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Rustic French Apple Cake Recipe

Rustic French Apple Cake


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4.8 from 35 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Delectable french apple cake with maple ginger custard sauce blends rustic French baking traditions with innovative flavor profiles. Warm spices and creamy maple-infused custard complement tender apple-studded cake slices that you’ll savor with pure delight.


Ingredients

Scale

French Apple Cake:

  • 1 ½ lbs (680 g) tart apples (Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/8 inch slices
  • 1 cup + 2 tbsps (140 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup + 1 tbsp (220 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 1 whole egg
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
  • 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp spiced rum
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

Maple Ginger Custard Sauce:

  • 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 1 tbsp spiced rum
  • ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
  • Powdered sugar (for sprinkling)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Apples: Microwave apple slices until soft, then marinate with lemon juice and spiced rum for flavor infusion.
  2. Preheat Oven: Set oven to 325°F and prepare a springform pan with butter, placing it on a lined baking sheet.
  3. Create Batter Base: Whisk dry ingredients separately from wet ingredients, combining them gently to form a smooth mixture.
  4. Layer Apple Mixture: Separate a portion of batter, fold egg yolks and cooled apple slices into the main batter, then transfer to the prepared pan.
  5. Finish Cake Preparation: Spread reserved batter over apple layer, sprinkle additional sugar on top, ensuring even distribution.
  6. Bake Cake: Cook for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes until golden-brown, then cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. Craft Maple Ginger Custard: Simmer milk, maple syrup, and ginger, steep, then strain and temper with egg yolks.
  8. Complete Custard: Thicken sauce over heat, incorporating vanilla bean paste and spiced rum, then chill thoroughly.
  9. Serve: Dust cake with powdered sugar and present alongside the chilled maple ginger custard sauce.

Notes

  • Master Apple Softening: Microwave technique ensures tender, pliable apple slices without losing texture or moisture.
  • Flavor Infusion Secret: Lemon juice and spiced rum create depth by allowing apples to marinate and absorb complex taste profiles.
  • Baking Precision Technique: Use a springform pan on a lined baking sheet to prevent potential overflow and ensure even heat distribution.
  • Layering Strategy: Reserving and modifying a portion of batter creates a unique texture contrast with the apple-infused base layer.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 34 g
  • Sodium: 260 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 120 mg