Marie-Hélène's Apple Cake

Marie-Hélène's Apple Cake

Sweet September

APPLE PICKING AT WILLOW VIEW FARMS IN ABBOTSFORD

ELSTAR APPLES! A VARIETY OF GOLDEN DELICIOUS AND ORANGE PIPPIN, THE FLESH IS CRISP AND SWEET

WE SNAGGED A FEW OF THE REMAINING PEARS LEFT ON THE TREES FORTUNATELY

NESTLED IN THE CROOK OF THE PLUM TREE WAS A BIRD'S NEST

BLUE DOLL PUMPKIN! THE FLESH IS DEEP ORANGE AND I'M MAKING SOUP WITH THIS BABY

WE PICKED SOME PLUMS (OF WHICH THERE WERE ONLY A FEW REMAINING IN ARM'S REACH), BOUGHT SOME SQUASH AND SOME CORN TOO

PREPARING THE BATTER FOR THE APPLE CAKE: EGGS, EVAPORATED CANE SUGAR AND VANILLA

I HAVE 3 VARIETIES OF APPLES PREPARED FOR THE CAKE

THE APPLES ARE LEFT IN LARGE CHUNKS SO YOU CAN REALLY TASTE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE VARIETIES

THE BATTER IS POURED INTO A SPRINGFORM PAN 

FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN!

THIS APPLE CAKE SMELLS OF FALL

ENJOY THE RECIPE! IT'S EASY AND MAKES USE OF A GOOD NUMBER OF APPLES; HIGHLIGHTING THE QUALITY OF THE APPLES AND THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES.  SERVE WARM WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM OR PLAIN WITH A CUP OF TEA.

MARIE-HELENE'S APPLE CAKE
from Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 4 large apples (if you can, choose 4 different kinds)
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons dark rum
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Generously butter an 8-inch springform pan.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and put the springform on it.
2. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl.
3. Peel the apples, cut them in half, and remove the cores.  Cut the apples into 1 to 2 inch chunks.
4. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until they’re foamy.  Pour in the sugar and whisk for a minute or so to blend.  Whisk in the rum and vanilla.  Whisk in half the flour and, when it is incorporated, add half the  melted butter, followed by the rest of the flour and the remaining butter, mixing gently after each addition so that you have a smooth, rather thick batter.  Switch to a rubber spatula and fold in teh apples, turning the fruit so that it’s coated with batter.  Scrape the mix into the pan and poke it around a little with the spatula so that it’s evenish.
5. Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted deep into the center comes out clean; the cake may pull away from the sides of the pan.  Transfer to a cooling rack and let rest for 5 minutes.
6. Carefully run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake and remove the sides of the springform pan.  (Open the springform slowly, and before it’s fully opened, make sure there aren’t any apples stuck to it.)  Allow the cake to cool until it is just slightly warm or at room temperature.  If you want to remove the cake from the bottom of the springform pan, wait until the cake is almost cooled, then run a long spatula between the cake and the pan, cover the top of the cake with a piece of parchment or wax paper, and invert it onto a rack.  Carefully remove the bottom of the pan and turn the cake over onto a serving dish.

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