Name: Bohemian Apple Cake Recipe
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 150 g all-purpose flour (1¼ cups); 80 g butter, soft (⅓ cup); 80 g sugar (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp); 2 eggs; 30 ml milk (2 tbsp); some freshly ground vanilla (from a vanilla mill); 7 g baking powder (1½ tsp); 1 pinch of salt; 2–3 apples; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 pinch cinnamon; 50 g all-purpose flour (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp); 30 g sugar (2½ tbsp); 35 g cold butter (2½ tbsp); 1 pinch cinnamon; some chopped walnuts; powdered sugar for dusting

FAQ

Bohemian Apple Cake Questions

How do you know this cake is really baked through, since the apples sit right on top?

You can't just peek at the apples, so stick a toothpick into the cake part next to them, not through a slice. If it comes out clean and the crumble on top looks nicely golden, you're done. Give it the full 40 to 50 minutes and trust your oven, since every oven runs a little differently.

Can you leave out the walnuts or swap them for something else?

Of course, the walnuts are just a sprinkle on top of the crumble, so you can skip them without changing the cake itself. If you want a little crunch instead, try chopped almonds or hazelnuts in the same amount. Just scatter them on after the crumble, right before the cake goes into the oven.

How do you store this apple cake so it stays nice the next day?

Let the cake cool completely in the pan first, since that keeps the crumble from getting soggy. Once cooled, keep it covered at room temperature and it will stay good for a couple of days. Just dust the powdered sugar fresh each time you serve a slice, since it tends to melt into the apples overnight.

Can you prep the apples or the crumble ahead of time?

You can mix the crumble a little ahead and keep it cold, that actually helps it stay in nice crumbly pieces. The apples are trickier though, since they sit unpeeled and sliced right on the batter, so it's best to cut and season them with sugar and cinnamon just before you arrange them. That way they won't brown or lose their shape before baking.

What's the most common mistake people make with this cake?

Pressing the apple slices too firmly into the batter is a classic one, since the recipe really wants them visible on top while baking. Overmixing the batter after adding the flour is another, it can make the cake dense instead of light. Just stir until smooth and stop there, and go easy on the apples when you arrange them.