Authentic German Apple Spekulatius Cake

The Apple Spekulatius Cake is a wonderful German cake for the fall and advent/holiday season but also for any other occasion. It tastes so good! It is an ideal cake for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The Spekulatius cookies are very popular during the holidays and you can get them at Aldi or special German stores, and of course online! You also can find a recipe on how to make these cookies  which are also called “Windmill Cookies”, referring to a Dutch tradition.  Even after the holidays when you have these cookies left over, you can use them to make this cake. If you cannot find Spekulatius and you need to make them, we recommend just bake them for the cake without using the special Spekulatius forms. The cookies will be grated anyways. Happy Baking!

– GO TO THE SPEKULATIUS RECIPE – 

I saw Spekulatius as ALDI’s and other stores with an international section.  They are easy to get. Even after the holidays when you have these cookies left over, you can use them to make this cake. If you cannot find Spekulatius and you need to make them, we recommend just bake them for the cake without using the special Spekulatius forms. The cookies will be grated anyways. Happy Baking!

Ingredients Apple Spekulatius Cake

150 g Spekulatius Cookies
200 g soft butter
150 g powdered sugar
8 drops vanilla extract
5 medium size eggs
300 g flour
1 package baking powder, Dr Oetker, 0.5oz
1/4 tsp cloves, hint of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger
250 ml apple juice
1,2 kg apples
some lemon juice or dark rum
almond slices
cinnamon and sugar to sprinkle on the cake
some butter for the form

Available until Dec 20 – LoveGermanFood.com

Baking Instructions Apple Spekulatius Cake

– Grease a deep baking tray (height at least 2 inches, size: 11×15 inches) or layer it with parchment paper.
– Crumble the Spekulatius fine by rolling over the cookies with a rolling pin.
– Peel apples, remove seeds, cut in quarters and cut in slices; sprinkle with lemon juice or some rum.
– Place them into the fridge.
– Pre-heat oven to 350F or 375F.

– Beat butter with powdered sugar and vanilla until foamy, add eggs one after the other..
– Mix flour with baking powder, spices and grated Spekulatius and alternating with the apple juice add to the dough.
– Spread the dough evenly on the baking tray and add apple slices on top; press apple pieces lightly into the dough.
– Sprinkle with almond slices.
– Bake on 350 F convection oven for 35-40 min (regular oven 375 F)
– While cake is still warm sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mix, or when cooled off with powdered sugar.