Irish apple cake custard (Print Version)
Moist spiced apple dessert with crunchy sugar crust and creamy custard served warm.
# What You'll Need:
→ Apple Cake
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
08 - 3 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1/4 cup whole milk
11 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
12 - 1-2 tbsp turbinado or demerara sugar
→ Custard
13 - 2 cups whole milk
14 - 4 large egg yolks
15 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
16 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
17 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
03 - Rub cold cubed butter into dry mixture with fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
04 - Add sliced apples to flour mixture and toss until evenly coated.
05 - Whisk eggs, milk, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until blended.
06 - Pour wet mixture over apple mixture. Fold gently until just combined.
07 - Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over surface.
08 - Bake 45-50 minutes until skewer comes out clean and top is golden. Cool 15 minutes in pan, then transfer to wire rack.
09 - Heat milk in medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming, not boiling.
10 - Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth.
11 - Gradually whisk hot milk into egg mixture. Return to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
12 - Serve warm cake slices with custard poured over top.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between the tender apple-studded crumb and that irresistible crunchy sugar topping makes every bite interesting
- Homemade custard transforms this from a simple cake into something that feels like a warm hug on a plate
- It's one of those rare desserts that actually improves the next day, as the apples soften and the spices deepen
02 -
- Don't overmix the batter once you add the wet ingredients or the cake will become tough instead of tender
- The custard can go from perfectly thickened to scrambled eggs in seconds, so keep the heat low and stir constantly
03 -
- Rubbing the butter into the flour by hand really does make a difference in texture, so take your time with this step
- The turbinado sugar on top isn't optional unless you want to miss the entire point of that amazing crunchy crust