French Apple Cake

This is a rather a rustic cake with intense apple flavors and a golden brown and crispy crust. But, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade chantilly, this delicious apple cake will please the whole family!

And since this apple cake is rich in fruit, it is even rather healthy. 

• Which apples to choose for a French Apple Cake?
• List of ingredients
• How to prepare an apple fondant cake?
• Géraldine’s tips
• Frequently Asked Questions

Which apples to choose for a French Apple Cake?

To make this apple cake, you can choose any kind of apples. Above all, it is important that the variety of apple you choose pleases your taste. In general, a sweet and sour apple variety is ideal.

It is not necessary to choose an apple variety that melts when cooked like Boskoop. 

Personally, I recommend Elstar, Jonagold, Braeburn, Honey Crunch or even Pink Lady. 

List of ingredients

To prepare this French apple cake recipe, you only need a few simple ingredients. 

• Apples: This is the star of this recipe! I chose fresh apples. See my tips on choosing the right variety of apples above. 
• Flour: I used all purpose flour. You can substitute some of the flour with whole grain flour or almond powder. 
• Butter: I used French unsalted butter with a minimum of 82% fat content. For a lighter version, replace some of the butter with crème fraîche or yogurt. 
• Sugar: I used brown sugar to give the apples a caramelized flavor. You can also use white sugar. 
• Baking powder: You need a little baking powder to make the cake puff up and give it even more fluffiness. 
• Vanilla: I like to add a little vanilla to my apple cake. You can use vanilla extract or a vanilla bean. You can also substitute cinnamon for vanilla. 
• Rum: In the traditional French apple cake recipe, it is common to add a little dark rum. Rum is of course optional and should be avoided if you are eating it with children. 

You will find the exact quantities in the recipe card.

How to prepare this French apple cake?

The preparation of this apple cake is ultra simple and takes no more than 10 minutes!

• APPLES: The most tedious part of this recipe is preparing the apples! To do this, I first cut the apples into quarters after washing them. 
• Then I peel them and slice them thinly. I recommend that you cut them into very thin slices using a mandolin. The finer the apples are cut, the more melting the cake will be. 
• You can also cut the apples into small cubes. 
• BATTER: In a large bowl, break the eggs and whisk them with the sugar until the mixture turns white. In a small bowl, mix the flour mixed with baking powder.
• Add it to the eggs with the melted butter and vanilla. Mix well with a rubber spatula. Add the slices of apples. 
• BAKE: Pour the cake batter into a springform pan greased or covered with parchment paper. Sprinkle the top of the cake with sugar. The sugar will caramelize the top of the cake. Bake for 35-46 minutes at 180°C / 350 °F (fan oven).
• While the cake is still warm, run a blunt knife along the edges of the cake. Unmold the cake and place it on a wire rack to let the cake cool. Place then on a large plate.

Géraldine’s tips 

• To make sure the cake doesn’t stick to my pan, I start by buttering the edges of the pan. Then, I cut a circle of baking paper the size of the pan and place in the bottom of the pan.
• The finer the apples are cut, the more moist the cake will be. If you prefer thicker chunks of apples, cut the apples in cubes of medium size.
• You can make this cake with any other type of fruit: pears, apricots, peaches or even pineapple.

More French cake recipes

• French Almond Cake (Amandier)
• Rose Apple Tart
• Strawberry Tartelettes with Crème Pâtissière
• Apricot tart with almond cream

You may also like

• Apricot Almond Cake (naturally gluten-free)
• French Almond Cake (Amandier)
• Super Moist Marble Cake
• Hazelnut Cake with Chocolate (naturally gluten-free)
• Apricot Almond Cake (naturally gluten-free)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this French Apple Cake keep?

This apple cake can be kept for up to 5 days. It will be moister if you eat it within 48 hours.

Can I freeze this French Apple Cake ?

Yes, you can cut in in individual portions and place them in an airtight container. Perfect for a dessert for your lunch box!

Can I make this French Apple Cake gluten free?

Yes, absolutely. You can easily replace the flour with a gluten free flour and or part of with with ground almonds.

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French Apple Cake

4.78 (324 reviews)

I wanted to share with your one of the easiest cakes that I love to serve for a quick and simple dessert during the apple season : the classic French Apple Cake. 

Print recipe Rate Save

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Kitchen equipment

• 1 springform pan, 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 4 apples (about 500 g or 17-18 oz)
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (180 g)
• 1/2 cup butter (125 g)
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup brown sugar (120 g)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (5 g)
• 2 teaspoons rum (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons sugar , brown or white

Instructions 

APPLES

1. Cut the apples into quarters after washing them. Peel them and slice them thinly with a knife or a mandolin.

BATTER

1. In a large bowl, break the eggs and whisk them with the sugar until the mixture turns white. In a small bowl, mix the flour mixed with baking powder.
2. Add it to the eggs with the melted butter, vanilla and rum (optional). Mix well with a rubber spatula. Add the slices of apples.

BAKE

1. Pour the cake batter into a springform pan greased or covered with parchment paper. Sprinkle the top of the cake with sugar. The sugar will caramelize the top of the cake. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 180°C / 350 °F (fan oven).
2. While the cake is still warm, run a blunt knife along the edges of the cake. Unmold the cake and place it on a wire rack to let the cake cool. Place then on a large plate.

Notes

If you don’t use a convection oven (fan oven), you will need to bake the cake 10-15 minutes longer. 

Nutrition facts

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 529IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2mg