Description
This Authentic Irish Apple Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert featuring tender apples folded into a spiced cake batter, topped with a buttery streusel. Perfectly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this classic Irish treat is ideal for cozy afternoons or festive occasions, served warm with whipped cream or custard.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Combine dry cake ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Cut in the butter: Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the cold, cubed unsalted butter into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, which helps create a tender cake texture.
- Add sugar to dry mixture: Stir the granulated sugar into the crumbly mixture for balanced sweetness distributed throughout the batter.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and whole milk until combined, then add this mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just mixed to avoid overworking the batter.
- Fold in apples: Gently fold the peeled, cored, and sliced apples into the batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed without bruising the pieces.
- Transfer batter to pan: Pour the apple-studded batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it evenly with a spatula for uniform baking.
- Prepare streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar, then cut in the cold butter cubes until the mixture becomes crumbly with coarse pea-sized pieces.
- Top the cake: Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping over the batter in the cake pan, which will bake into a sweet, crunchy crust.
- Bake the cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating the cake is fully cooked.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly in the pan before serving. Enjoy it warm, optionally accompanied by whipped cream or custard for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Make sure the butter for both cake and streusel is cold to create the ideal crumb texture.
- You can use a mix of sweet and tart apples for more complex flavor.
- Ensure not to overmix the batter to keep the cake tender.
- If desired, sprinkle a pinch of coarse sugar on top of the streusel before baking for added crunch.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
