Description
A moist and tender layered Christmas cake featuring caramelized apples and warm spices, perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300 g (2 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 12 g (2 1/4 tsp) baking powder
- 4 g (3/4 tsp) baking soda
- 6 g (1 tsp) fine sea salt
- 200 g (7 oz / 14 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 150 g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 100 g (1/2 cup, packed) light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 120 g (1/2 cup) sour cream
- 600 g (about 3 medium) apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom (optional)
- 15 g (1 tbsp) light brown sugar (for tossing apples)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
- 60 g (1/2 cup) powdered sugar with 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice (optional glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Butter a 9-inch (23 cm) round pan and line the bottom with parchment.
- Peel the apples, core, and dice into 1 cm (1/3-inch) pieces. Toss with 15 g (1 tbsp) brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon; set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
- Cream the butter with granulated and brown sugars for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and lemon zest.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and sour cream, mixing until just combined.
- Fold the spiced apples into the batter gently.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, rotating halfway, until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 20-30 minutes before transferring to a rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Allow the cake to rest for 20–30 minutes before slicing for better shape. Use room-temperature ingredients for best results.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 95mg