 1 kg / 2 pounds) cored, peeled and cut into thin slices - see notes
  • icing sugar to dust - optional

Topping

  • 1/3 cup caster sugar
  • 1 large egg, beaten lightly
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

Cake

  • preheat oven to 200c (400f) bake not fan
  • in a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt
  • add the vanilla, eggs, oil and milk and mix till well combined
  • add the apple slices and using your hands mix the apple with the batter so as to coat each individual slice of apple
  • pour into the prepared pan and bake on the centre shelf for 30 minutes - pop a timer on

Topping

  • in a small bowl combine the egg, sugar and butter and stir to blend then set aside
  • when the 30 minutes for the cake is up, remove cake from oven
  • pour topping mix over the cake and spread the topping evenly over the apples
  • return to oven for 20 minutes until some of the apple slices are tinged golden
  • remove cake from oven onto a wire rack
  • run a knife around the sides of the pan and allow to cool
  • turn cake out onto a plate and then turn onto an airing rack so the top of the cake is once again upright
  • cool
  • dust with icing sugar
  • serve at room temperature
  • enjoy!

Notes

  • We used Granny Smith apples fresh from the orchard of our friend Carol. You can use whatever apples you like, but some apples contain more moisture than others, so the cooking time won't be a constant.
  • Slice apples as thin as possible

Nutrition Information

Yield

10

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 205Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 69mgSodium 233mgCarbohydrates 30gFiber 0gSugar 29gProtein 2g

Nutritional information provided here is only intended as a guide.

Cooper standing guard, just incase something should fall while we do the finishing shots.

French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (7)

Related Recipes

  • Apple Frangipane Tart

  • Apple Blueberry Crumble Cake

  • Easy French Apple Frangipane Crustless Tart

  • Brown Butter Apple Cake

French Apple Cake - Easy - Recipe Winners (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of apple cake in France? ›

According to the Larousse Gastronomique, it was created by the sisters Tatin and democratized in their restaurant "Lamotte-Beuvron" in the 19th century. This apple pie is actually a derivative of an old Solognese speciality with apples or pears.

Why does my apple cake fall apart? ›

There are two main reasons why an apple cake would fall apart: (1) it was simply too warm when you were trying to cut and serve it or (2) you used too many/the wrong kind of apple. See notes above about picking and choosing the best kinds of apples for a recipe like this.

What to do with overripe apples? ›

LOTS OF APPLES
  1. BAKE AN APPLE PIE OR PIES. Probably the most exciting of the lot. ...
  2. CHURN OUT APPLESAUCE. If you have an apple tree or a neighbor does, make applesauce to preserve the fruit. ...
  3. COOK UP APPLE CHUTNEY. ...
  4. MAKE APPLE CHIPS.
Oct 25, 2021

What to do with a lot of apples? ›

You could also make applesauce, apple butter or apple jelly. You could put them in muffins, crumbles and cakes. You could layer them in sandwiches. You could roast them with sausages or toss them into kale salad.

Who was the French lady who ate cake? ›

Attribution to Marie Antoinette. The phrase was supposedly said by Marie Antoinette in 1789, during one of the famines in France during the reign of her husband, King Louis XVI. But it was not attributed to her until half a century later.

What is the oldest cake in the world? ›

The world's oldest known cake, baked during the reign of Pepi II in Egypt between BCE 2251 and 2157. Alimentarium, Vevey, Switzerland. The Egyptians gave us the world's oldest known cake–and also the world's oldest Tupperware as it happens.

Why is my apple cake raw in the middle? ›

A cake can remain doughy/uncooked in the middle while its burning on the outside when the temperature of the oven is too high. You will have to cook it at a lower temperature for a longer time to receive an even bake. If your pans are made of glass or dark metal, try lowering the oven temperature by 28 degrees.

Why does my apple cake sink in the middle? ›

Your cake is often subject to sinking in the middle due to various factors, including inaccurate oven temperature, excessive or insufficient leavening agent, overmixing of the batter, or premature opening of the oven door. Moisture loss or incorrect ingredient ratios may also play a role.

Why is my apple cake wet? ›

It could mean that the apple puree was slightly loose, which could have contributed to the damp texture of the cake. The apple puree should be quite thick and not too wet, so if Bramleys are used it may help to cook the puree until it has reduced and thickened a little.

What does a bruised apple mean? ›

Is it really spoiled and unsafe to eat? The fact of the matter is no— bruising does not indicate the produce is past its prime and has gone bad. It simply is a reaction that occurs as cells break down and are exposed to oxygen that causes the browning.

When should you throw away apples? ›

This can keep them fresh for up to 6–8 weeks. If you notice physical signs of expiration, such as bruising, soft spots, or oozing, it's best to discard apples to prevent the intake of potentially dangerous compounds called mycotoxins.

Can you still eat old apples? ›

Don't toss them away — not even the ones with the nasty bruises. Apples that are past their prime might not be great for biting into as an afternoon snack or for a recipe with visible apple slices, but they've still got plenty of flavor.

What do farmers do with fallen apples? ›

Apples that end up on the ground are not wasted. Many times farmers come to collect the apple drops to feed to livestock. If apples are not picked up, they are mowed at the end of the season and help to fertilize next year's crop.

What does an apple a day do for a person? ›

Adding apples to your diet can reduce your risk of heart disease or cancer, the top two leading causes of death in the United States. In a study of nearly 40,000 people, those who ate apples were 13% to 22% less likely to develop heart disease than those who skipped the fruit. Apples may also help prevent cancer.

Can you freeze whole apples? ›

The short answer is yes, apples may be frozen whole and with virtually no effort. Washed and wrapped in plastic or sealed in Ziploc bags to freeze, there is no quicker route from orchard to freezer. It may be easy, but bear in mind the end result is an apple that is inconvenient when it comes time to use it.

Where does apple cake originate? ›

Jewish apple cake is a dense cake made with apples which originated in Poland, but is now sold mostly in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Apples are common in Jewish Ashkenazi cooking and are a part of the traditional food served during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah (considered to be the Jewish New Year).

What is the story of the apple cake? ›

She has everything she needs . . . except apples! But she does have a basket of plums, which she brings along on an apple-seeking quest. Her journey takes her from person to person, trading with each until she finally finds her precious apples.

What is the history of the French King Cake? ›

The King Cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th century. These early Europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas calling it the Feast of the epiphany, Twelfth Night, or King's Day.

What is the history of apple desserts? ›

Apple Pie – The earliest apple pie recipe hails from England in 1381! (If you're interested in the controversy over who invented “pie à la mode” click here.) Eve's Pudding – This British dessert is made up of apples baked under a Victoria sponge cake. The earliest recipe dates from 1824.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5318

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.