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Versunkener Apfelkuchen
Sunken apple sponge
Versunkener Apfelkuchen: 'sunken' apple sponge with scored apple halves
Versunkener Apfelkuchen, the sunken apple cake, is the quickest cake in the German home repertoire, made on autumn weekends when the first Boskoop and Elstar apples come in from the orchards of the Altes Land near Hamburg and Lake Constance. Peeled apple halves are scored like a fan and pressed into a rich lemon sponge, which rises up around them as it bakes until they seem to sink in. Children love it still warm with whipped cream. A common mistake is cutting the scores too deep, so the apples fall apart; cut about two-thirds of the way through. Chef's tip: brush the apples with apricot jam the moment the cake comes out of the oven; it gives a shiny bakery glaze and keeps them from drying.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 4 tart eating apples (Boskoop, Elstar or Braeburn)peeled, halved and cored
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 5 ½ oz soft butter
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 7 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp apricot jamwarmed
- 1 tbsp icing sugar (optional)optional, for dusting
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and butter a 26 cm springform tin. Score the rounded side of each half of the 4 tart eating apples (Boskoop, Elstar or Braeburn) in thin lines, two-thirds of the way down, and brush with the 1 tbsp lemon juice.
10 minStep 2: Beat the 5 ½ oz soft butter, 5 ½ oz sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract for 4–5 minutes until pale. Beat in the 3 eggs one at a time with the 1 tsp lemon zest, then fold in the 7 oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 3 tbsp milk.
10 minStep 3: Spread the batter in the tin. Press the apple halves in, scored side up, in a ring with one or two in the middle.
5 minStep 4: Bake for 40–45 minutes, until the sponge is golden, has risen around the apples and a skewer in the sponge comes out clean.
45 minStep 5: Brush the hot apples with the 2 tbsp apricot jam. Cool for 20 minutes before releasing the tin. Dust with 1 tbsp icing sugar to serve.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does versunkener Apfelkuchen take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of tart eating apples (boskoop, elstar or braeburn)?
- Pears, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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