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Irish Apple Cake Recipe Easy Comfort Dessert with Custard Sauce

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This cozy Irish apple cake features tart apples and a tender, cinnamon-scented crumb, served with a creamy homemade custard sauce. It’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for gatherings or a rainy day treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1g) salt
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and diced
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 3 large apples (about 500g), peeled, cored, and sliced thin (preferably a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
  • For the Creamy Custard Sauce:
  • 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped

Instructions

  1. Grease a 9-inch (23cm) round cake pan or springform pan with butter or nonstick spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. Add cold, diced butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Stir in granulated sugar. Add the thinly sliced apples and toss to coat evenly.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  6. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients. Gently fold together with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. The batter will be thick and lumpy.
  7. Spread the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
  8. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
  9. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and release onto a wire rack. Cool slightly before serving.
  10. For the custard sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat milk and heavy cream over medium heat until steaming, but not boiling.
  11. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar until pale and slightly thickened.
  12. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly. Pour everything back into the saucepan.
  13. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of the spoon (about 5–7 minutes). Do not let it boil.
  14. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract or vanilla bean seeds. Strain through a fine sieve if needed.
  15. Slice the warm apple cake and serve with generous puddles of creamy custard sauce. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

For best texture, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Cold butter is key for a tender crumb. Don’t overmix the batter. The cake is delicious on its own or with whipped cream if you don’t want to make the custard. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, use appropriate substitutes. The cake can be made a day ahead and reheated. Custard sauce is best made fresh and served warm.

Nutrition

Keywords: Irish apple cake, apple dessert, comfort food, custard sauce, easy apple cake, traditional Irish dessert, fall baking, brunch cake, family recipe, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/irish-apple-cake-recipe-easy-comfort-dessert-with-custard-sauce/