Apples have been grown in Ireland for centuries–legend has it that St. Patrick planted an apple tree in an ancient settlement outside Armagh city. Today County Armagh is known as “Orchard County” and celebrates its apples with festivals and apple-blossom tours.
Irish Apple Cake, serves 8
Cake Ingredients
2 large cooking apples, such as Granny Smith
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar (or same amount of granulated sugar processed in a food processor for 1 minute)
2 eggs
1-2 tablespoons milk
confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Streusel Topping Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9- inch round springform pan with cooking spray.
To make the streusel topping, sift flour into a bowl and cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles crumbs. Stir in sugar and reserve.
Peel, core, and thinly slice apples. To make the cake, sift the flour into a bowl with the baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Place the butter and superfine sugar in a separate bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in eggs, adding a little flour mixture with the last addition of egg. Gently fold in half of the remaining flour mixture, then fold in the rest with the milk.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. (Batter will be thick). Cover with the sliced apples and sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the top. Bake for 1 hour or until browned and firm to the touch. Let cool in pan before removing the sides. Dust cake with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Best served warm from the oven or reheated!
*Next time I would use 3 apples and add some nuts and a wee bit of cinnamon to the streusel topping.
On the top ‘o the list for something I want to make if I ever have my kitchen back for cooking purposes. I pinned this one. I make something similar but it has cream cheese in it. This looks just different enough for me to try.
thank you for offering this cookbook, perfect for saint patricks day! I love your blog, photography is always beautiful. I am in the market for a new camera, and am wondering what you use and what you suggest?
Just introduced my daughter to your blog. She is really enjoying all your photos. Today’s photos are great! That cake looks wonderful. Can’t wait to try this one!
Oh this looks SO ghood. I love anything apple. It would be fabulous for breakfast, I am going to try this one too. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful recipes. Your pictures are beautiful as always. I left a comment for the cookbook awhile back. I guess you don’t mean to leave another one. XO, Pinky
Many years ago, around the mid-80’s, I found a recipe for a delicious apple-almond cake in an ad for Helsman’s (sp?) Mayonnaise in a Southern Living Magazine. I made the cake dozens of times and everyone loved it. Unfortunately, I lost the recipe when we had the fire and although I sorta remember the ingredients and amounts, it has never turned out the same when I try to reproduce it. I have contacted the company and no one there seems to remember the ad and was told they don’t keep files of their old ads (huh?) which seems strange to me…anyway, the recipe, of course, calls for mayo. Sure wish I could find it again, because although the ones I’ve come up with are good , they aren’t as good or as moist as I remember that original one!
Delightful looking & I bet it tastes even better, Mary! Love, love, LOVE all your Irish postings this month. I even saved that last collage as my computer’s desktop background, so I could enjoy them all month long.
You always so such a nice job of explaining & presenting things so beautifully. Must be genetic!
Hi! Trying to get in touch with you to ask to use this recipe on a blog for my CSA members to use for their apples this week. It can be found at cropsharerecipes.blogspot.com I will take it down if you would like. Great recipe, Great photo!
What a beautiful blog you have, I love your photo’s and the cake looks so pretty, almost to pretty to eat. I pinned this recipe and going to make this asap. Andi thewednesdaybaker.blogspot.com
I’m sure by now there’s not a crumb left of your cake, so I guess I’ll have to make one. :) This looks so delicious. I’m headed to the store tomorrow for Granny Smiths to make it. Wish I had a piece right now with my tea.
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. this apple cake reminds me of a cake my grandmother from ballymote in county sligo, ireland used to make. It is also scrumptious with a dollop of whipped cream! (Perfect forbreakfast, lunch or dinner) what a beautiful cookbook….makes me long for the “auld sod”…. funny…i’m suddenly overcome with an urge to make a pot of tea…
The pics looked awesome, was a little disappointed in the cake. Even used Irish Butter to make it more authentic. I believe 400 degrees for one hour was a bit long. So next time 375 degrees for 45 minutes should be perfect! Wasn’t overly flavorful!
I have been following your blog for several years and love the inspiration and recipes. I am wondering if there is a way to print out any of your wonderful recipes? I find it a challenge to make the recipes without a copy of it in front of me. Thank you so much!
This looks like a great cake Mary, wish I had a piece for breakfast! Have a fun week:@)
OHHHHHHH YUMMMMMMM !!!!!!!!!!!
This looks like my kind of cake, Mary. Wish I had some for my morning cuppa.
On the top ‘o the list for something I want to make if I ever have my kitchen back for cooking purposes. I pinned this one. I make something similar but it has cream cheese in it. This looks just different enough for me to try.
I love apple cake. I’m going to have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day feast following all your recipes!
That would be lovely for breakfast!
I always get lost in your pristine photos… Such symmetry, crisp and clean. Love when you post, I know I am heading to happy~
Yummy for the tummy. I’ve bookmarked this recipe, Mary! :D
thank you for offering this cookbook, perfect for saint patricks day! I love your blog, photography is always beautiful. I am in the market for a new camera, and am wondering what you use and what you suggest?
Mary,
wISH I had a slice of that right now! Looks wonderful !!
Paula
IN.
I have been looking for a great dessert to serve at the St. Patty’s Day Birthday…and this is it!…Thanks Mary!…it looks wonderful!!
Yum, Yum, Yum!!!!! Pretty presentation. I love the Irish scene in your pretty mosiac.
Just introduced my daughter to your blog. She is really enjoying all your photos. Today’s photos are great! That cake looks wonderful. Can’t wait to try this one!
now, that looks like my kind of cake… your photos make my mouth water.. xo marlis
Mmmmm, I can almost taste it! Thank you for sharing the recipe :-)
I can almost smell this cake through my computer screen. Yum. Have a good week! xo
Oh, looks delicious! Would love the cookbook for my mother whose parents came over from Ireland!
Beautiful.. looks great.
I am copying this over to try. It sounds WONDERFUL!!! xo Diana
It looks wonderful! I just bought apples to try another new recipe. Now I am torn.
Mary, the layout of this post is outstanding!
Oh this looks SO ghood. I love anything apple. It would be fabulous for breakfast, I am going to try this one too. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful recipes. Your pictures are beautiful as always. I left a comment for the cookbook awhile back. I guess you don’t mean to leave another one. XO, Pinky
Goodness Mary, but that cake looks wonderful. It would be a perfect ending to my St. Paddy’s Day meal.
That sounds delicious, Mary!
Many years ago, around the mid-80’s, I found a recipe for a delicious apple-almond cake in an ad for Helsman’s (sp?) Mayonnaise in a Southern Living Magazine. I made the cake dozens of times and everyone loved it. Unfortunately, I lost the recipe when we had the fire and although I sorta remember the ingredients and amounts, it has never turned out the same when I try to reproduce it. I have contacted the company and no one there seems to remember the ad and was told they don’t keep files of their old ads (huh?) which seems strange to me…anyway, the recipe, of course, calls for mayo. Sure wish I could find it again, because although the ones I’ve come up with are good , they aren’t as good or as moist as I remember that original one!
This looks so delicious and I have all of the ingredients on hand. I like the idea of adding cinnamon and pecans.
I start to salivate every time I see an apple dessert! I don’t know what it is about them. This one looks like perfection!
Delightful looking & I bet it tastes even better, Mary! Love, love, LOVE all your Irish postings this month. I even saved that last collage as my computer’s desktop background, so I could enjoy them all month long.
You always so such a nice job of explaining & presenting things so beautifully. Must be genetic!
Hugs,
Rett
Oh, this looks so delicious.. I’ll be trying this recipe. Please count me in for the giveaway… Your Blog is so beautiful, such a pleasure to visit…
Hi! Trying to get in touch with you to ask to use this recipe on a blog for my CSA members to use for their apples this week. It can be found at cropsharerecipes.blogspot.com I will take it down if you would like. Great recipe, Great photo!
No problem with a link back, thanks!
What a beautiful blog you have, I love your photo’s and the cake looks so pretty, almost to pretty to eat. I pinned this recipe and going to make this asap. Andi thewednesdaybaker.blogspot.com
Great photos! Love the recipe, too! This would be an excellent dessert on St. Paddy’s Day.
Mary, I can’t believe I missed this one. I’ve been craving some apple pie. Wish this were sitting in my kitchen. Guess I need to bake tomorrow. ‘-)
I’m sure by now there’s not a crumb left of your cake, so I guess I’ll have to make one. :) This looks so delicious. I’m headed to the store tomorrow for Granny Smiths to make it. Wish I had a piece right now with my tea.
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. this apple cake reminds me of a cake my grandmother from ballymote in county sligo, ireland used to make. It is also scrumptious with a dollop of whipped cream! (Perfect forbreakfast, lunch or dinner) what a beautiful cookbook….makes me long for the “auld sod”…. funny…i’m suddenly overcome with an urge to make a pot of tea…
This looks wonderful.
– The Tablescaper
Oh, yummmm!
This cake looks so tasty! I love the recipe xxx
Looks wonderful! I will try it soon! Never too much cinnamon in streusel! :)
I just realized I commented on this last year! Still looks good! :)
I love apples and this looks so easy. I’ll have to give it a go! YUM!
The pics looked awesome, was a little disappointed in the cake. Even used Irish Butter to make it more authentic. I believe 400 degrees for one hour was a bit long. So next time 375 degrees for 45 minutes should be perfect! Wasn’t overly flavorful!
I have been following your blog for several years and love the inspiration and recipes. I am wondering if there is a way to print out any of your wonderful recipes? I find it a challenge to make the recipes without a copy of it in front of me. Thank you so much!
Hi, Yes Cindi, There is a link for a printable version on most of my recipes. Look for it at the bottom of the page :)