Description
This Easy Irish Apple Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert featuring a tender cake base spiced with cinnamon and cloves, topped with juicy chopped Granny Smith apples and a crumbly cinnamon streusel. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, it’s an inviting treat that captures the essence of traditional Irish baking and is ideal for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (140g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup (67g) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/4 cup (37g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tablespoon (21.3g) butter, cold and cubed
Optional:
- Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease an 8-inch round cake pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate bowl, cream the room temperature unsalted butter with the granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates a smooth base for your cake batter.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix the dry ingredients and milk into the wet mixture alternately, ensuring thorough incorporation without over-mixing to keep the cake tender.
- Transfer Batter to Pan: Spoon the thick cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out evenly, pressing it gently into the edges for an even bake.
- Prepare Apples: Peel the Granny Smith apples and slice them into 1/4-inch (0.64 cm) slices, then chop those slices to create smaller pieces.
- Top Batter with Apples: Scatter the chopped apple pieces evenly over the batter surface. Use your hand to lightly press them down slightly into the batter to help them adhere during baking.
- Make Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter and work it into the dry ingredients using your hands until it forms large crumbs.
- Add Streusel to Cake: Sprinkle the crumbly streusel mixture evenly over the apple layer on top of the batter.
- Bake Cake: Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean, avoiding any wet apple pieces.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing. Serve warm or at room temperature. If desired, dust with confectioner’s sugar just before serving for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for their tartness and firmness which balances the sweetness and holds up well during baking.
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature for easier creaming with the sugars.
- Do not over-mix the batter as it can result in a dense cake.
- Cold cubed butter is essential for a crumbly streusel topping.
- Check the cake at the 50-minute mark to avoid over-baking; apple moisture can affect baking time.
- Dust with confectioner’s sugar right before serving to prevent it from melting into the cake.
