Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Farmhouse Apple Cake baked in Iron Skillet

Apples really shine in this traditional Italian farmhouse cake, where thin slices of the fruit are held together with just-melted butter, a couple of eggs, and a scant amount of flour. Top with crunchy turbinado sugar and bake it in a cast-iron skillet. It’s easy enough for a weeknight treat and impressive enough to join the classics on your Thanksgiving buffet. And it’s just the thing for keeping the doctor away.

Farmhouse Apple Cake

Serves 8

Ingredients:

5 Golden Delicious apples
2 large eggs
8 ounces sugar
2 ounces flour
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
4 ounces buttermilk
3 ½ ounces unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.

Peel, core, and quarter the apples, then slice into very thin slivers using a sharp knife or a food processor with a slicing blade. After this is done, pop the skillet into the oven to preheat.

With a wire whisk, beat the eggs and sugar in a very large bowl until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the flour and cardamom, then add the buttermilk, butter, and vanilla. Blend thoroughly. Quickly stir in the baking powder, then fold in the apples.

Pour the mixture into the preheated skillet and sprinkle turbinado sugar over the top. Bake on the center rack until the cake is golden brown and cooked through, about 55 minutes. The cake is done when a small paring knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack and serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe found HERE. I think it's a keeper, don't you? Use your favorite apple variety. Right now I have Gala and Stayman Winesap in my crisper. Happy baking. I love that this is baked in an iron skillet. 

2 comments:

JudyMac said...

Sounds really good, but I am surprised the recipe calls for Golden Delicious apples, an apple not known to be the best for cooking. The ones you have on hand are a much better choice. Lots of good cooking varieties are arriving at my farmer's market just in time for Thanksgiving.

Stacey Snacks said...

I actually have been baking with Golden Delicious apples and the pies and cakes have come out great!
Have you tried this cake yet? It seems like I have made similar cakes, but this looks and sounds so good. Will bookmark it for apple cake #11. !!!