Baking · serves 2

Dutch Apple Cake

Sliced apples pressed on top, cinnamon sugar over. Homely and gone by evening.

70 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 3 cooking apples
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 115g butter, softened
  • 80g sugar
  • 125g apple sauce
  • 2 tsp milk
  • 200g plain flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • Topping: 60g brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground ginger

Method

  1. Peel, core and slice the apples thinly, then soften them in a pan with the water. Set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
  3. Stir in the apple sauce and milk.
  4. Sift over flour and baking powder, stir to a thick batter.
  5. Into a greased 20cm tin, then arrange the apple slices over the top in circles.
  6. Mix the topping sugar with cinnamon and ginger and scatter over.
  7. 180°C for 35 minutes. Cool in the tin — it's fragile hot.

Questions people ask about Dutch Apple Cake

How long does Dutch Apple Cake take?

About 70 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of maida in Dutch Apple Cake?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Dutch Apple Cake ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Dutch Apple Cake vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Dutch Apple Cake?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Dutch Apple Cake?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

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