Learn how to make traditional "Versunkener Apfelkuchen". It's a popular German apple cake that looks like the apples are sunken. It tastes even better than it looks.
Course Dessert
Cuisine German
Keyword German Apple Cake, Sunken Apple Cake, Versunkener Apfelkuchen
Prep Time 25 minutesminutes
Cook Time 35 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour
Servings 8pieces
Calories 341kcal
Ingredients
4small applesgala work best
120gbutter (at room temperature)1 stick or half a cup
200gall-purpose or cake flour1.5 cups, spooned and leveled
2tspbaking powder
1/4tspsea salt
1Tbspraw sugardemarara or turbinado work well
Instructions
Butter a 9" round cake pan on the bottom and sides and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
Peel one apple at a time, cut in half, core without removing too much apple, then lay flat side down and make many slits into the apple without cutting all the way down. Then cut the apple half in half. That way you end up with apple quarters with slits all over. Use a half lemon and lightly coat with lemon juice to avoid browning. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
Cream softened butter, sugar, and zest of lemon with the paddle attachment of your stand mixer. (See detailed instructions in the blog post).
Add vanilla extract and eggs one egg at a time, making sure each egg is incorporated into the creamed butter before adding the next. Mix on low, do not beat the eggs.
Place a sieve over the mixing bowl and add flour, baking powder, and sea salt to the sieve and sift into the bowl.
Mix on low until JUST incorporated, then add the batter to your buttered and parchment-paper-lined cake pan. Use a spatula to distribute evenly and flatten.
Place apple quarters on top without pushing into the batter. Sprinkle a little raw sugar on the apples.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until baked through and golden.
Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes before removing from the cake pan. Sprinkle with a little more raw sugar if you like and serve with homemade whipped cream.
Video
Notes
If you are a beginner baker please read the full blog post and watch the video tutorial. There is a lot of valuable information in there for you.