Any time I get to use my cast iron pan and apples is a happy day.
This recipe was inspired by the blog 31Daily.
Ingredients:
2 Cups of flour
2 Teaspoonfuls of baking powder
8 Tablespoons of butter
2/3 Cup of granulated sugar
1 Teaspoonful of cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoonful of nutmeg
1 Egg, beaten
1/2 Cup of milk
1 Teaspoonful of vanilla
Two medium apples, thinly sliced (I use whatever I have) this would also be delicious with pears
1 Tablespoonful of sugar
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with parchment paper or butter generously (nonstick cooking spray works great too). Set aside.
- In a medium-size bowl, add the flour and baking powder. Cut 8 tablespoons of butter into the flour using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the flour and butter mixture.
- Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the beaten egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix until a soft, almost scone-like dough forms.
- Spoon and press dough into the bottom of the parchment-lined skillet. Layer thinly sliced apples over the dough. Combine 1 tablespoon of sugar and a dash each of ground cloves and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the apples.
- Place the skillet on the middle rack of your oven. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- To crisp up the apple topping, you can switch the oven to broil. Keep your eye on the cake, especially if you’ve used parchment paper underneath as the paper can easily burn. Broil for a few seconds.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly, cut into wedges, and dust with powdered sugar. Or serve with whipped cream — or ice cream — all of which makes a delightfully delicious topping to this Irish Apple Cake!