Moist & Buttery French Apple Cake
This moist and buttery French apple cake is simple, elegant, and quietly luxurious. Unlike heavily spiced apple cakes, this classic French-style dessert lets tender apples and rich butter shine, creating a soft crumb that melts in your mouth. It’s perfect with coffee, tea, or as a light dessert after dinner.
Ingredients:
3 large apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons dark rum or brandy (optional but traditional)
Optional Topping:
Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter an 8-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
Toss the diced apples with lemon juice and set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and sugar until smooth and glossy. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and rum if using.
Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until combined. The batter will be thick.
Fold in the apples, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving if desired.
Helpful Tips:
This cake is apple-heavy by design, which keeps it incredibly moist.
Do not overmix the batter to maintain a tender crumb.
Using melted butter gives the cake its signature rich texture.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
Pair with lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Excellent alongside coffee or espresso.
Storage:
Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days and bring to room temperature before serving.
Moist, buttery, and filled with soft pockets of apple, this French apple cake is beautifully simple — proof that the best desserts don’t need to be complicated to be unforgettable.