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Cozy French Apple Cake: Best Easy Recipe for Fall

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This cozy French apple cake is a simple, one-bowl wonder that combines tender apples with a custardy, buttery crumb. Perfect for fall, it’s an elegant yet effortless dessert that tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 medium apples (about 400g), peeled, cored, and chopped into ½-inch cubes (Honeycrisp or Fuji recommended)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g), spooned and leveled
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113g), melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon dark rum or Calvados (optional)
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Position a rack in the center of the oven. Line your cake pan with a circle of parchment paper and lightly grease the sides with butter or cooking spray.
  2. Prep the apples. Peel, core, and chop 3 medium apples into ½-inch cubes. You should have about 2½ to 3 cups of chopped apples. Set them aside.
  3. Melt the butter. In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter. Set it aside to cool slightly while you mix the batter.
  4. Whisk the eggs and sugar. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 large eggs and ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar. Whisk vigorously for about 1 minute, until the mixture is pale, slightly thick, and falls off the whisk in ribbons.
  5. Add the vanilla and melted butter. Pour in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and the cooled melted butter. Whisk until combined. If you’re using the rum or Calvados, add it now.
  6. Fold in the dry ingredients. Sprinkle 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt over the wet mixture. Use a rubber spatula to fold gently until just combined. A few streaks of flour are fine.
  7. Fold in the apples. Add the chopped apples to the batter. Fold gently until every piece is coated.
  8. Transfer to the pan. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan. Use the spatula to spread it evenly. Don’t press down—just smooth the top gently.
  9. Bake. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The cake should pull away slightly from the edges of the pan.
  10. Cool in the pan. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Then run a knife around the edges, invert onto the rack, and remove the parchment paper. Flip it right-side up to cool completely.

Notes

This cake tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. For best results, let it rest overnight. Use room-temperature eggs to prevent the melted butter from seizing. Don’t overmix the batter to keep the cake tender. Start checking for doneness at 38 minutes as ovens vary. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: French apple cake, easy apple cake, fall dessert, one-bowl cake, apple dessert, cozy cake, gluten-free adaptable

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/cozy-french-apple-cake-best-easy-recipe-for-fall/