Best Recipes - Classic Apple Cake with Sour Cream
Best Recipes - Classic Apple Cake with Sour Cream
This classic apple cake is the kind of reliable homemade bake you can make on a weekday and still proudly serve to guests. A layer of chopped apples covers the bottom of the pan, then a simple batter—whisked eggs and sugar scented with vanilla sugar and lemon zest—gets poured on top. Sour cream keeps the crumb tender, while baking at a high temperature gives the cake a lightly golden finish. It’s straightforward, practical, and comforting, with no complicated techniques.
Ingredients
- 5 eggs
- 5 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- vanilla sugar
- lemon zest
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- apples (enough to cover the bottom of the pan)
Preparation Time
45 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Prepare a cake pan so the cake releases easily (lightly grease or line if needed).
- Wash the apples, peel if you prefer, and cut into small pieces. Spread them in an even layer to fully cover the bottom of the pan.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar until the mixture looks lighter and smooth. Stir in vanilla sugar and lemon zest for a fresh, fragrant aroma.
- Add the flour and mix until the batter is uniform with no large lumps. Blend in the sour cream to make the batter smoother and more tender.
- Add the baking soda and mix briefly—just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake soft.
- Pour the batter over the apples and level the top.
- Bake at 200 °C for about 30 minutes. Check doneness with a wooden skewer; it should come out clean or with a few dry crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and let the cake cool before taking it out of the pan. Serve warm or fully cooled.
Tips
- Cut the apples into similar-sized pieces so they bake evenly and don’t create wet pockets.
- Lemon zest brightens the flavor—add it to taste depending on how citrusy you like your desserts.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover the cake near the end of baking.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy with coffee or tea.
- Serve with a spoonful of sour cream or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
- This cake is especially nice slightly warm, when the apple layer is fragrant.