French Apple Cake

 

Rain is pouring hard today, some has hail too.. typical of April , I think. But when I said, much .. mean too much ... come and go, wind blew 2 of my umbrella this morning... and I was soaked wet when I drop my daughter to school .. oh my, what a funny was as soon as I enter the car with wet cloth, the rain is stop ..  and again the same in the afternoon.

 

Now is time to bake, so I will have delicious cake waiting for 2 people to come home this afternoon.  I saw this recipe a week ago, my finger was busy change the TV channel too many time, until I saw the chef who ate the cake give a 'funny' expression ... like "eeemm" ,"yuuum" , "aaah"  LOL - indeed, those expression really 'get' me .  And I searching through internet for recipe, aah.. what an easy recipe no mixer require at all... and yes, it is so delicious ... by adding flour for top batter, really make this cake is different than regular apple pie.. ooh, should I said this is apple pie ? well.. anyway, let's try...

 

French Apple Cake

Source : America Test Kitchen

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 8 wedges, and sliced 1/8 inch thick crosswise

1 tablespoon Calvados or apple brandy or white rum (I skip this) 

1 teaspoon lemon juice (I use 1 tbsp. since I skip the calvados) 

1 cup (5 ounces) plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 cup (7 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg plus 2 large yolks

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Confectioners' sugar 

 

Instructions

 

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 9-inch springform pan with vegetable oil spray. Place prepared pan on rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Place apple slices into microwave-safe pie plate, cover, and microwave until apples are pliable and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Toss apple slices with Calvados and lemon juice and let cool for 15 minutes.
   
   
2. Whisk 1 cup flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt together in bowl. Whisk egg, oil, milk, and vanilla together in second bowl until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk until just combined. Transfer 1 cup batter to separate bowl and set aside.
3. Add egg yolks to remaining batter and whisk to combine. Using spatula, gently fold in cooled apples. Transfer batter to prepared pan; using offset spatula, spread batter evenly to pan edges, gently pressing on apples to create even, compact layer, and smooth surface.
4. Whisk remaining 2 tablespoons flour into reserved batter. Pour over batter in pan and spread batter evenly to pan edges and smooth surface. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar evenly over cake.
5. Bake until center of cake is set, toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, and top is golden brown, about 1¼ hours. Transfer pan to wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run paring knife around sides of pan and let cool completely, 2 to 3 hours. Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar, cut into wedges, and serve.

Summer Break (Part One)

I(we) 've been so lucky spent 10 days summer break this year traveling around several Europe countries, the main goal was to meet my in-laws in Germany. But since my visa is schengen visa so it was easy for me to traveling to another countries too.
The first destination was Hanover. Hanover is situated at the very edge of the North German Plain. The city has been recognized as ‘The City of Trade Fairs’ from years . What surprised me was, the summer weather over there was so pleasant. It was chilly in the morning and in the afternoon mostly not much than 70 F. What a beautiful weather comparing with summer in my city right now, which is reach 100 F every days.. phuiih..

Hanover was badly damaged in World War II, but after 1945 numerous old buildings were reconstructed and many modern structures were erected. Hanover is particularly known for its beautiful buildings, wells, fountains and parks. Please enjoy some pictures I've been taken and I will continuing my story from different countries soon :)

And enjoy the apple kuchen, the famous cake from Germany. You can buy German apple cake in a bakery or make it yourself, where the smells of baking apples and lemon will brighten your house. This popular apple cake recipe is considered standard for many bakeries and cafes, but it is simple to make at home with ingredients from the grocery store. When I bake this cake, my mind came back to the bakery store that i visited one day morning to get the fresh breads. the aroma from fresh breads and cakes is always make me happy :)

Kuchen is a German word for cake--It’s pronounced “KOO-khehn”—and is leavened with yeast and filled with either fruit or cheese

Apple Kuchen

4 -5 cups baking apples, Granny Smith
1 1/4 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk

Topping
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tsp oatmeal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix 1 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, 2 tsp sugar, and salt and sift once.
Cut 1/2 cup butter into dry mix with a pastry blender to pea size.

In a small bowl, beat egg with milk and add to dry mix.
Mix thoroughly and pat dough into a greased or oiled 9x13-inch baking dish.
Pare and core apples. Cut into thin wedge slices and place on dough in rows until covered. We would cover the thin end of one apple with the thick end of the other. Dot apples with butter and mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 Tbs flour and cinnamon together. Spread dry topping over dotted apples, and bake in oven for 45-60 minutes, until golden brown.