Delicious French apple cake is an easy dessert recipe that pulls together quickly but looks and tastes like it came from a high-end bakery! Dense creamy base with a light fluffy cake layer on the top.
Authentic French Apple Cake
If you follow along on social media or get my email newsletter you know that we spent two weeks last month traveling around France with our three boys. We spent time in the Normandy region and in the Loire Valley.
It was one of those dream trips I spent months planning, but in reality the entire trip was more reminiscent of a National Lampoon's movie-one mishap after another! One good thing I did take away from the trip was all the amazing food I tried-like this delicious French Apple Cake Recipe.
Ingredients in French Apple Cake
Apples are a specialty in the Normandy region, they have an apple brandy called Calvados that they are quite proud of, and rightfully so, it's delicious!
This apple cake uses Calvados but if you don't have that or apple brandy you can easily use a dark rum as a substitute and the result will still be amazing.
Why I Love French Apple Cake
I love this dessert because it looks so fancy all served up with powdered sugar but in reality, it whips together quickly and easily. The cake has a creamy, almost custard-like layer at the bottom and the top is light and fluffy, like a well-done coffee cake.
How to Pick Apples for French Apple Cake
I recommend using a baking apple that will hold it's shape for this French Apple Cake. Varieties such as Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Jonagold are all good options.
You might also like some of my other apple recipes such as my Homemade Apple Bread, Apple Baked French Toast, and Crumbly Old Fashioned Apple Pie or this Cinnamon Apple Cake with Crackle Glaze from Shaken Together.
If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see more delicious recipes.
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French Apple Cake
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: French
Description
Delicious French apple cake is an easy dessert recipe that pulls together quickly but looks and tastes like it came from a high end bakery! Dense creamy base with a light fluffy cake layer on the top.
Ingredients
- 4 large apples (baking variety is best)
- 3 tablespoons Calvados, apple brandy, or dark rum
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, melted and slightly cooled
- powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch springform pan (affiliate link) with baking spray (affiliate link) (or butter and lightly flour the surface.)
- Core the apples and slice into ⅛ thick slices.
- Place apple slices in a medium bowl and pour over the Calvados, toss to coat and allow to soak.
- In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large bowl add eggs and mix with a wire whisk until frothy.
- Add vanilla extract and sugar and mix until combined.
- Add butter and continue to stir.
- Add flour mixture a little at a time stirring constantly until batter is uniform.
- Fold in apples, making sure to include any remaining Calvados at the bottom of the bowl.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and pat down the apples with a spatula.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Cool at least 5 minutes before removing from pan.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired.
Notes
- I recommend using a baking apple that will hold it's shape for this Apple Cake. Varieties such as Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Jonagold are all good options.
Keywords: French Apple Cake
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sheila says
The cake is in the oven and it looks delicious. So easy to make! I arranged apples on top in a centric circle and sprinkled with a course sugar. I added finely grated orange rind, Grand Marnier, and currants to the sliced apples before they were folded into the batter..
Marlene Wilkins says
This looks very good. Plan to try it. Thankyou. M
Melissa Riker says
You're welcome, I hope you love it as much as we do!
Sarah says
How did you get the sliced
Apples on your cake to appear well on top?
After pouring the batter onto the pan,
Did you put some sliced apples on Top of it??
Gloria says
This cake was delicious, very moist and easy to make. I used a spiced rum and tasted very good. Saved the recipe for the next time I have extra apple. Thank you!
★★★★★
Melissa says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them! ~Melissa
Debi says
Very good dessert. Not overly sweet. I peeled the apples and used Tahitian Rum which worked fine. Will make this again!
Melissa says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Debi, I love that recipe too! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave feedback! ~Melissa
Carol Burgeson says
Help I'm getting ready to make this and there seems to be a question of how much sugar what is the correct amount?
Melissa says
It is 3/4 cup of sugar Carol, the recipe is correct now
Janette Sinclair says
What is the weight of 1 stick (or 8 tablespoons) of butter?
Liz says
How much sugar?
Melissa says
oops-sorry about that Liz, I've updated it-it was 3/4 cup