This Irish Apple Cake Recipe Takes Delicious to a New Level! (2024)

If you are looking for a classic Irish Apple Cake recipe, this one should fit the bill. It is simple, hearty, and can be made several ways, all of which yield the same delicious flavor of baked apples.


Irish Apple Cake is a dish made from flour, butter, sugar, apples,eggs, and spices. It can be made several ways, with the simplest called“Kerry”Apple Cake.

The majority of versions of this cake callfor a tart apple. Granny Smith, or the traditional Irish Baking apple,both are delightful in it, although any apple that suits personal fancycan work.

If you want more information on Irish food and recipes in general, visit our main section on Irish food here.

Meanwhile, please enjoy our favorite Irish apple cake recipe!

Irish Apple Cake Recipe: Ingredients

An exciting way to make this dessert is over cast iron dutch oven hung over an open fire. I have made it this way while out camping or living over the summer using a wood burning stove.

For those who prefer the kitchen, baking it in an 8 or 9 inch pan works just as well.

  • 3 cups cake flour (all-purpose will work for a heavier cake)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 4 to 6 oz butter
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 3 or 4 large Granny Smith apples (should be 2-4 cups cut up)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (to sprinkle on top of cake)

Irish Apple Cake Recipe: Preparation

  1. For this Irish apple cake recipe, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray an 8 to 9 inch pan with oil or coat with butter (round and square both work)
  2. Using a larger bowl than you normally use, sift the cake flour, baking powder, salt, cloves and nutmeg.
  3. Cut the butter into the flour and rub it in using your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs (note use 6 ounces of butter if you use all-purpose flour).
  4. Toss in the sugar and mix it through the flour.
  5. Peel and slice the apples into similar sized pieces (if you are moving slowly you can sprinkle your apples with lemon juice to keep them from browning).
  6. Add the apples into the flour mixture and combine them thoroughly.
  7. Beat the eggs and add a dash of milk. Add to the apples and flour and combine well with a large spoon.
  8. Add more milk as needed to fully moisten the flour. The result is a pretty sticky dough.
  9. Transfer the dough into the prepared cake pan and flatten the top surface using the back of a large spoon.
  10. Sprinkle two tablespoons of sugar over the top of the cake.
  11. Bake the cake in the preheated 375 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. A toothpick or knife will come out clean when it is cooked and the top will be a lovely golden brown.
  12. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire wrack to finish cooling.

Variations

You can add cinnamon or vanilla although this is not really an Irish way of seasoning. Some folks add walnuts, which make the cake more British.

In a pinch you can use 1 ¾ to 3 cups of applesauce instead of whole apples. Some bakers layer half the dough on the bottom, top with apples and nuts and spices, and cover with the other half of the dough.

Presentation

This Irish apple cake recipe is great for a breakfast treat, wonderful for Saint Patrick's day gatherings with a little nip of Irish Coffee at the end of the day, or really any time at all.

This delightfully hearty dish has great appeal as both a sweet bread and as cake served with whipped cream, ice cream, butter, or lemon topping.

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This Irish Apple Cake Recipe Takes Delicious to a New Level! (2024)

FAQs

Why does my apple cake fall apart? ›

Why Did My Apple Cake Fall Apart? There are two main reasons why an apple cake would fall apart: (1) it was simply too warm when you were trying to cut and serve it or (2) you used too many/the wrong kind of apple.

Where does apple cake come from? ›

Scandinavian. In Scandinavia, apple cakes are typically prepared from sour apples and baked in a dough made from sugar, butter, flour, eggs, and baking powder. The cake is then topped with apples, cinnamon and sugar, sometimes also chopped almonds.

Can you use eating apples instead of cooking apples in a cake? ›

You can use any eating apples that are in season, or any that you have to hand, but my favourites are Cox's Orange Pippins and Braeburn apples for flavour.

What is the Irish cake tradition? ›

Probably the best known Irish Halloween tradition is the making of Barnbrack. This is a type of fruit cake which is eaten during Halloween. The tradition is that there is a ring, a coin and a piece of cloth baked in the cake.

What is Irish cream cake made of? ›

Combine cake mix and pudding mix in a large bowl. Beat in eggs, Irish cream liqueur, oil, and water with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Pour batter over nuts in the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Why is my apple cake dense? ›

Problem: My cake is very dense.

This could be because the cake mixture didn't have enough air beaten into it or perhaps eggs were added too quickly and curdled. Another reason could be that there wasn't enough raising agent.

Where is Grandma's fruitcake made? ›

Louis, Missouri by two German immigrant brothers. What's the secret to the famous fruitcake recipe? The secret to Grandma's fruitcake is that it is hand-made by our wonderful bakers all year round and then it is mellowed to perfection before being sold to customers to enjoy!

Should apple cake be refrigerated? ›

Notes. This cake should be refrigerated and can be gently reheated in the oven or a toaster oven. NOT in the microwave, which will make it mushy.

What's the difference between apple pie and apple cake? ›

The main difference for a baker, is that pies are made with pastry and cakes are made with sponges. The techniques, ingredients and methods for making these are very different.

What type of apple is best for baking a cake? ›

Granny Smith (Tart)

Granny Smiths are typically my go-to apple for baking, so I'll always have them on hand during the fall months. Their tart, citrusy flavor make them perfect for sweet baked goods, where there's sugar in the recipe. I love using these for homemade caramel apples, too.

What is the best apple to use in a cake? ›

According to New England Today, the best apples for baking are firm-tart apples, and firm-sweet apples. Firm-tart apples are apples like Granny Smith, Esopus Spitzenburg, Northern Spy, Ida Red, and Pink Pearl. Firm-sweet apples are Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Jazz, Jonagold, and Pink Lady.

What kind of apples are best for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What is the Irish equivalent of cake flour? ›

I would use any of these three options depending on the type of cake. Plain flour - All purpose white flour. Self-raising - White flour with raising agents within. Strong plain flour - High gluten flour usually prefered when working with yeasts.

What does Irish cream loaf cake taste like? ›

Blending velvety-rich Irish cream liqueur and bittersweet chocolate, this loaf cake requires little effort yet delivers a simply sweet and satisfying cake. Made extra rich with Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter, every crumb is a lovely homage to delicate Irish flavors.

What is tarte tatin made of? ›

What is Tarte Tatin? Tarte Tatin is a French dessert for which apples are caramelized in a skillet with butter and sugar, then topped with a round of pastry dough and baked.

What is apple crumb made of? ›

Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients

All-purpose flour and almond flour – The almond flour adds extra richness to the topping, while the all-purpose flour keeps it light and crisp. Whole rolled oats – Because to me, nothing says fall like oats, nuts, and apples. Walnuts – For crunch!

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