Recommended by Lauren Poyer
UW Department of Scandinavian Studies
Apple cake is a common autumn treat across Scandinavia and is variously called eplekake,äppelkaka, æblekage, eplakaka, omenukakku, õunakook, etc. It’s often served as a sweet side to the early afternoon coffee break that is a fixture for many who live and work in Scandinavia, as well as to the Department of Scandinavian Studies here at UW, whose weekly social hour (online this year) takes place over coffee and sweet treats. No better way to enjoy each other’s company than with sugar and caffeine!
Ingredients
- 4 small apples, cored and sliced approx. 1/4” / 0.5cm thick
- 1 cup (227g) salted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (255g) flour
- 2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder
- 1 1/4 / (250g) granulated sugar
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120ml) milk, dairy or non-dairy
- 3 tablespoons (30g) cinnamon sugar mix
- 1 teaspoon / (2g) cardamom
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C).
- Beat the sugar and 3/4 cup (170g) of the butter until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add half of the flour and baking powder, mixed until combined, then add half of the milk and mix until combined again. Repeat with the rest of the flour and baking powder, then the rest of the milk.
- Spoon the batter into a 9” round baking dish and flatten.Layer the apple slices on top of the cake. Arrange them in a circle, starting around the edge and moving into the middle. The slices should overlap like roof shingles.
- Cut the remaining 1/4 cup butter into pea-sized pieces and dot the cake with them. Dust the cake with the cinnamon sugar mix and cardamom.
- Bake for approx. 1 hour and let cool before serving