Irish Apple Cake Vanilla (Printable Version)
Spiced apple cake served with warm, creamy vanilla custard for a cozy dessert experience.
# Ingredient List:
→ For the Apple Cake
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ tsp baking powder
03 - ½ tsp ground cinnamon
04 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
05 - ¼ tsp salt
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
07 - ½ cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - ½ cup whole milk
10 - 3 medium tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
11 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
12 - 2 tbsp demerara or granulated sugar
→ For the Warm Vanilla Custard
13 - 2 cups whole milk
14 - 3 large egg yolks
15 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
16 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
17 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
03 - Rub the cold butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the sugar.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.
05 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Gently fold in the sliced apples.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with demerara or granulated sugar. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
07 - Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
08 - In a saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until just simmering, being careful not to let it boil.
09 - In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
10 - Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
11 - Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5–7 minutes. Do not let it boil.
12 - Remove from heat and serve warm custard alongside slices of apple cake.
# Tips from hearthlykitchen:
01 -
- The contrast between tender, spice-kissed cake and silky vanilla custard creates the kind of comfort that makes rainy afternoons feel cozy
- This is one of those rare desserts that actually tastes better the next day, as the apples soften and flavors deepen
- The recipe is wonderfully forgiving and uses pantry staples, making it perfect for unexpected guests or sudden cravings
02 -
- Overworking the butter into the flour will make your cake tough instead of tender
- The custard can go from perfectly thickened to curdled in seconds, so keep the heat low and stir constantly
- Room temperature ingredients blend more easily and create a more uniform texture
03 -
- For extra flavor, toss the apple slices with a tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon before folding them into the batter
- If your cake browns too quickly, loosely tent it with foil after 30 minutes of baking