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    Home / Desserts / Cakes

    French apple cake recipe soft and moist

    May 20, 2022 by Fadela

    Jump to Recipe

    The best classic French apple cake recipe! Simplicity in this traditional dessert so quick and easy to make, with a soft texture and melted apples pieces.

    A traditional cake that we like to prepare for the children's after-school snack or for any other occasion it is a classic loved by all.

    this recipe

    Craving a homemade cake soft and comforting? This is a quick and easy recipe to make with apples for a snack ! You will love the softness of this cake with these melting and tasty apples !

    Classic French apple cake

    This is a classic dessert of grandmothers, the French apple cake! Ultra soft and full of apple chunks, this cake has a perfect texture, melting and light in the mouth.

    It is the easiest and quickest recipe to make with simple ingredients for a cake that can be prepared at any time of the day and for any occasion!

    It is eaten warm or cold and served with a sugar glaze, a drizzle of salted caramel sauce or a whipped cream and, for those with a sweet tooth, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    Useful tools to make this cake

    • Cake pan 8 inch / 20 cm diameter  or springform pan for easy removal from the pan.
    • Whisk or a wooden spoon to mix the dough.

    Ingredient notes

    Eggs

    Use eggs at room temperature, they will incorporate better with the other ingredients. Take them out of the fridge 1 hour before and to go faster you can pass them without a trickle of hot water.

    Sugar

    Use granulated powdered sugar or cane sugar or other unrefined sugar to make this recipe. The quantity is rightly proportioned but you can adapt it to your taste by lowering or increasing it.

    I also sprinkle a little cane sugar on top of the cake just before baking. This adds an extra layer of crispness.

    Vegetable oil

    For the fat I use preferably a neutral vegetable oil, like rapeseed oil or grape seed oil. But you will also find many apple cake recipes with unsalted and melted butter.

    The oil brings a more moist texture but you can smell it a little bit when the cake comes out of the oven, but when the cake cools you don't notice the smell anymore. You can try replacing the oil with butter, which brings a delicious smell to the cake.

    Yogurt

    Yogurt adds a more moist texture to the cake for a less dry and more flavorful cake. Use plain unflavored yogurt with no added sugar. You can easily replace it with buttermilk or Greek yogurt.

    Vanilla extract

    Use pure, liquid vanilla extract to flavor this cake recipe. Or you can replace it with a packet of vanilla sugar.

    Flour

    Use a wheat flour, which is gently incorporated to keep the texture soft and melt-in-your-mouth.

    Tips : For a gluten-free version of apple cake if you are allergic or intolerant, replace the flour with another gluten-free flour.

    Baking powder

    The baking powder help to make the cake rise and obtain an airy and fluffy texture for a light cake in the mouth.

    Salt

    A small pinch of salt which is a flavor enhancer. Don't worry, you won't feel it at all in the cake, it brings out all the flavors.

    Apples

    Use large apples like granny smith or others apples, without the skin and cut into very thin slices or large pieces.

    How to make the French apple cake

    Start by preheating the oven to 356°F / 180°C (fan oven) and line a 8 inch / 20 cm diameter cake tin with parchment paper or grease a springform pan with butter or a cooking spray.

    First mix together the liquid ingredients in a bowl with a whisk. Mix the vegetable oil with the powdered sugar and the eggs until you have a smooth and homogeneous texture.

    Add the yogurt and liquid vanilla extract (or a packet of vanilla sugar) and whisk again to combine with the other ingredients.

    Add the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt and mix gently with a whisk or wooden spoon until the dough is smooth.

    Finish by adding the apples cut into thin strips and mix gently to incorporate them and obtain a homogeneous paste.

    Then pour this cake mixture into your prepared pan and press the top so that the apples are well immersed in the batter and obtain a straight cake on top.

    Sprinkle (optional) cane sugar on top of the cake. This adds a little crunch to the top of the cake.

    And bake the cake in the oven at half height for about 40 minutes (see the time indicated in the recipe sheet below) until it has a golden brown color.

    Check the cooking of the cake by plunging the blade of a knife in the center of the cake or a toothpick inserted (if it comes out clean, the cake is done). 

    At the end of the cooking time, let the cake cool completely, then run a knife around the edges of the cake to facilitate unmolding.

    You can decorate your apple cake by sprinkling a little confectioner's sugar on top.

    And enjoy the soft French apple cake with a topping of salted butter caramel sauce, a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

    How to store the French apple cake

    Store the apple cake at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator if you prefer to eat it cold.

    Other recipes with apples

    • Apple Puff Pastry Tart
    • Galette des rois with apples
    • Apple Pie
    • Apple Crumb Cake
    • Rustic apple and pear pie

    Tips for making successful French apple cake

    Ingredients at room temperature

    A rule to respect in the majority of the cakes recipes. Always use ingredients at room temperature, especially eggs, to obtain a homogeneous cake preparation.

    Take them out in advance and if this is not possible then run them under hot water for a few moments and they will do the trick.

    Gently fold in the dry ingredients

    To keep the cake moist, mix the mixture gently when you add the dry ingredients. You don't want to overwork the flour just enough to get the famous spatula rubban.

    Be careful when baking

    To keep the texture of the cake soft and moist as much as possible, watch the cooking time, if it is overcooked it will dry out and be too dry in the mouth. Check the cooking after 35 - 40 minutes by plunging the blade of a knife.

    More recipe

    • Strawberry galette recipe
    • Classic apple tart recipe
    • American Appel pie
    • French apple galette des rois
    • Puff pastry apple tart
    • Cinnamon applesauce

    Did you like this recipe? Don't forget to rate it and leave me a review in comments! And to not miss any recipes follow @sweetlycakes on Instagram and tag me to share it if you make this recipe 😊!

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    French apple cake


    4.8 from 5 reviews

    • Total Time: 50 minutes
    • Yield: 10 parts
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Easy recipe for the soft and moist classic French apple cake (For a mould of 8 inch / 20 cm 8-10 parts)


    Ingredients

    • 2 eggs (at room temperature)
    • 125 ml Vegetable oil (sunflower oil)
    • 120 g Granulated sugar
    • 125 g Yogurt
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 180 g Flour
    • 2 tsp Baking powder
    • 1 pinch Salt
    • 2 tbsp cane sugar
    • 3 apples

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 356°F / 180°C and grease a 8 inch/ 20 cm round cake tin with butter.
    2. In a bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, sugar and eggs until smooth for about 2 minutes.
    3. Add the yogurt and vanilla and mix again to combine.
    4. Add the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder and salt and mix gently until the mixture is smooth.
    5. Finish by adding the sliced apples and mix gently.
    6. Pour the cake batter into your pan and sprinkle the cane sugar on top.
    7. Bake in the oven at half height for 40-50 minutes. (Check for doneness by dipping the tip of a knife in, it should come out clean)
    8. Let the cake cool completely before removing from the pan.
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 40 minutes
    • Category: Dessert

    Nutrition

    • Calories: 251
    • Sugar: 15
    • Sodium: 107
    • Fat: 14
    • Saturated Fat: 11
    • Carbohydrates: 29
    • Protein: 3
    • Cholesterol: 34

    Keywords: apple cake, French apple cake

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    Hello and welcome to my blog! Fully addicted to cakes, blogging and beautiful pictures! I share with you on this blog some tips and my favorite recipes which i hope will help you to enjoy your loved ones !

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