Description
This Irish Apple Cake is a comforting dessert featuring tender spiced apples layered over a light, fluffy cake batter and topped with a crumbly oat streusel. Paired with a creamy homemade custard sauce, it’s perfect for cozy gatherings or a comforting treat anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 Tbsp whole milk or cream
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- About 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced (a little over 1 pound after slicing)
- Confectioner’s sugar for dusting
Streusel Topping
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 6 Tbsp unsalted cold butter, cut in small pieces
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Custard Sauce
- 6 large egg yolks
- 6 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk (or half and half or cream)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Custard Sauce: In a saucepan, gently simmer the whole milk over medium heat. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until smooth. Gradually whisk some of the hot milk into the egg mixture to temper it, then return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook gently, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain the custard through a sieve into a clean bowl, stir in the vanilla extract, then cover and chill until ready to serve.
- Make the Streusel Topping: Combine the cold, cubed butter with the flour, rolled oats, and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, rub or cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate this topping while you prepare the batter.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the room temperature butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next.
- Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gently fold this dry mixture into the creamed butter mixture alternately with the milk or cream, mixing just until combined to form the batter.
- Assemble the Cake: Spread the cake batter evenly into the prepared springform pan. Arrange the thinly sliced Granny Smith apples in a layer over the batter, then sprinkle the chilled streusel topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and set in the center (a skewer inserted in the center should come out clean).
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly in the pan on a wire rack. Dust the top with confectioner’s sugar. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature with a generous drizzle of the chilled custard sauce.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for their tartness and firmness, which hold up well during baking.
- Ensure the butter for the streusel is very cold to achieve a crumbly texture.
- The custard sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to two days.
- For a richer custard, substitute half the milk with cream or half and half.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to keep the cake tender.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly before removing the springform pan sides to avoid breaking.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Irish apple cake, apple streusel cake, custard sauce, baked apple cake, American dessert, spiced apple cake
