German Apple Cake
A rustic German apple cake featuring tender cake batter topped with cinnamon-spiced apple slices and crunchy almonds. Perfect for afternoon coffee or as a comforting dessert.
Equipment
- 1 9-inch springform pan Greased
- 1 Electric mixer Hand or stand mixer
- 1 Mixing Bowls Large and medium
- 1 Whisk For dry ingredients
- 1 Apple peeler Notes: Or sharp paring knife
Ingredients
- Here's the Recipe 2: German Apple Cake Apfelkuchen ingredients in plain text format for easy copying:
- German Apple Cake Apfelkuchen - Ingredients
- Main Ingredients:
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples or Honeycrisp for sweeter flavor
- 1 3/4 cups 220g all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup 150g granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup 115g unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup 120ml whole milk (can substitute oat milk for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons pearl sugar for topping
- Alternative formats:
- Bullet Point Format:
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples or Honeycrisp for sweeter flavor
- 1 3/4 cups 220g all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup 150g granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup 115g unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup 120ml whole milk (can substitute oat milk for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons pearl sugar for topping
- Simple List Format No measurements:
- Granny Smith apples
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Ground cinnamon
- Lemon
- Sliced almonds
- Pearl sugar
Instructions
- Prep Apples: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 9-inch springform pan. Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4-inch thick wedges. Toss with 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon to prevent browning.
- Make Batter: Beat butter and sugar until fluffy (3-4 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to prevent curdling.
- Combine Ingredients: Whisk flour and baking powder together. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to butter mixture in three additions, beginning and ending with flour. Add lemon zest for brightness.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan. Arrange apple slices in overlapping circles on top, creating spiral pattern. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and pearl sugar. Bake 45-50 minutes until golden and tester comes clean.
- Cool and Serve: Cool in pan 15 minutes, then remove ring. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or crème fraîche.
Notes
- Best served slightly warm with vanilla sauce (Vanillesoße)
- Stores at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated for 5-6 days
- Freezes well for up to 3 months wrapped tightly
- Granny Smith apples hold shape better during baking
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving for elegant presentation