Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Apple Lady Apple Cake





From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This lovely cake is a perfect way to finish a fall meal of soup or stew. The recipe comes from Patricia Wells who asked a vendor of her acquaintance for her favorite apple recipe. What she received was a homely recipe, typical of those that made French provincial cooking famous. I do love its name - gateau aux pommes de la reine des pommes. It has a certain ring to it, don't you think? My French is limited to what is required for survival in the kitchen or restaurant, so I've become inordinately fond of phrases that roll off the tongue as this one does. The funny thing is that the apple lady's dessert is more like a crustless pie than a cake. A mass of apples is held together in a scant amount of batter, allowing the flavor of the apples to dominate the dessert. While I use Golden Delicious apples, feel free to use any baking apple you like for the cake. It's simple to make but be sure to follow directions for baking. Some apples contain more moisture than others so cooking time is not a constant. The cake must be firm to the touch and a light brown before the topping is applied. While I prefer this cake served warm and eaten the day its made, many think it holds well and actually prefer it on day two. Here's the recipe.

The Apple Lady's Apple Cake ...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Patricia Wells and the apple lady

Ingredients:
Cake
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt (regular table salt can be used)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup whole milk
Finely slivered zest of 1 scrubbed lemon
2 pounds (4 to 6) baking apple, cored, peeled,and cut into thin slices
.
Topping
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Finely slivered zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and set it aside.
2) In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir to blend. Add vanilla extract, eggs, oil, milk and lemon zest; stir until well blended. Add apples and stir to coat them with batter.
3) Spoon the mixture into prepared cake pan. Bake in center of oven until fairly firm and golden, about 25 to 35 minutes.
4) Meanwhile, prepare topping: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, egg, melted butter and lemon zest and juice; stir to blend. Set aside.
5) Remove cake from oven and pour topping mixture over it. Return cake to oven and bake until top is a deep golden brown and cake feels quite firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 10 minutes.
6) Transfer cake pan to a rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then run a knife around the sides of pan, and release and remove springform ring, leaving the cake on the pan base. Serve warm or at room temperature. Yield: 8 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Patricia Wells - The Paris Cookbook

36 comments :

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Mary, Mary, Mary!! You have me tripping over my own feet. Posting more than one recipe a day makes me want to get into the kitchen more often. I absolutely love all that you share. Your home must be the most visited by neighbors. In fact, I always wanted to ask.....do you really cook this much for the 2 of you, or is it shared by the multitude? And, I wish I was a neighbor!! ;)

Abatevintage said...

That looks wonderful. Have a great week.

Blessings,
Heidi

black eyed susans kitchen said...

This apple cake following up a dinner of your previous posts onion soup is like heaven to me. Just a perfect autumn meal.
♥, Susan

bj said...

uMMM..As usual, dear Mary, your recipe sounds so delicious.
I am staying the weekend with 3 of my grands and one of them won an apple pie (store bought) at the pie walk at her school. We just sliced it, I sprikled cinnamon and sugar over it as they are never sweet enuf for me. One put ice cream on her's, the other two took it plain and I added a wedge of extra sharp cheese on mine...stuck it under the toaster and they thought I was crazy. :)

I will try your pie recipe!!
xo bj

Unknown said...

Mary,
GREAT!!! recipe using apples and yes this would be a wonderful finish to any dinner.
Geri

Mary Bergfeld said...

Susan, two recipes today because the soup was something I had to do, rather than something I wanted to do. I have an onion soup recipe of my own that I prefer to the one we used for the challenge, but the rules are the rules. I always serve the cake with onion soup, so it was a natural way to complete the postings for the day. You'll love the cake by the way. Bob and I eat well but most of the recipes I make are sized down to feed two. The bulk of the sweet things go out the door to the neighbors or to church. We never were big sweet people and truth be told dessert is not my favorite course. But you can't do a sweetless cooking blog.

Heather S-G said...

Warm apple cake sounds delicious! I would love it with a cup of coffee and some icecream :D

10 Minute Crafter said...

That cake look delish, being the sweet tooth that I am I will definetly have to try this one!!

Sheryn xox

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Mary! I honestly do not know how you do it - you never slow down in the kitchen. Wow I sure wish I lived near you because I'd be popping over all the time to share some of those desserts you're giving away. I'm in the kitchen alot - sometimes I feel I barely leave it (and my dirty dishes would certainly attest to that) - but you must never leave!!

This cake looks and sounds simply wonderful - of course!

Martha's Favorites said...

Mary: Does your family know how lucky they are? I could not do this if my life depended on it. I want to learn how to cook so bad. You make it seem so easy. Blessings, Martha

Foodiewife said...

I agree with you, in that you can't do a sweetless food blog. I love desserts, but I'm cooking for two. That becomes a challenge. I like this recipe, because it's so unique and it looks quite simple. This would be fabulous with a cinnamon whipped cream....heck, even a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream would do nicely. Well done!

noble pig said...

Oh I like it very much! So sweet and just yummy!

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Mary,
I truly do love this recipe. I love anything with apples, so this one I will have to try. I thank you for sharing this. It doesn't seem like it will be a hard one either. I love simple recipes, as that seems to be all I have time for these days.

Ooh I agree with BJ, give me a little cheese for mine. I love cheese on just about everything.

Happy November sweetie. Stop by soon. Country hugs and love, Sherry

Martha said...

I've seen this but have not made it -- now it shall be my next apple dessert! Looks lovely!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hi, Mary! I like the fact that you can taste taste more apple in this dessert. Sounds great!

XO,

Sheila :-)

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Mary, Thanks so much for sharing. I have made French Onion Soup many years ago but lost my recipe. Your a Gem!
This apple cake will be made this week with local apples I have from the many orchards nearby. Apples + Fall = Happy.

Gabriela said...

Hello,


Oh my! Delicious cake!



~ Gabriela ~

Katy ~ said...

Apples recipes are among my favorite. This looks sensational. I love that it uses such a small amount of flour so nothing gets in the way of the apple flavor. Another glorious Mary recipe that gets added to the bulging stash!

Foley said...

Mary - That looks sooo good! I've relly been hooked on the "Honey Crisp" apples this fall. Now I can add another recipe to my "apple" file!

Anonymous said...

Hello Mary,

Apple cake . . . oooooooooooo why do you have to create such yummy food? :-)Not complaining, just sad as I won't be able to taste it LOL

And those pink souffles. That's a first! THey look so adorable! I never wo uld have thought of describing a food so adorable LOL

Mizpah,
Li

Jacalyn @ rmebathproducts.com said...

Yum! That cake looks delicious! Thanks for visiting my blog and I look forward to next Pink Saturday! I am now following you!

Hugs,
Jacalyn

Deb in Hawaii said...

This looks so good--I wish I had a big slice right now.

Jamie said...

Mary, this is one luscious dessert and it looks like it highlights apples just beautifully. I'm always looking for new apple recipes and this one looks perfect and delicious!

My Little Space said...

I'm totally speechless! Love the flavour.

Federica Simoni said...

un dolce davvero delizioso!

joey said...

Love Patricia Wells (one of her cookbooks that I don't own) and a good French Apple Cake ... thanks for sharing ... a perfect ending to a autumn day!

theUngourmet said...

What a lovely apple cake. I love using golden delicious apples for baking as well.

How is it that I have missed so many recipes over here? Where have I been?

mirjana said...

Beautiful blog,lovely lady,good recipes!!!
you food is also,food for mi,I like it all!!!!
Sorry for my English,reading you blog i will improve my English!!:)

Blomma (prononcer Blouma) said...

It looks SO delicious! I love apple cakes, I could eat them every day. Bonne journée et bon week-end!

June C said...

Mary I am late to the party to comment on this cake but, I just made it last night and it was a total winner with me and my son. Really good.

I wanted to reprint the recipe in a larger type and discovered that this recipe is not included in your new recipe index....too bad...it is a really good apple cake

June

Mary Bergfeld said...

June, I don't know how I missed it, but I have added it to the index. Thank you for letting me know. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Anonymous said...

Mary, I want to add to my comment. The cake, to us, was every bit as good cold. I could not figure out just what made it so delicious and then decided it was the chopped lemon rind. The lemon, in this form, just was perfect. I really was doubtful about leaving the lemon rind so big (not grating it) but it took the cake to perfection

June

Anonymous said...

Could i add 2% milk?

Unknown said...

Thank you so much.I made it yesterday it was just amazing .love it

Anonymous said...

Its just amzing love it so much. I prepared it yesterday all the family was happy .thank u so much

Christine said...

Made this tonight for guests. We all loved it and thought it looked really elegant.

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