Irish Apple Cake Vanilla (Printable)
Spiced apple cake with warm vanilla custard offers a cozy, comforting dessert experience.
# What You'll Need:
→ Apple Cake
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt
06 - ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
07 - ½ cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - ½ cup whole milk
10 - 3 medium tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 2 tablespoons demerara or granulated sugar
→ Warm Vanilla Custard
13 - 2 cups whole milk
14 - 3 large egg yolks
15 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
16 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
03 - Rub cold butter into flour mixture with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - Stir sugar into butter-flour mixture. Whisk eggs, milk, and vanilla separately, then add to dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
05 - Gently fold in sliced apples. Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and sprinkle with demerara sugar. Bake 45–50 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
06 - Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
07 - Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, being careful not to boil.
08 - Whisk together egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
09 - Slowly pour hot milk into egg mixture while whisking constantly. Return to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened enough to coat a spoon, about 5–7 minutes. Do not boil.
10 - Remove custard from heat and serve warm alongside slices of apple cake.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It creates that cozy, hugged-from-the-inside feeling that only warm spices and tender apples can provide
- The custard transforms a simple cake into something restaurant worthy yet completely unpretentious
- Perfect for those moments when you want to bake something that feels like a warm handshake
02 -
- Cold butter is absolutely nonnegotiable for the right texture, warm butter will turn your cake into something dense and gummy
- The custard can go from perfect to scrambled eggs in seconds, so keep the heat low and stir without interruption
- Tart apples are essential because sweet apples will make the dessert cloying rather than balanced
03 -
- Add a handful of sliced almonds to the topping for extra crunch and visual appeal
- Serve with Irish breakfast tea for the most authentic experience
- A pinch of cardamom in the custard adds unexpected sophistication