Friday, October 2, 2009

Apfel Sahne Torte - Apple Cream Cake - Foodie Friday





From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you're here because you love to look, or you're here because you love to cook, I think this torte will delight you. I first had this confection as a child. Hannie made a version of Apple Cream Cake for Oktoberfest and again at Christmas for a vigil feast which was part of her holiday celebration. I still remember singing, "Ihr Kinderlein, Kommet, O kommet doch all!" while clustered around the piano in her front room on Christmas Eve. It's a lovely memory, triggered, strangely, by a recipe. That happens here a lot. Unlike Proust, I have many memories of things past. Oktoberfest, at least in Munich, ends on Sunday, so I thought this would be a great way to end the series of recipes we put together for the celebration. I must tell you that this is not a quick dessert. It's not hard to do, but there are several steps required to assemble it. The most time consuming is making applesauce to fill the layers of the torte. I can make this step instantly easier for you. If you don't want to make applesauce, buy a quart jar of the unsweetened variety and proceed with the recipe, adding sugar and flavorings, as though it were your own. Keep in mind that the torte is about apples, so get the best you can buy if you take that route. While I don't recommend it, you can also use whipped topping instead of whipped cream. You can also omit the rum if you must, but that would really be a shame. You'll want to make the torte a day before you plan to serve it, so the cake layers can begin to absorb the applesauce and cream. The layers are very thin. If you're adventurous or enjoy European, not too sweet, desserts you'll love this torte. Here's the recipe.

Apfel Sahne Torte - Apple Cream Cake
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
Cake Layer
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
5 tablespoons cornstarch
2 large eggs,separated and at room temperature
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup dark rum (for brushing layers)
Applesauce
10-15 apples, peeled, cored, cut into chunks or 1 quart unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons rum or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Finely grated zest of 1 large lemon
2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
Frosting
1 cup sliced almonds
3 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided use
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
Cake Layer
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Fit a 9-inch circle of waxed or parchment paper into a greased and floured 9-inch springform pan. Grease and flour paper. Set aside.
2) Combine flour, baking powder and cornstarch in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
3) In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks with water. Add 1/3 cup of sugar and the vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until frothy and lemon colored.
4) In a separate small bowl, beat egg whites with remaining sugar until stiff but not dry. Fold into yolk mixture. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture. Scrape into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool.
Applesauce
5) If using fresh apples, place apple chunks into a 3-quart saucepan and cook until very soft. Mash. If using prepared applesauce, place into saucepan and warm. Add sugar, rum or vanilla extract and lemon zest. Cook until mixture mounds in a spoon.
6) Soften gelatin in cold water. Place into a pan of simmering water and stir to dissolve. Stir gelatin into applesauce. Set aside to cool. Applesauce will thicken quickly in refrigerator.
Frosting
7) Combine almonds, 1 tablespoon sugar and butter in a nonstick frying pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until almonds turn a golden brown. Transfer to paper toweling to cool.
8) Soften gelatin in milk. Place in pan of simmering water and stir to dissolve. Cool.
9) Whip cream with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until it begins to thicken. Add gelatin and continue beating until soft peaks form.
Assembly
10) Remove cake from pan; split horizontally into two layers. Brush each layer with 2 tablespoons rum. Transfer one layer to a cake plate. Mound applesauce on top of layer. Cover with remaining layer and pat down to evenly distribute applesauce.
11) Generously frost top and sides of cake with whipped cream. If desired reserve some cream for decorating top of cake.
12) Pat almonds around sides and sprinkle on top of cake. Refrigerate overnight before serving. Yield: 8 to 10 servings.

This recipe is being linked to:
Designs By Gollum - Foodie Friday

52 comments :

Regina said...

Hi Martha Love this. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy the weekend.

Unknown said...

This is simply beautiful! Then I got side racked with all your other wonderful looking recipes! Thanks!
Have a wonderful week end!
~Really Rainey~

Unknown said...

This is simply beautiful! Then I got side tracked with all your other wonderful looking recipes! Thanks!
Have a wonderful week end!
~Really Rainey~

surfingtheworldcuisine said...

What a beautiful cake!!! Thanks for sharing!!! I think I'll give it a try as I'm having some apple lovers for the weekend!!!

Unknown said...

What a glorious cake! It is now on my list! Thankyou!

Katy ~ said...

This would be huge accomplishment if I ever made this. It looks like a masterpiece.

My Little Space said...

Oh my, how delicious it is! I'm drooling.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

wicked wicked great looking cake and your photos do it justice...

I would add an extra shot of rum for the cook, otherwise this sounds like a perfect recipe.

NKP said...

O my! That looks amazing! The cake is really a work of art.

Martha said...

What a beautiful cake (or torte) -- Ah, yes, I forgot that the real Oktoberfest is really a mostly September festival --

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Being German and even after living in Germany, I have to admit I have never eaten this torte. But, then, I have eaten many and this one slipped by. It will definitely be on my to try list. Thanks for that. Loved the remembrance to shared. And while I think of it, are you familiar with a buckwheat torte? That is a favorite of mine that I ate in northern Germany and would love that recipe.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Susan, I've had a buckwheat torte that's filled with cranberries and yogurt. Is that the one you're thinking of. As to the apple cream cake, the only recipes I've found for it on the internet are all in German. It might be fun for you to do a search.

Kathleen said...

Beautiful cake, Mary..You take wonderful pics!
Have a great weekend..

food with style said...

that is just GORGEOUS!

Cathy said...

Gorgeous! What a fantastic dessert. I just happen to have homemade applesauce in the freezer so this will be on the menu for the next special occasion.

tracy said...

This is really a beautiful cake...Isn't it amazing all the recipes one can get from apples? Mary you are such a fabulous cook.
I know you are very busy...but I have an award I'd like to pass on to you,no worries if you cant pick it up,just know Iam thinking of you and I think your blog is great!
Gracie

Mary Bergfeld said...

Gracie, I'll be over later today. I appreciate your kind words and am very grateful.

Dee said...

oh my gosh! you know me, i love me some apples ...

since today is my bday, i am going to pretend this is my cake! haha

Ashley @ AshleysBusy said...

Of course this looks ridiculously fabulous!!! I can't wait to go celebrate Oktoberfest at our fave German restaurant. We went last year and had so much fun. The band was a hoot. :)

Michelle said...

Love how you decorated your cake! Beautiful!

Karen said...

Mary, you make the most beautiful food! This sounds like it would be heaven on a plate.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

What wonderful memories and beautiful torte! Thank you for sharing both.

~Susan

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

Oh this looks so good! And we are heading to the apple orchard tomorrow so, I think this is one to try soon!

Carol at Serendipity said...

Even if I can't make all your wonderful recipes - I can taste them!

Wonderful pictures!

Carol

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

"Aber bitte mit Sahne!" I think that's a German song... It looks so incredibly yummy. I wish I could materialize it right now!

Abatevintage said...

Wooh I think I just gained ten pounds looking lol. I love it I will have to try it out. Have a great weekend.

Blessings,
Heidi

Signing Out said...

Oh, my, this looks delicious! I always know when visit, I am never disappointed. This is amazing!

Jane

Anonymous said...

Wow I love the distinct layers, beautiful!

Maria Berg said...

I must tell you, I made my Husband make the appelcake you had a few days ago - I really like it so I went out in the garden and picked the apple and then i tried to do it from the recipe and as you know we have different type of measure volume and that I tried to do it with our 3 years old and it turned out tasting very good BUT not like yours...

I am still happy and i told everyone that tasted the cake that It came from you, thank you.

Love Maria Berg

Pam said...

Oh Mary - this cake looks so delicious. I love how you decorated it with the almonds.

Amy @ Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free said...

Mary - I just want to come into your kitchen, pour myself a cup of coffee, and soak up everything you know. You are such a delight.

I think this is the kind of recipe I could make sugar & gluten-free. I am actually going to try it.

I must say that I always appreciate your Friday comments on my blog - it makes me smile that you take the time to see what little 'ol me is cooking up. Hugs to you.

CC said...

Oh my gosh...what a beautiful torte.
You have the most wonderful site out here..I love looking at it and all the wonderful recipes you share. Thank you for all you share with us...

theUngourmet said...

What a beautiful cake! I just ate lunch and was craving a bit of something sweet. This is perfect!

Alyssa said...

This sounds amazingly good, and not too sweet desserts are right up our alley here. Thanks for posting this. It'll be moved to the front of the dessert queue.

Anonymous said...

Mary,
This just sounds wonderful! We love apple season and I know my husband would love this.
vickie

Unknown said...

yum this is perfect for the holidays I'm looking for recipes that use appples becaues we have so many,thank for this!and I also love how recipes spark memories how fun.

Unknown said...

WOW it s all I can say, beautiful and looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.

kristi_temple said...

I am always looking for new apple recipes to try. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.

Donna-FFW said...

What a gorgeous dessert!

From the Old InkWell said...

That absolutely looks heavenly. You are so bad! You always make me hungry!!! :)

Anonymous said...

What an unusual and beautiful cake! Now that apples are coming into season, I've been wanting to make my own applesauce. This would be a great way to put it to an inventive use! The photos are just gorgeous, too.

Megan said...

What a beautiful torte. Lucky peop;e who got to share in this bounty!

Deb in Hawaii said...

What a beautiful cake perfect for the season.

Lyndas recipe box said...

What a gorgeous cake for fall, or anytime for that matter. It's almost too pretty to eat!

Claudia said...

This cake is splendiferous! I never think to make such beauties and i doubt it would turn out as well as yours. Perfect for autumn, Octoberfest or just because you love someone. I'd gladly take it off your hands.

Anonymous said...

This is really a beautiful cake, perfect for fall. Any apple cake is nice, especially an apple cream cake.

Anonymous said...

I would love to make this for our Thanksgiving dinner. But I will be making a huge feast for lots of people. Can I make this cake a couple of days ahead of time?

Mary Bergfeld said...

Lynn, it can be made 1 or 2 days ahead of serving, but it will take a lot of space in the fridge and you may not have available at Thanksgiving time.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the quick answer Mary. I am definitely making this beautiful cake for Thanksgiving. I have an extra small fridge just to use at the holidays so I should be fine. :)

Lori said...

Oh my, does this ever beckon me. Where do you find all these amazingly sensational and different recipes?

Jamie said...

Mary, this torte is stunning! OMG I rarely see anything so perfectly pretty. It also looks the killer to eat, too scrumptious! Fabulous you!

d said...

This Torte is absolutely gorgeous, it's going to the top of my list. Thanks a lot!

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