Irish Apple Cake Vanilla (Print Version)

Spiced apple cake with smooth warm vanilla custard, ideal for cozy moments and tea time.

# What You Need:

→ For the Apple Cake

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
07 - ½ cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - ½ cup whole milk
10 - 3 medium tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 2 tablespoons demerara or granulated sugar for topping

→ For the Warm Vanilla Custard

13 - 2 cups whole milk
14 - 3 large egg yolks
15 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
16 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
03 - Rub the cold butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - Stir the granulated sugar into the butter-flour mixture until evenly distributed.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
06 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
07 - Gently fold the sliced apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
08 - Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with demerara or granulated sugar.
09 - Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
10 - Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
11 - In a saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until just simmering. Do not boil.
12 - In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
13 - Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
14 - Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5–7 minutes. Do not let it boil.
15 - Remove from heat and serve warm with slices of apple cake.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The custard transforms into the silkiest, most comforting sauce youve ever poured over cake
  • Its humble ingredients create something that feels special enough for company but simple enough for Tuesday
02 -
  • Overworking the butter into the flour makes the cake tough instead of tender
  • The custard can go from perfect to scrambled in seconds, so keep the heat low and stir constantly
03 -
  • Peel the apples in long strips if you want them to disappear into the cake, or leave some skin on for texture and visual appeal
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for the full 10 minutes or it might break when you try to move it

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