When I think of the words French and cake, my mind travels to elaborate creations like Paris brest, dacquoise or opera gâteaux that sit proudly in the windows of the patisseries of Paris. Exquisite in their presentation, these are rarely made at home, for French home cooking is a more simple affair. This apple cake recipe is a perfect example. With only 15 minutes prep, it’s rustic yet rich and moreish and the perfect way to end off dinner or to bring out for morning or afternoon tea.With its characteristic crackly top, enhanced by a light sprinkling of icing sugar and crumb laden with soft, sweet apples, this classic French apple cake is traditionally made with rum. We’ve swapped it for milk in order to make it more family friendly but feel free to swap back if wanting that deep, caramelly and slightly boozy taste.Why we love this apple cake recipeWe love the soft, nearly custard-like interior of this cake, not to mention if you have a bowl of apples on the table and a few basic ingredients, you can have this foolproof rich and simple butter cake in the oven in no time. We also like the forgiving nature of this simple apple cake. No worry if your apples are small or large or what variety you use, it is foolproof and absolutely delicious.What goes into this easy French apple cake?Plain flour: We use a combination of plain flour and baking powder to allow this much-loved apple cake to rise, but you could use a cup of self-raising instead. Look out for flour marked ‘for biscuits, pastry and cakes’. This is a lower protein flour that produces a tender crumb.Butter: Whether you use salted or unsalted butter, the most important thing is that it is at room temperature so it can easily be creamed with the sugar.Sugar: Caster sugar is classically used when making cakes as its smaller granules dissolve easily when being beaten with the butter.Eggs: The eggs add a certain richness to a cake as well as aiding its raising properties. Make sure the eggs are at room temperature before adding to the mixture.Vanilla extract: Gives the cake a sweet, slightly woody and floral flavour. If not using the rum you can use two teaspoons.Milk: The lactic acid in milk tenderises the cake’s crumb as well as adding extra liquid. While this version of the French apple cake is alcohol-free, if you love the traditional French apple cake flavour, you can swap milk for dark rum in the same quantity (60ml (1/4 cup).Apples: Pink lady, is a sweet and tart apple that holds its shape while being cooked. You could also use Granny Smith or Braeburns or even a combination.Icing sugar: Dusting the cake with icing sugar makes it very pretty and adds another level of sweetness.Apples appear in many French recipes, both sweet and savoury. Apart from the classic tarte tatin, there is the simple apple galette or how about trying this apple and blueberry jalousie. Apples can also be caramelised and served with French toast. On the savoury side, there’s chicken Normandy, apple cider pork or this elegant duck with apple salad.Additional recipe notes by Alison Adams - Food Writer and Recipe TesterHow to make a French apple cake: full recipe below
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