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Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 62 reviews

This classic Irish Apple Cake recipe features tender spiced apple chunks embedded in a buttery crumbly cake, complemented by a rich homemade custard sauce. Perfectly balanced with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, this cake is ideal for cozy afternoon tea or festive gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced into small pieces
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (or 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/3 cup brown sugar)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (divided)
  • 1 1/2 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, sliced in half, cored and stemmed
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Custard Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the cake.
  2. Prepare pan: Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan thoroughly, then set it aside.
  3. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, sea salt, ground ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice until well combined.
  4. Add butter: Incorporate the cold diced butter into the dry mixture by rubbing it in with your fingertips or using a pastry cutter until the texture resembles fine crumbs.
  5. Add sugar: Stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar with a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
  6. Prepare apples: Thinly slice the peeled apples to less than 1/4-inch thick, then dice these slices into smaller chunks.
  7. Combine apples with flour mixture: Toss the apple pieces into the flour and butter mixture, ensuring they are fully coated.
  8. Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
  9. Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet mixture over the apple and flour mixture. Using your hands or a spatula, gently toss to combine. The batter will be slightly lumpy—do not overmix.
  10. Transfer batter: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared springform pan.
  11. Top with sugar and cinnamon: Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the surface of the cake batter.
  12. Bake: Bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  13. Cool cake: Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes, then carefully remove the springform ring and let the cake cool completely.
  14. Prepare custard sauce – whisk yolks and sugar: In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  15. Heat milk: Pour the 1 1/2 cups whole milk into a medium saucepan and bring it just to a light boil over medium heat.
  16. Temper eggs: Reduce heat to medium-low. Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture to temper the eggs, then gradually pour this mixture back into the saucepan while whisking continuously.
  17. Cook custard: Stir constantly over medium-low heat until the custard thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Take care not to overheat to avoid curdling.
  18. Finish custard: Immediately remove from heat, pour into a glass container, and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  19. Cover custard: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming, then chill or keep warm as desired.
  20. Serve: Drizzle the custard sauce warm or cold over slices of the apple cake and enjoy.

Notes

  • Use Granny Smith apples for their tartness and ability to hold shape during baking.
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake tender and crumbly.
  • Tempering the egg yolks with hot milk is essential to prevent curdling when making custard.
  • Butter and flouring the springform pan helps the cake release easily and prevents sticking.
  • The custard sauce can be served warm or cold according to preference.

Keywords: Irish apple cake, spiced apple cake, homemade apple dessert, Irish dessert recipe, custard sauce, apple cake with custard

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/irish-apple-cake-with-custard-sauce-recipe/