Posted by Indulge in a classic Irish dessert filled with tender spiced apples, buttery streusel, and a creamy custard sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cake
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (about 1 pound)
- Confectioner’s sugar for dusting
For the Streusel Topping
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
For the Custard Sauce
- 6 large egg yolks
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for extra creaminess)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Custard Sauce
Heat milk over medium heat until it simmers (don’t boil). In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until smooth. Gradually add a small amount of hot milk to the yolks while whisking continuously to temper them. Slowly pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Strain through a sieve to remove lumps, stir in vanilla, and cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface. Chill completely.
2. Make the Streusel Topping
Combine flour, oats, and sugar in a bowl. Add cold butter and blend with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Prepare the Cake Batter
Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with milk. Mix just until combined.
4. Assemble the Cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan. Spread the cake batter evenly in the pan. Arrange apple slices over the batter, covering it in an even layer. Sprinkle the chilled streusel topping generously over the apples.
5. Bake and Cool
Bake for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool slightly in the pan before removing the sides of the springform pan. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm or at room temperature with the chilled custard sauce drizzled over the top. This dessert pairs perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee.
Pro Tips for Best Results
- Use Granny Smith apples for their tartness and firm texture, which hold up well during baking.
- For an even creamier custard, substitute half of the milk with heavy cream.
- Keep the streusel butter cold to ensure a crisp and crumbly texture.
FAQs
Can I make the cake ahead?
Yes, the cake can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container. Reheat slices if desired before serving.
What if I don’t have a springform pan?
A regular 9-inch round pan works too. Line it with parchment for easier removal.
Easy Irish Apple Cake Recipe
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 372.87 kcal
Ingredients
Cake: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons whole milk, 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 3 Granny Smith apples.
Streusel: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup oats, 6 tablespoons cold butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar.
Custard: 6 egg yolks, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. For custard, heat milk. Whisk yolks and sugar, then gradually temper with hot milk. Cook until thickened, strain, stir in vanilla, and chill. For streusel, mix butter into flour, oats, and sugar until crumbly. Chill. For cake, cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs, and mix in dry ingredients alternately with milk. Spread batter in the pan, top with apples, and sprinkle with streusel. Bake for 50–60 minutes. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving with custard.
