Best German Apple Cake – Authentic Recipe

This best German apple cake is called “versunkener Apfelkuchen” in German. Versunken means sunken and because the apples will sink into the dough during baking process, hence the name.
It is a very easy cake recipe that you will love, and you will bake it over and over. It tastes great with a cup of coffee and is an ideal “Kaffee and Kuchen” cake for Sundays or any other days. Check out the German Tschibo coffee here. If you don’t have apples you can use canned or fresh pears, plums, peaches, apricots or sour cherries. You also can add some chopped almonds and cinnamon for some additional flavor. Happy Baking!

Ingredients Best German Apple Cake

IN CUPS

3 – 5 apples, depends on the size
1/2 cup butter (unsalted), room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs (small-medium)
1-2 tsp lemon juice or zest
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 dash salt
2 tbsp lemon juice or zest
1 package vanilla sugar or 1-2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
powdered sugar for dusting
2 tbsp bread crumbs or flour for the form

Ingredients in GRAMS and with Walnuts

600 g apples – equals 3-5 depending on size
150 g butter (unsalted), very soft (place in micro wave for 25-30 sec )
3 eggs
120 g sugar, raw cane sugar, unbleached
180 g flour, all purpose, unbleached
1 dash salt
2 tbsp bread crumbs, taste neutral – or flour
1 tbsp powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
1 package vanilla sugar Dr Oetker – 0.3oz
1/2 package baking powder Dr Oetker – 1.5 tsp
1-2 tbsp lemon juice or zest
150 ml milk
1 hand full chopped walnuts (or almonds) mixed with cinnamon

Baking Instructions Best German Apple Cake

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Grease bottom and sides of a 10-inch spring form pan and sprinkle with bread crumbs, or layer it with parchment paper,
Peel the apples, then cut them in half, remove cores. Cut the apple quarters in the middle. The apple halves should not be sliced. So don’t cut them completely through – see photo at the bottom.
Do this just before you place them on the cake or the apples will get brown but if you sprinkle them with lemon juice they won’t. You also can use apple halves or sliced apples only.
Separate the eggs, beat egg white until firm.
Beat the soft butter, sugar, egg yolks and lemon juice until you get a creamy dough.
Sieve the flour, mix it first with the baking powder, and salt. Stir into dough alternately with the milk. Then fold in with a spatula the firm egg white.
Pour batter into the well greased spring form (diameter 10 inches) that is sprinkled with bread crumbs.
Arrange the apple halves by pressing them gently into the dough.
If you use walnuts: In a bowl combine chopped walnuts with cinnamon, mix well.
Spread the walnuts evenly on top of the apples.
Bake the cake for 50 to 55 min on 350 F – Do the test: Take a tooth pick and insert it in the center; when it comes out clean the cake is done.
Let cake cool off before removing from the spring form.
Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.