If you're searching for a delightful treat to embrace the flavors of fall, look no further. Our homemade apple tea cake is the epitome of autumn coziness, and it's perfect for sharing with loved ones or savoring solo with a warm cup of tea.
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As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, there's something undeniably comforting about the scent of freshly baked goods wafting from the kitchen. Once all the apple orchards in Washington are abundant with apples I add them to all my baked goods.
This was inspired by my other apple recipes such as my cinnamon rolls and apple pie filling or my apple hand pies with puff pastry.
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Ingredients to make this Apple tea Cake:
- Unsalted butter
- White sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Egg
- Egg yolks
- Gala apples- This apple variety works so well in this tea cake the sweetness of the apples compliment the rest of the cake.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions for the Apple Tea Cake recipe:
1: Preheat Your Oven your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8 inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2: Core and slice apples: Use a corer to neatly core out the inside of the 3 apples. Then cut the apple in half and with a mandolin cut apple slices on the thicker side.
3: Season Apple slices: Season apple slices with cinnamon sugar spice mix. If you aren't going to use right away make sure to add a splash of lemon juice to make sure the apples don't turn brown.
4: Make the cake batter: In a bowl of an electric mixer add 1 egg and 3 egg yolks along with ½ cup sugar start mixing then add in ¾ cup melted butter. Lastly, add 1 cup of flour. Add the cake batter into the prepared 8inch cake pan.
5: Assemble Rose cake: Starting along the outside edge arrange the apple slices lightly pressing into the batter. Place apple slices over each other starting at the core cut out.
You may need to break the slices as you reach the center of the rose. Use the remaining apple slices to fill in the gaps. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon sugar mix and 6: Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.
7: Cool and Dust: Allow the apple tea cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. To add a finishing touch dust the top with powdered sugar.
Substitutions for this Easy Apple Dessert:
- Flour- regular flour can be substituted with a gluten-free flour blend for those with dietary restrictions.
- Apples: While this recipe uses gala apples for their sweetness, you can use any variety you prefer or even mix and match for a unique taste.
- I have made this cake with other fruit combinations my favorite other than apple has been blackberries.
Equipment to make this recipe effortless:
- Apple Corer- makes for an easy and clean way to core your apples.
- Mandolin slicer- quickly and efficiently slices apple slices all the same thickness.
- Electric mixer- for some recipes it is simpler to have a hand held mixer rather then a stand mixer.
- Glass bowls- multiple sizes, see through, convient
- 8-inch cake pan- perfect size for a small tea cake or for other cake recipes.
Storage guidelines:
To keep your apple tea cake fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week. You can also freeze individual slices wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to three months. To enjoy a frozen slice, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipe Top tip
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast of warm cake and cold topping is pure dessert heaven!
FAQ
Peel apples or not? Leaving the peel on makes for a beautiful presentation once baked. If you choose to peel your apples the finished product will be just as stunning just won't have the highlighted peels on each "petal". If you leave the peel on it does make the petals/ peels crisp after baking.
Absolutely! You can prepare the batter and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking.
Yes, I have used blackberries, apricots, and peaches. All have turned out delicious.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
APPLE TEA CAKE
Equipment
- 1 apple corer
- 1 mandolin slicer
- 1 electric mixer
- 2 mixing bowl
- 1 8inch cake pan
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 gala apples
- 3 tablespoon cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- 1: Preheat Your Oven your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8 inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- 2: Core and slice apples: Use a corer to neatly core out the inside of the 3 apples. Then cut the apple in half and with a mandolin cut apple slices on the thicker side.
- 3: Season Apple slices: Season apple slices with cinnamon sugar spice mix. If you aren't going to use right away make sure to add a splash of lemon juice to make sure the apples don't turn brown.
- 4: Make the cake batter: In a bowl of an electric mixer add 1 egg and 3 egg yolks along with ½ cup sugar start mixing then add in ¾ cup melted butter. Lastly, add 1 cup of flour. Add the cake batter into the prepared 8inch cake pan.
- 5: Assemble Rose cake: Starting along the outside edge arrange the apple slices lightly pressing into the batter. Place apple slices over each other starting at the core cut out. You may need to break the slices as you reach the center of the rose. Use the remaining apple slices to fill in the gaps. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon sugar mix.
- 6: Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.
- 7: Cool and Dust: Allow the apple tea cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. To add a finishing touch dust the top with powdered sugar.
Sophie says
I couldn't resist trying this Apple Tea Cake recipe, and it's now a family favorite! The sweet, spiced apples and moist cake are a match made in dessert heaven. Thank you for sharing this delightful recipe; it's a true winner
Nikki says
This apple tea cake sounds amazing and looks beautiful. I can't believe how easy it all comes together. I can't wait to impress my family with this.
nancy says
what a wonderful autumn dessert to make. I love the flavours and it is so moist. I had it with my afternoon tea.
Angela says
Beautiful, easy, and so flavorful! This is my new favorite apple cake recipe.
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this cake this afternoon and OMG was it delicious! So full of fall flavor and perfect with a PSL!
Julia K. says
This cake is such a a treat. It is very moist, flavorful, and has the perfect amount of sweetness.
Also, very simple to make as well.
I will definitely be making this recipe again this fall.
JULIE'S APRON says
So happy to hear!!