French Apple Cake

Name: French Apple Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 3 red apples - I like Pink Lady (, peeled and diced into 1.5cm/0.6" cubes (~ 3 1/2 cups) (Note 1 for other varieties)); 100g(7 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup caster sugar / superfine sugar ((Note 2)); 3 large eggs (, at room temperature (55g/2oz each in shell)); 1 tsp vanilla extract (, natural / pure); 1 1/3 cups plain flour / all-purpose flour; 1 1/4 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt; Icing sugar / powdered sugar (, for dusting); Vanilla ice cream

Prep 20 min Cook 30 min Serves 8 Source

Ingredients

3 red apples - I like Pink Lady (, peeled and diced into 1.5cm/0.6" cubes (~ 3 1/2 cups) (Note 1 for other varieties))
100g(7 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar / superfine sugar ((Note 2))
3 large eggs (, at room temperature (55g/2oz each in shell))
1 tsp vanilla extract (, natural / pure)
1 1/3 cups plain flour / all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
Icing sugar / powdered sugar (, for dusting)
Vanilla ice cream

Steps

1
Cream butter then sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Beat in dry ingredients, stir through apple. Bake in 23cm/9" pan at 180°C/350°F (160°C fan) for 30 minutes.
2
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan-forced).
3
Cake pan – Butter a 23cm/9" round cake pan and line the base with baking paper / parchment paper. No need to line the sides.
4
Dry ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
5
Cream butter and sugar – Using a handheld beater or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium until creamed. Add the sugar and beat on medium for 1 minute until fluffy and becomes a paler yellow.
6
Eggs and vanilla – Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.
7
Add the flour mixture into the bowl and beat on low until you can no longer see dry flour, then stop beating. You don't want to overmix.
8
Apples – Stir through the diced apples using a spatula. The batter will be quite thick, it's not pourable.
9
Bake – Spread the batter evenly into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean (because the batter is quite thick and if your oven runs a bit cool, it could take up to 45 minutes). (Note 3)
10
Rest and serve – Let the cake rest for 5 minutes in the pan before removing. Cool for a further 10 minutes then serve warm or let it cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar, if desired. If serving warm, it's especially lovely with a scoop of ice cream.