German Sunken Apple Cake

For this apple cake you need to cut the apples like a fan not only for looks — this little trick makes the cake especially moist. I like to use tart apples. You will need between 5 and 7 apples, depending on their size.

Ingredients

  • 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 10 tablespoons white sugar

  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 3 medium apples, or as needed

  • 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting, or as needed

Directions

  • Step 1

    Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar and mix until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.

  • Step 2

    Mix 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoon flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add to batter and mix until batter is smooth.

  • Step 3

    Peel and quarter apples. Remove core and cut apples like a fan from the outside towards the inside but do not cut all the way through.

  • Step 4

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a springform pan with butter.

  • Step 5

    Spoon batter into the prepared springform pan and spread out evenly. Set cut apple quarters in a circle into the batter with the round, cut side facing up. Gently push apples into the batter.

  • Step 6

    Bake in the preheated oven until cake is golden brown, about 45 minutes.

  • Step 7

    Remove from oven, allow to cool, and dust cooled cake with confectioners' sugar.