German Apple Cake – Deutsches Apfel Kuchen
I have a bad habit of adding apples to our grocery list. Then I forget about them once I have them in the house. How happy I am to have this German Apple Cake recipe to make great use of the apples. This is an easy and delicious dessert.
- Apple in German is Apfel [ˈapfl].
- Cake in German is Kuchen [ˈkuːxn].
Therefore, apple cake in German is: Apfel Kuchen.
*Fun phrase: der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm means “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” or the similar phrase “like father like son.”
This recipe, like the Chicken Schnitzel I made for dinner, comes from the food blog, 31daily. She explains in the post that Germans have a tradition to gather on Sundays for Kaffee und Kuchen – coffee and cake. What a wonderful tradition this is!
German Apple Cake
Equipment
- 8 inch cake or tart pan *see notes for link
- Electric Hand Mixer *see notes for link
Ingredients
Cake
- ½ cup butter (1 stick) softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 Roma or Fuji apples
Topping
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Peel, core, and slice apples into sixteenths.
- Spray 8 inch cake or tart pan with non-stick spray.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until it becomes light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Add flour and baking powder and mix until just combined.
- With floured fingers, press dough into the prepared pan, pushing the dough slightly up the edges.
- Arrange the apples in concentric circles and press into the dough. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar topping.
- Bake for about 45 minutes or until nicely browned. Let cool completely.
- Optional: drizzle with an icing glaze made up of confectioner's sugar and water.
I love making this cake any time of year. However, I most enjoy making it towards the end of the year. The smell of the apples and cinnamon baking fills the kitchen with the scent of fall. Consider adding this dessert to your recipe list after you’ve gone apple picking!
When it comes to fall are you all about apples and cinnamon or pumpkin spice?
