Kate

French Apple Cake

How to Make a French Apple Cake

I was on the hunt for a gooey, custard-like cake when I stumbled upon an old French apple cake recipe. Whipped eggs, sugar, and a generous pour of melted butter baked around chunks of tart red apples- how could we go wrong? I modified a few things from the original recipe, and as luck would have it, the first cake came out perfectly. I’m talking NO NOTES.

French Apple Cake by Wood and Spoon. This is a traditional rustic French cake made with melted butter and fresh apples. This simple recipe is an easy make ahead dessert or breakfast that uses fall apples! Read more on thewoodandspoon.com .

This French apple cake is rustic in preparation, but elegant in flavor- the kind of thing you could serve for breakfast or dessert. To make it, we start with the apples. Tart, red apple slices (I used honey crisp!) toss together with lemon juice and sugar, and baked in the oven. Don’t skip this step- baking the apples intensifies the apple flavor and reduces the amount of water that will leech out into the bake. Once the apples have cooked, we begin on the cake. Eggs whip together with sugar and vanilla until thick and foamy. Simple dry ingredients of flour, leavening, and salt alternate into the mix with a melted butter. Finally, the apples toss into the batter which gets baked in a springform pan.

I recommend eating this cake while it is still warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or creme anglaise. All in all, this cake is a straight-forward crowd pleaser and the perfect ode to fall.

A Few Notes

I used honey crisp apples for this recipe, but feel free to try other similar varieties. Braeburn, Golden Delicious, or McIntosh apples would be excellent alternatives!
I like to prepare this cake in a springform pan to make for easy removal. If you don’t have a springform pan, no worries! Just bake in a standard metal 9″ round pan and use a knife to loosen the sides of the cake from the pan.
Whipping the eggs incorporates air into the batter making for a lighter, less-dense cake. Don’t skip that step!
This cake is best served on the day it is prepared, but you can also rewarm slices within a day or two of baking. Uneaten cake can be stored at room temperature and wrapped in plastic wrap.

More Apple Cakes to Try

If you’re looking for more apple inspiration, be sure to check out the following recipes:

Apple Crumb Bars
Brown Butter Apple Tart
Apple Cinnamon Rolls

French Apple Cake

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This French Apple Cake is a simple butter cake made with tart apples and is best served with a vanilla ice cream or creme anglaise!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 25
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 9 Servings
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

Units

For the apples:

5 cups of apples in 1/4” slices, unpeeled (from about 5 apples- see notes)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the cake:

3 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup salted butter, melted and slightly cooled

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Instructions

Begin by preparing the apples. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, toss together the apples, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Allow the mixture to rest 15 minutes while the oven preheats. Lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet and place the apples on it. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, tossing occasionally, or until the apples have lost most of their moisture and are soft and pliable. Baking the apples will concentrate the apple flavor and reduce added water in the cake. Once the apples have finished baking, set aside to cool.
To make the cake, prepare a 9” springform pan by greasing the bottom and sides and lining the bottom with a round of parchment paper. I like to use Pam baking spray with flour, but you can also use butter and a bit of flour tossed in. Use a hand mixer to stir the eggs until they become pale, foamy, and slightly viscous, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and sugar, stirring just to combine. In a separate bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add about half of the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternating with half of the melted butter, and repeat until all of the ingredients are incorporated. Fold in most of the apples, reserving a few for the top of the cake. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and arrange the reserved apples on top of the cake. Bake in the preheated oven about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the top comes out clean. Cake is best served warm with vanilla ice cream and eaten within 2 days.

Notes

I used honey crisp apples, but any kind of tart apple will do.

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My Best Spring Recipes and a Wardrobe Refresh for the Season

My Best Spring Recipes

Spring is the perfect opportunity to roll out fruity desserts, chilled puddings and pies, and whipped cream-topped treats. The following ten recipes are essential back pocket recipes that are suitable for any number of occassions.

Coconut Cream Cake

Mile-high whipped cream and a super moist cake make this simple recipe a dream. Also, who knew fresh strawberries were the perfect topping for coconut cake!?

Blueberry Cream Cheese Biscuits

Is it breakfast? Dessert? Who knows. All that matters is that these blueberry-studded biscuits are to die for.

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

These bright and flavorful muffins just taste like spring. Plus, I’m all for anything with a simple pour-over glaze.

Peanut Butter Honey Graham Ice Cream Cake

This small-batch no-churn ice cream cake is loaded with flavor and texture. My favorite part? The graham crumble.

Banana Coconut Chocolate Cream Pie

When you can’t choose between your favorite flavors, you just put them all in a single pie. Like this cream pie, filled with layers of coconut cream, chocolate pudding, and sliced bananas!

Raspberry Lemon Crumb Cake

This tender cake is a delightful afternoon snack kind of cake. I love the addition of sliced almonds and streusel.

Chocolate Pudding Pie

This pie is a must-make for any chocolate lover. Creamy insides and perfect pie crust pair splendidly with homemade whipped cream.

Soft Jam Shortbread Bars

If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know shortbread is my kryptonite. These soft and chewy bars are filled with the jam of your choice and keep well for days.

Rice Pudding

IYKYK on this simple stovetop pudding. I am over-the-moon OBSESSED with this dessert, and no amount of naysayers will convince me otherwise.

Malted Chocolate Trifle

Spring weather always brings people outdoors for potluck meals and picnics. This trifle is a terrific treat for crowds, and the fact that it’s make-ahead doesn’t hurt either.

Give these spring recipes and looks a try! Happy Friday and Happy Baking!

My Best Spring Recipes and a Wardrobe Refresh for the Season Read More »

Switzerland

Our First Stop: Lake Lucerne

Never have I ever been in a place quite as stunning as Lake Lucerne. Picture this: crystal blue water surrounded by a mountainous peaks, rolling green pastures, and quaint waterside villages. It’s like something out of a magazine. We flew directly into Zurich and took an hour-long car ride from the airport to our lakeside hotel, Park Hotel Vitznau. This 5-star hotel features only a handful of luxury suites, all arranged in a historic castle-like building on the edge of the lake. The view alone was worth the trip, but the hotel continued to impress me on all accounts. Service was excellent, the hotel restaurants were delicious and the spa was spectacular (more on that later!).

We began our stay at the hotel with a morning of recuperating from jetlag by the lake. Chairs with umbrellas dot the edge of the water and are just in front of the hotel’s indoor/outdoor pool. From the pool you can swim up to the spa facilities which are available to all guests. Equipped with saunas, a steam room, a solarium, tepid pools, and even relaxation room with a floor-to-ceiling aquarium, this spa was beyond anything I’ve seen in a while. We also popped over to the hotel gym and an astroturf tennis court that is available to hotel guests.

There are three dining options on hotel property, but we took time to visit off-property restaurants as well. While Switzerland may not be known for the cuisine, I found the fresh ingredients and comforting flavors to be wonderful. We also managed to have a cocktail in the hotel bar each evening. The setting is wonderful, and with only a few guests on site, it was a peaceful (and delicious!) way to wind down the day.

My favorite activity on Lake Lucerne was a private morning of boating that the hotel arranged for us. The boat’s skipper toured us around the lake, explained the history of the area, and paused for a quick lunch and a few swims. Without question, this is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been, but we didn’t stop there! We also enjoyed a ride to the top of Mount Pilatus, a glass blowing tour, and a bit of souvenir shopping in Lucerne’s old town. Check out our complete list below!

Where We Ate on Lake Lucerne

Grill Restaurant and Lake Terrace Hotel dining lakeside with spectacular views and casual bites.
focus ATELIER Michelin-star dining in a castle-like hotel.
Restaurant Beaufort Our lakeside lunch favorite with fabulous local menu and personal service.
Restaurant Bündnerland Lucerne This tavern is one of the oldest buildings in Lucerne. Enjoy pints and fondue in a classic Swiss setting!
Pilatus Kulm This restaurant located on the top of Mt. Pilatus has incredible views and a great casual menu, too.
Restaurant Riva am See Enjoy fresh-caught fish in a lakeside setting!

What We Did on Lake Lucerne

Private Costa Brava Boat Tour Leisure tour on what might be the prettiest lake in the world!
Mount Pilatus Golden Tour Lucerne’s landmark mountain is explorable by cogwheel train, funicular, and hiking! We opted for all three in a day of sightseeing and adventure.
Glass Blowing Glasi Hergiswil is a museum, store, and hands-on experience all wrapped in one!
Explore Lucerne’s old town by foot, including the historic Chapel Bridge.

Next Stop: Gstaad

One thing I learned and loved about Switzerland is that their train system is incredibly sophisticated. We were able to travel via a beautiful scenic train from Lucerne to Gstaad in less than two hours. The trip is dotted with glacier lakes, mountainous views, and little villages at every stop. It’s truly a treat for your eyes and such a worthwhile way to get from point A to point B. We finally arrived at our mountain resort, Alpina Gstaad. This “chalet chic” hillside spot boasts panoramic views of the Bernese Alps and Saaneland valley. In a word: BREATHTAKING.

We had an action-packed itinerary for our time in Gstaad, so on check-in day, we opted to explore the hotel grounds, pool area and spa. The pool is set in a garden area and has adjacent restaurants and play areas for children. We enjoyed poolside snacks and cocktails before heading to the water and spa facilities. While on property, we also enjoyed the bar, multiple restaurants, and a fabulous breakfast setup. While the hotel grounds are phenomenal, my favorite part was the kind and energetic service provided by the staff- so many kind people to speak of!

We planned to make the most of the outdoors while we were in the mountains. With a scheduled hike, hot air balloon ride, complimentary hotel bikes, and even a World Cup polo match happening 10 minutes away, we weren’t bored for even a second. Here is a list of our favorite things we ate and did while visiting Gstaad.

Where We Ate in Gstaad

Rössli Feutersoey One of our favorite meals of the trip. A family-run restaurant serving excellent farm-to-table cuisine in a garden setting.
Megu Switzerland’s top Asian restaurant just happened to be in our hotel!
Posthotel Rössli Alpine dining in the oldest hotel in the area!

What We Did in Gstaad

Private Hike: I think I’m still sore from this 5-hour trip arranged through our hotel concierge. The views were absolutely worth it.
Hot Air Balloon Ride: View the alp from the sky!
Shopping in Saanen: While Gstaad offers a number of luxury shopping options (think Hermes and Louis Vuitton), we opted to explore a neighboring city with locally owned stores.

A Taste of Switzerland

With views like the ones I saw in Lucerne and Gstaad, I came home feeling INSPIRED. Here are a few Swiss-inspired finds for your home, closet, and more. Happy Shopping!

1. Cashmere Bandana 2. Bamboo Boxy Tee 3. Cast-Iron Fondue Pot 4. Clare V. Backpack 5. Brass Dinner Bell 6. Hiking Coffee Table Book 7. Vaer Field Watch 8. Gabriel Glas Stemless Wine Glasses 9. Schnee Hiking Boots 10. Victorinox Tailor Scissors 11. Chalet-Style Cuckoo Clock 12. Farmhouse Pottery Milkmaid Mug

Switzerland Read More »

Berry Almond Streusel Pie

I’m excited to be able to share with you all twice this week. Ever since we talked about pie crust, I’ve been trying to determine which recipe I was going to post today. I have a few pies up my sleeve but, you know, I can’t show you all my cards at once. In preparation for today, I did a little more research (read: made and consumed way too many pies) to make sure I gave you the most appropriate of appropriate pie recipes today. After much deliberation and several scoops of ice cream to make my pie tests “a la mode”, I’ve decided on a summer staple: mixed berry pie. Well, berry almond streusel pie, to be precise.

Me and the berries get along real well in the summer on account of all the farm stands and pick-your-own berry fields that have popped up here in central Alabama. Also, is there anyone who doesn’t like at least one variety of berry? I don’t think so.

Making a Mixed Berry Pie

I decided on a mix of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries for this pie, but the beauty of this recipe is that you can go any direction. Use whatever you have on hand, whatever is growing in your backyard, or whatever is BOGO at the supermarket. Once you have made the ultra-critical decision of picking your flavors, and given that you read my last post and know how to make stellar pie crust, the hardest part of making this pie is waiting for it to cool to room temperature and set up completely. No judgement here if you dive in spoon first the second it’s cool enough to shovel in to your mouth. Been there, done that.

The crumb topping on this berry almond streusel pie is a terrific alternative to making a double-crusted pie. I’ve included a photo of a double crusted pie I fixed earlier this year when I was testing dough braiding. Let’s just say that whole braiding thing is easier said than done. With two babies on the hip this summer, I’m going to stick with streusel toppings for now.

This recipe for berry almond streusel pie will fill a standard 9″ pie plate. If you’d prefer to use a deep-dish pan, increase the filling by 1/3 and cook a bit longer. I’ve even halved this recipe and prepared pies in mini 6″ dishes! My favorite though is the standard 9″ pie because it’s great for sharing manageable-sized slices with friends.

Let’s embrace the weekend by making this berry almond streusel pie and let me know how you love it! Cheers to the weekend and to summer baking!

For my favorite double pie crust recipe, click here!