Irish Apple Cake Vanilla (Printable)

Classic spiced apple cake paired with warm, velvety vanilla custard for a cozy dessert experience.

# What You'll Need:

→ Apple Cake

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - ½ cup whole milk
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 3 medium tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

→ Cinnamon Topping

12 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
13 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Warm Vanilla Custard

14 - 2 cups whole milk
15 - 4 large egg yolks
16 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
17 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
18 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, ensuring even coverage to prevent sticking.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Gently fold sliced apples into the batter. Spread evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
06 - Mix 2 tablespoons sugar with ½ teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the cake batter.
07 - Bake for 50-55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - While cake cools, heat milk in a saucepan until just simmering, watching carefully to prevent boiling over.
09 - Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth and pale in color.
10 - Gradually whisk hot milk into the yolk mixture, then return everything to the saucepan.
11 - Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat immediately to prevent curdling.
12 - Stir in vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Keep warm until serving.
13 - Slice cake and serve warm or at room temperature, pouring warm vanilla custard generously over each portion.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The warm custard transforms a simple cake into something that feels like a hug on a cold afternoon
  • Its remarkably forgiving, even if you are new to baking from scratch
  • The combination of tender apples and spiced cake feels like autumn in every bite
02 -
  • The custard can turn into scrambled eggs if the heat is too high, so keep it medium-low and stir without stopping
  • Tart apples are essential because sweet apples will make the cake cloying and lose that perfect balance
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients combine more easily, so take the butter and eggs out an hour before baking
  • If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking

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