Description
Maple apple ricotta cake combines rustic charm with delicate sweetness from Canadian maple syrup. Home bakers can easily craft this dessert, creating a memorable treat that showcases seasonal ingredients with simple elegance.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (340 grams or 12 oz) whole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 eggs
- 12 oz (340 grams) thinly sliced apples (approx. 2 large apples)
- 1 stick (113 grams or 4 oz) butter
- ½ cup (170 grams) maple syrup
- ½ cup (100 grams) sugar
- 1 ½ cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp butter (for sautéing)
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 pinch salt
- Raw sugar (for garnish)
- Warm maple syrup (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and meticulously line a 9-inch cake pan with butter and parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage.
- Apple Caramelization: In a skillet, transform apple slices over medium heat with butter and a whisper of salt, coaxing them to a golden, crisp-edged perfection.
- Flavor Infusion: Cascade maple syrup into the skillet, allowing a brief simmer to marry the flavors. Transfer the caramelized apples and their luxurious syrup to a cooling vessel.
- Brown Butter Technique: Melt remaining butter in the skillet, developing a rich, nutty essence with a golden hue. Set aside to cool and concentrate its complex flavor profile.
- Dry Mixture Preparation: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation for the cake.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Harmonize eggs, ricotta, cooled brown butter, and vanilla extract into a silky, smooth emulsion that promises decadent texture.
- Batter Assembly: Delicately incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture with minimal stirring. Fold in three-quarters of the caramelized apples and their maple-infused essence.
- Cake Formation: Gently pour the batter into the prepared pan, leveling the surface with precision. Artfully crown the top with remaining apple slices.
- Baking Process: Position the cake on the middle oven rack, baking for 40-45 minutes. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean and pristine.
- Cooling and Presentation: Rest the cake for 10 minutes post-baking, then carefully liberate it from the pan using the parchment paper liner.
- Final Touch: Serve the cake warm or at ambient temperature, embellishing with a sprinkle of raw sugar and a graceful drizzle of additional maple syrup.
Notes
- Butter Browning Technique: Creating brown butter adds a rich, nutty depth that elevates the entire cake’s flavor profile, intensifying the overall taste experience.
- Apple Caramelization Tip: Ensure apple slices are cooked until golden edges appear, which concentrates their natural sweetness and provides a complex caramelized texture.
- Minimal Mixing Method: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture using few strokes to maintain a tender, light cake crumb and prevent potential toughness.
- Temperature Precision: Baking at 350°F ensures even cooking, allowing the cake to develop a golden exterior while keeping the interior moist and perfectly baked.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg