Swedish Apple Cake, or Äppelkaka, is a traditional Scandinavian dessert that beautifully balances the tartness of apples with the warmth of spices and the richness of butter. This cake is moist, tender, and often infused with cardamom, making it a perfect treat for fika—the Swedish coffee break. The apples caramelize slightly as they bake, creating a delightful contrast between the soft interior and the slightly crisp edges. Whether served warm with vanilla sauce or enjoyed plain, this cake is a comforting and elegant dessert.
Ingredients:
- Cake Batter:
- 125g golden caster sugar
- 2 large free-range eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 125g unsalted butter
- 120g plain flour
- 30g ground almonds
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
- 3 small dessert apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- Handful of blanched almonds, chopped
- Desiccated coconut (for dusting)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Apples:
- Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan/gas 4).
- Grease and dust the sides of a cake tin with desiccated coconut. Line the base with baking parchment.
- Peel, core, and slice the apples, then squeeze over the lemon juice to prevent browning. Set aside.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients:
- Sieve the flour into a bowl and add the baking powder, ground almonds, and 1 teaspoon of cardamom. Stir to combine and set aside.
- Prepare the Butter:
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan until it foams and turns nut brown. Remove from heat and let it stand for 5-10 minutes before straining through a fine sieve to remove any burnt particles. Cool to room temperature.
- Whisk the Eggs and Sugar:
- In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla sugar for about 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in half of the flour mixture using a balloon whisk.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and fold in again.
- Incorporate the Butter:
- Take 2 tablespoons of the egg mixture and whisk it into the melted butter.
- Once incorporated, add 2 more tablespoons, folding gently.
- Finally, fold the butter mixture back into the main batter using a large spoon.
- Assemble and Bake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin and arrange the apple slices on top.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cardamom and chopped almonds.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden and springy to the touch.
- Cool and Serve:
- Let the cake cool for 10 minutes before turning it out of the tin and removing the parchment.
- Dust with icing sugar and serve with cream or traditional Swedish vanilla sauce.
This Swedish Apple Cake is a simple yet elegant dessert that captures the essence of Scandinavian baking. The combination of apples, cardamom, and almonds creates a rich, aromatic flavor that pairs beautifully with coffee or tea.
For more details, check out the full recipe here. Happy baking! 🍏✨