Apple-Pie Cake

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You don't have to choose between having a slice of apple pie or cake with this tasty hybrid dessert.

Prep Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Servings:
8

This hybrid dessert is an irresistible cross between apple pie and a fruit crisp. It's easy to make—all you need are six ingredients, and you probably already have most of them on hand: butter, light-brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Most importantly, you'll need 5 pounds of tart apples such as Granny Smiths. The apples are sliced and layered with a crumb mixture similar to that used for a fruit crisp.

A springform pan works best for this recipe. All you have to do is release the sides to remove the cake from the pan. Alternatively, use a 9-inch round baking pan, with sides at least 3 inches high.

apple pie cake on a plate

Sonia Bozzo

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup packed light-brown sugar

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • ½ pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces

  • 5 pounds (about 12) tart apples, such as Granny Smith

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

apple pie cake ingredients

Sonia Bozzo

  1. Make crisp mixture:

    In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Using an electric mixer or a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the mixture forms pea-size pieces.

    crumb mixture in bowl for apple pie cake

    Sonia Bozzo

  2. Press crisp mixture into pan:

    Press 2/3 of the mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan.

    crumb mixture in baking pan for apple pie cake

    Sonia Bozzo

  3. Preheat the oven; peel and slice apples:

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel apples, cut into thin slices, and place in a bowl. Pour off any accumulated liquid. Toss apple slices with remaining teaspoon cinnamon and lemon juice.

    apple filling for apple pie cake in a bowl

    Sonia Bozzo

  4. Assemble:

    Transfer apples to the prepared pan, pressing down gently as you pack them in (they will mound above the edge of the pan). Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top.

    apple pie cake assembled and ready to bake

    Sonia Bozzo

  5. Bake:

    Put the pan on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

    apple pie cake ready to be baked

    Sonia Bozzo

  6. Cool in pan:

    Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and let the cake cool in the pan to set. Serve at room temperature, dusted with confectioner's sugar if desired.

    baked apple pie cake

    Sonia Bozzo

To dust the cake with confectioners' sugar: put confectioners' sugar in a standard sieve, hold it over the cake, and tap the edge lightly.

apple pie cake on a plate

Sonia Bozzo

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