Homemade Irish Apple Cake With Custard Sauce Recipe
Enjoy the comforting taste of Ireland with this homemade Irish apple cake with custard sauce recipe. This simple apple cake is topped with a delicious streusel and then drizzled with a velvety custard sauce.
If you’re looking for a delicious way to finish your corned beef dinner this St. Patrick’s Day, I have the most comforting dessert for you…Irish apple cake with custard sauce.
This traditional Irish treat embodies the spirit of the Ireland, offering a taste of home and hospitality in every bite.
Imagine sinking your fork into layers of moist cake with the sweet apples and warm spices, complemented by a drizzle of velvety custard sauce on top.
It’s a dessert that not only satisfies the sweet tooth but also warms the soul with its timeless flavors and heartwarming charm.
What is Irish-style apple cake?
Irish apple cake is a traditional dessert that has been cherished in Irish households for generations.
This delicious treat is a celebration of Ireland’s rich agricultural heritage, where apples play a starring role.
The origins of Irish apple cake are rooted in the rural traditions of Ireland, where resourcefulness and seasonal ingredients guided recipes.
Apples were readily available, and incorporating them into a hearty cake became a delicious way to showcase the bounty of the orchards.
The cake itself is moist with a layer of thinly sliced apples throughout the batter. The use cinnamon adds a comforting flavor, making it a perfect companion to a cup of tea or coffee.
As it is with many traditional recipes, the exact origins of Irish apple cake are somewhat unknown, passed down through families and generations over time.
However, its popularity can be attributed to its simplicity, versatility, and the comforting sense of home it brings with each bite.
Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea at breakfast or as a dessert on a chilly evening, Irish apple cake has become a symbol of the warm hospitality that defines the heart of Irish culture.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients for This Easy Apple Cake Recipe
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make a delicious apple cake…
For the Irish Apple Cake
What You’ll Need for the Streusel Topping
For the Custard Sauce
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
How to Make a Delicious Homemade Apple Cake Recipe
This recipe captures the essence of Irish hospitality and provides a delectable way to celebrate the flavors of the Ireland in your own kitchen.
Streusel Topping
In a medium bowl add flour, oats, sugar, and salt. Mix to combine.
Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture.
Using a pastry blender or two forks mix butter into flour until blended and small pieces of butter are still visible.
Place the mixture in the freezer while you prepare the cake mixture.
Irish Apple Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9” springform pan with baking spray.
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl for 3-4 minutes or until light & fluffy.
To the butter mixture, beat in eggs, one at a time until each is fully incorporated.
Next mix in vanilla and heavy cream.
In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
To the butter mixture add dry ingredients and mix until combined.
Add cake mixture to the prepared cake pan and spread evenly.
Top cake mixture with sliced apples and sprinkle apples with streusel topping.
Place springform pan on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean and top is lightly golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing from pan.
Place cake on a plate or cake stand and dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.
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Vanilla Custard Sauce
While the cake is in the oven prepare the custard sauce.
In a medium saucepan bring milk to a simmer over medium-low heat, do not boil.
In a separate bowl whisk together egg yolks and sugar until combined.
Whisk a small amount of the heated milk into egg mixture and mix until combined. Stir in the remaining milk and mix well.
Return to the saucepan and return heat to medium high.
Pro Tip
- By adding a small amount of the hot milk to the egg mixture, you are tempering the eggs. This brings the eggs to a similar temperature as the hot liquid, ensuring a smooth and velvety custard without any scrambled eggs or unwanted lumps. Patience is key! A slow and steady stream while whisking prevents curdling, leaving you with a perfect custard every time.
Continue stirring custard until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes or until the mixture sticks to the back of a spoon.
Remove from heat and enjoy with your homemade apple cake!
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure that the butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps in achieving a smooth and even batter, which will give you a moist and tender cake.
- When slicing the apples for the cake, aim for thin slices. A mandolin can be very helpful slicing thin, uniform apple slices in a short amount of time.
- Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until just combined. Overmixing can result in a denser cake. It’s ok if there are a few lumps, they will disappear during baking.
- For the streusel topping, use cold butter and work it into the dry ingredients until you achieve a crumbly (pea size) texture.
- Temper the eggs for the custard sauce by gradually whisking in a small amount of the warm milk mixture. This prevents the eggs from curdling and ensures a smooth, creamy custard.
- Cook the custard over low heat and stir continuously. Patience is key to achieving a velvety texture. If it overheats or cooks too quickly, you may end up with a grainy consistency.
5 Simple Irish Apple Cake Recipe Variations
These easy variations offer simple yet yummy twists to the classic Irish Apple Cake recipe, which allows you to customize the dessert to your taste buds with minimal effort and ingredients.
- Substitute almond extract for vanilla extract in the cake batter for a nutty flavor profile.
- Instead of serving the cake with custard sauce, try drizzling warm caramel sauce over the cooled cake for a rich, decadent finish.
- Add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the cake batter for a citrusy twist.
- Mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for added crunch and a nutty flavor.
- Increase the ground cinnamon to 2 teaspoons in the cake batter for a more pronounced spiced flavor.
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What is the best way to store Irish apple cake and custard sauce?
The apple cake can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days or frozen for 3-4 months in an airtight container.
Store the custard sauce in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
You can serve cake at room temperature or reheat it slightly in the microwave. The custard sauce can also be reheated in the microwave.
FAQs: Irish Apple Cake
Can I use a different baking dish for this apple cake if I don’t have a springform pan?
You certainly can!
If you do not have a 9” springform pan you can also use a 9” cake pan. Just remember to grease the pan well.
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Homemade Irish Apple Cake With Custard Sauce
Ingredients
Irish Apple Cake
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 3 tbsp Heavy Cream
- 1 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour spooned & leveled
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 ½ tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Salt
- 4 Granny Smith Apples peeled & thinly sliced
- Powdered Sugar for Dusting
Streusel Topping
- 1 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour spooned & leveled
- ¾ cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Cold Butter cubed
Custard Sauce
- 4 Large Egg Yolks
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Streusel Topping
- In a medium mixing bowl add flour, oats, sugar, and salt. Mix to combine.
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture.
- Using a pastry blender or two forks mix butter into flour until blended and pea size pieces of butter are still visible.
- Place the mixture in the freezer while you prepare the cake mixture.
Irish Apple Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a 9” springform pan with baking spray.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer cream together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl for 3-4 minutes or until light & fluffy.
- To the butter mixture, beat in eggs, one at a time until each is fully incorporated.
- Next mix in vanilla and heavy cream.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- To the butter mixture add dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Add cake mixture to the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
- Top cake mixture with sliced apples and sprinkle apples with streusel topping.
- Place springform pan on a sheet pan and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean and top is lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing from pan.
- Place cake on a plate or cake stand and dust with powdered sugar.
Custard Sauce
- While the cake is in the oven prepare the custard sauce.
- In a medium saucepan bring milk to a simmer, do not boil.
- In a separate bowl whisk together egg yolks and sugar until combined.
- Whisk a small amount of the hot milk into egg mixture and mix until combined. Stir in the remaining milk and mix well. Return to the saucepan and return heat to medium high.
- Continue stirring custard until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes or until the mixture sticks to the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and enjoy with your homemade apple cake!
Notes
- Make sure that the butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps in achieving a smooth and even batter, which will give you a moist and tender cake.
- When slicing the apples for the cake, aim for thin slices. A mandolin can be very helpful slicing thin, uniform apple slices in a short amount of time.
- Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until just combined. Overmixing can result in a denser cake. It’s ok if there are a few lumps, they will disappear during baking.
- For the streusel topping, use cold butter and work it into the dry ingredients until you achieve a crumbly (pea size) texture.
- Temper the eggs for the custard sauce by gradually whisking in a small amount of the warm milk mixture. This prevents the eggs from curdling and ensures a smooth, creamy custard.
- Cook the custard over low heat and stir continuously. Patience is key to achieving a velvety texture. If it overheats or cooks too quickly, you may end up with a grainy consistency.
Nutrition
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Yes, you could definitely make the cake & custard sauce ahead of time and it would still be good! Store the custard sauce in an air tight container in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave or stove top when ready to enjoy.
This sounds delicious! do you think you could make this a day ahead-would the custard sauce still be good?