Description
This Authentic Irish Apple Cake is a rustic, cozy dessert made with tart Granny Smith apples, a tender spiced cake base, and a buttery streusel topping. Served with a silky vanilla custard sauce, it’s a traditional Irish treat that’s perfect for teatime or a comforting dessert.
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
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1 lb 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 into 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/cream)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round springform pan.
- Prepare the streusel topping by combining flour, oats, butter, and sugar in a bowl. Rub with fingertips until crumbly. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the milk or cream.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture, mixing until combined.
- Spread the cake batter evenly in the prepared pan. Layer the sliced apples over the batter.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, make the custard sauce: whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a heatproof bowl. Heat the milk in a saucepan until just steaming, then slowly whisk into the yolk mixture. Return to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in vanilla.
- Cool the cake slightly, then dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving with warm custard sauce.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for the best flavor balance.
- The cake can be served warm or at room temperature, but it’s especially comforting with warm custard.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice with custard
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: irish apple cake, authentic apple cake, streusel apple cake, apple dessert, traditional irish recipes