Irish Apple Cake
Perfect for St Patrick’s Day celebrations, this St Patrick's day dessert brings a homemade charm to your holiday table.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Peeler and Knife
- 8-inch or 9-inch cake pan
- Spatula
- Cooling Rack
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 3 cups peeled and chopped apples about 3 medium apples
For the Topping:
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease your cake pan with butter or non-stick spray.
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into roughly ½-inch pieces. Try to keep them similar in size so they bake evenly.
- Measure out all your dry ingredients and spices. Having everything ready makes the baking process smoother.
- Pro Tip: I like to line the bottom of my cake pan with parchment paper—it makes removing the cake super easy and keeps the bottom from sticking.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Whisk them together thoroughly so the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- Pro Tip: Whisk continuously to prevent clumps—this ensures your cake has an even flavor and texture.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes with a hand or stand mixer.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Pro Tip: Make sure your butter is truly softened, not melted. This creates a light, airy texture in your cake.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Start and end with the dry ingredients.
- Mix gently until just combined—don’t overmix or your cake could be dense.
Step 5: Fold in the Apples
- Using a spatula, fold the chopped apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Be gentle to avoid breaking the apple pieces too much.
Step 6: Prepare the Topping
- In a small bowl, mix the 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter in the pan.
Step 7: Bake the Cake
- Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Check around 40 minutes—ovens vary, so keep an eye on the cake to prevent over-browning.
- Pro Tip: If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.
Step 8: Cool and Serve
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes.
- Carefully transfer to a cooling rack and let it cool completely before slicing.
- Serve slightly warm with butter, cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.
Notes
Nutritional Value (per serving, approx.):
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Sugars: 22 g
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sodium: 180 mg