Description
This delicious Apple Cake topped with almonds offers a moist, flavorful dessert featuring fresh apples, warm spices, and crunchy almond topping. Perfect for cozy gatherings or a delightful family treat, this cake combines the sweetness of apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of lemon zest for a balanced and aromatic bite.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 5 Tbsp butter (softened, room temperature)
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- Lemon zest (zest of one whole large lemon)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
Fruit and Toppings
- 3 apples (recommend Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp or Braeburn)
- Lemon juice (for apples when slicing)
- Almonds (sliced or chopped for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter a 10-inch springform pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, creating a light base for the cake.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition until combined smoothly.
- Mix Wet Spices and Baking Powder: Add water, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and baking powder to the mixture. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Add Flour: Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour until a thick batter forms, making sure not to overmix.
- Prepare Apples: Slice two of the apples and cut them into chunks. Sprinkle the pieces with lemon juice to prevent browning, then fold the apple chunks gently into the batter.
- Transfer Batter to Pan: Pour the apple-batter mixture into the buttered springform pan, spreading it evenly.
- Arrange Apple Slices: Slice the remaining apple thinly, sprinkle slices with lemon juice, and arrange them on top of the batter in a spiral pattern for an attractive finish.
- Add Almond Topping: Sprinkle sliced or chopped almonds evenly over the arranged apple slices to add crunch and flavor.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly before releasing the springform pan and serving.
Notes
- Choose firm apples like Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn for the best texture.
- Use lemon juice to prevent apple slices from browning and maintain freshness.
- Make sure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
- Test doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean.
- The almond topping adds a nice texture contrast but can be omitted if nut allergies are a concern.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American