Just enough sweetness of apples

Just enough sweetness of apples

Golden French Style Apple Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup white flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter - room temperature

 ⅔ cup white sugar, plus a little more for sprinkling over cake

 2 large eggs

 1 teaspoon good vanilla extract

 3 tablespoons dark rum (optional)

2 baking apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch cubes (3½ - 4 cups)

Confectioners' sugar (optional), for decorating cake

INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the center.

Grease 9-inch springform or regular cake pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. If using a regular cake pan, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease again.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Using a mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and rum.  Batter looks grainy at this point; that's okay. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chopped apples.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and even the top. Sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool on a rack in the pan. Once cool, run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake. If using a springform pan, remove the sides. If using a regular cake pan, carefully invert the cake onto the rack, remove the parchment paper, then gently flip the cake over and place right-side-up on a platter.

Dust with confectioners' sugar (if using). Cake can be served warm or room temperature, plain or with  whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Denise made this recipe using soaked dried cherries and added with the apples. Great idea!

Denise made this recipe using soaked dried cherries and added with the apples. Great idea!