Irish Apple Cake Vanilla (Printable)

Tender spiced apple cake with warm vanilla custard, perfect for a cozy dessert or afternoon treat.

# 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 unsalted butter, cold and 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 It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
03 - Rub the cold butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - Stir the sugar into the butter-flour mixture until evenly distributed.
05 - Whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until smooth.
06 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
07 - Gently fold the sliced apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
08 - Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with demerara or granulated sugar.
09 - Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
10 - Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
11 - Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until just simmering. Do not boil.
12 - Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
13 - Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
14 - Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes. Do not let it boil.
15 - Remove the custard from heat and serve warm with slices of apple cake.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The warm custard transforms each bite into something extraordinary and I have yet to meet anyone who can resist its creamy embrace
  • This cake somehow manages to be both humble enough for tea time and impressive enough for company, always earning requests for the recipe
02 -
  • Overworking the butter into the flour will make the cake tough so stop when you still see small butter pieces
  • Tempering the eggs slowly is absolutely crucial or you will end up with sweet scrambled eggs instead of smooth custard
03 -
  • Cold butter is absolutely essential for achieving that tender crumb so do not let it sit out too long
  • Patience while making the custard is the difference between good and extraordinary

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