A Cozy, Rustic Dessert That Celebrates Apples
My sunken apple cake is a tender, buttery dessert that balances fresh, seasonal apples with the nutty richness of almond flour. Adding to its appeal? Not only is the texture divine, but it’s quick and simple to prepare with no special equipment beyond a mixer. 💯 Did I mention it’s naturally gluten-free?!
Another selling point: it’s laced with a generous splash of Amaretto! 💁🏻♀️ You’re welcome. You may have noticed by now that I am utterly obsessed with almond-flavored desserts (case and point: my light and airy almond ricotta cake and this rich chocolate torte made with almond flour) and this one is no exception. They all have a distinctly nutty taste and balanced sweetness that I can’t get enough of.
A Few Notes On Baking With Apples
Choose the right apples: Firm, slightly tart apples like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady hold their shape best. Softer apples (like Gala or Fuji) will bake down more, giving a more custardy texture.
Be sure to slice apples thinly and evenly: This helps the “sink” naturally into the cake as it bakes while still leaving a lovely pattern on top.
The Cake Batter Is Made In A Single Stand Mixer Bowl
Pro tip: don’t overmix after adding the almond flour! Mixing too long can deflate the batter. Blend just until smooth, then stop. After transferring to a pan, sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar (though demerara is fine too). It gives the cake the most delightful crunch on top!
You’ll know the cake is done when it’s puffed and golden, with the edges just pulling away from the pan. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are perfect).
If you’re new to baking with almond flour, please know that it is not the same as almond meal. They’re similar, but almond meal is coarser and often made with the skins left on. Almond flour produces a finer, lighter crumb.
I haven’t yet tested this with other fruit, but the base cake recipe is so fantastic — I’ve gotta imagine it would be stellar with pears, plums, or even fresh figs.
Whether you serve this rustic dessert at a cozy fall gathering or sneak a slice with your morning coffee (no judgment 💁🏻♀️), this apple cake is proof that simple ingredients can create something truly special. If you give it a try, please be sure to leave a review and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below!
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One Bowl Sunken Apple Cake with Almond Flour
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 8 Tbsp (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 Tbsp (75g) granulated sugar
- 1½ cups (165g) almond flour
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 3 large (150g) eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp Amaretto
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
- 2 medium Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples (if they’re very small, use three apples)
- 1 Tbsp turbinado or coarse sugar
- ¼ tsp cardamom
For Serving
- Powdered sugar
- Crème fraîche, whipped cream, or ice cream
Instructions
- Prepare the pan. Preheat an oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan with parchment paper, then grease the sides with nonstick baking spray.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Combine 8 Tbsp (113g) butter and 5 Tbsp sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides.
- Add almond flour. Add 1½ cups (165g) almond flour and ¼ tsp kosher salt, then mix until well blended.
- Add eggs. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides, then add 2 tsp Amaretto and 1 tsp vanilla extract and beat once more.
- Prepare the apples. Peel, core, and halve or quarter the apples. (You can cut out the core after halving/quartering if you don’t have an apple corer.) Slice each half thinly (about ¼-inch thick), keeping the slices together so the shape of each segment is mostly intact.
- Assemble the cake. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Arrange the apple segments decoratively on top, cut side down, pressing them gently into the batter so they sink slightly. Sprinkle the top evenly with 1 Tbsp turbinado sugar and a light dusting of cardamom (about ¼ tsp).
- Bake the cake. Transfer to a preheated oven, then bake until the cake has puffed up, is golden brown, and the edges pull slightly away from the sides of the pan, about 40-45 minutes. The apples will soften and sink into the batter as it bakes, creating a beautiful rustic pattern on top.
- Cool and serve. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then release the springform pan and transfer to a wire rack (or run a knife along the edges to help loosen it, then invert onto a wire rack). Enjoy warm or at room temperature with a dusting of powdered sugar and a generous dollop of crème fraîche, whipped cream, or ice cream.
Notes
- Nutrition facts do not include crème fraîche, whipped cream, or ice cream.
- If you don’t have Amaretto, you can substitute with almond extract for a similar, but slightly less intense flavor.
- Make-ahead: Bake the cake up to 1 day in advance. Once cooled, cover tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
- If freezing, cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. That overnight in a fridge and bring to room temp before serving.
Nutrition
Photography by Megan McKeehan.
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