French Apple Cake

Make the best French apple cake recipe with this classic and traditional recipe for a delicious soft and very moist cake. This a simple but great apple dessert that can be made for any occasion or just to enjoy the apple season.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this cake
• If you love Apple Desserts
• Ingredients and substitutions
• Materials Needed
• How to Make Apple Yogurt Cake
• Serving Suggestions
• Conservation and Freeze
• Tips for this recipe
• Recipe Variations
• French Apple Cake

Why you'll love this cake

This Classic French apple cake (Moelleux aux pommes) is a traditional dessert very loved in France and in the world, because it's a very simple cake to prepare at home but which has incredible apple flavor.

This apple yogurt cake is a classic Grandma's dessert in France, made with love and enjoyed at afternoon snack with the family over a cup of coffee! Ultra soft and full of fresh apples sliced, this cake has a perfect texture, soft and light, and an incredible taste in the mouth.

This is certainly one of the easiest cakes to make with simple ingredients for a cake that can be made at any time of the day and for any occasion!

If you love Apple Desserts

Ingredients and substitutions

*You will find the quantities and instructions in the recipe card at the end of the page.

• Vegetable oil: Use preferably sunflower oil or grapeseed oil, You can also replace it with unsalted and melted butter but the texture will be firmer.
• Sugar: granulated sugar or flavored sugar like dark brown sugar, light brown sugar or cane sugar.
• Eggs: use large eggs at room temperature.
• Yogurt: a plain yogurt that you can replace with buttermilk, sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Flour: white cake flour that you can easily replace with all-purpose flour or use a gluten-free flour blend.
• Yeast: baking powder or baking soda, but be careful with the quantity as the latter is 4 times more powerful.
• Apples: Select sweet apples with juicy flesh, such as Gala, Jonagold or Pink Lady, Honey crisp, Granny smith apples.
• Vanilla and salt: essential for flavoring and bringing out all the flavors.
• Flavor: Optional add Bitter almond extract, dark rum, lemon juice etc.

Materials Needed

Springform pan

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How to Make Apple Yogurt Cake

Apple cake batter

• Step 1 Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the vegetable oil and granulated sugar with a hand whisk until smooth. Then add eggs, vanilla extract (or vanilla sugar packet), and yogurt and whisk again to combine into a smooth, liquid cake batter. 
• Step 2 Add dry ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder and pinch of salt and mix with a hand whisk or a rubber spatula to incorporate them gently and until you have a smooth batter.
• Step 3 Add chopped apples: Finish by peeling apples and cutting them into thin slices or chunks of apples and incorporating them into the cake batter until the apple slices are completely covered with the cake batter.

Baking

• Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C and line an 8 inches / 20 cm regular cake pan (or springform cake pan) with parchment paper only in the bottom of the pan or grease with butter or cooking spray.
• Pour all the cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top of the batter and the apple slices with a spatula to get a flat, straight cake on top.
• Sprinkle brown sugar over the entire cake to get a deliciously crisp and sweet layer after baking.
• And bake the French apple cake in the oven at half height for about 40-50 minutes until it is puffed and golden brown.
• Let the cake cool slightly in the pan before carefully unmolding it placing it on a cooling rack or large platter and allowing it to cool completely to room temperature.
• Serve warm with a little powdered sugar and a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Serving Suggestions

• Whipped Cream: Top each slice with a dollop of freshly whipped cream for a delightful contrast to the cake's texture.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve warm slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic pairing.
• Caramel Sauce: Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the cake to add a sweet and indulgent touch.
• Powdered Sugar: Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar for an elegant and simple presentation.
• Chopped Nuts: Sprinkle chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, over the cake for added texture and flavor.
• Fresh Berries: Accompany the cake with a side of fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries for a fruity contrast.

Conservation and Freeze

At room temperature: Store the French apple yogurt cake at room temperature for 2-3 days covered with a cloth or in an airtight container.

In the fridge: You can keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days in a storage box or under plastic wrap.

In the freezer: It keeps very well in the freezer for up to 3 months, let it thaw in the fridge overnight.

Tips for this recipe

• Selecting Apples: Choose a mix of sweet and tart apple varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for a balanced flavor.
• Peel and Core: Peel and core the apples before slicing them into thin, even pieces to ensure best results in this cake.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow eggs, butter, and other dairy ingredients to come to room temperature for better incorporation.
• Toss with Lemon Juice: To prevent browning, toss the apple slices in a bit of lemon juice or citrus zest.
• Sift Dry Ingredients: Sift the dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, and spices to ensure a smoother and lump-free batter.
• Layering Apples: Layer some apple slices on top of the batter before baking for a decorative look and enhanced apple flavor.
• Non-Stick Baking: Grease and flour your baking pan or use parchment paper in the bottom of you springform pan to prevent the cake from sticking.

Recipe Variations

• Chocolate Chip Apple Cake: Incorporate chocolate chips into the batter to add a delightful chocolate twist to each bite, blending with the sweetness of the apples.
• Almond Frangipane Apple Cake: Add a layer of almond frangipane between the cake batter and apple slices for a rich, nutty flavor that complements the apples.
• Crisp Apple Cake: Top the cake with a mixture of oats, flour, butter, and sugar before baking to create a crispy, crumbly topping that contrasts with the softness of the cake.
• Double Chocolate Apple Cake: Add both cocoa powder and chocolate chips to the batter for a rich, chocolatey twist.
• Spiced Apple Cranberry Cake: Add a burst of tartness and spice by incorporating 1 cup of fresh cranberries and a teaspoon of cinnamon into your apple cake batter.
• Apple and Pear Cake: Create a delightful blend of flavors and textures by using a mix of both apples and ripe pears in your cake batter, combining the sweetness and softness of apples with the distinct taste and texture of pears.
• Apple Crisp Cake: For a crunchy twist, top your apple cake with a mixture of oats, flour, butter, and sugar before baking to create a crispy, crumbly layer that contrasts the softness of the cake.

Did you make this recipe?

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