Description
This Irish apple cake with custard sauce is a comforting and delicious dessert, a family tradition made with simple ingredients. The moist cake, packed with tender apples, is subtly spiced and perfectly complemented by a rich, velvety custard sauce. It's an irresistible treat that feels special without demanding hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
0.75 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp baking soda
0.5 tsp ground cinnamo
0.25 tsp salt
0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
0.5 cup buttermilk
3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
2 cups whole milk
0.5 cup granulated sugar
0.25 cup cornstarch
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pa
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt
- In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter and egg until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the buttermilk
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Don't overmix
- Gently fold in the diced apples. Pour the batter into your prepared cake pa
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
- While the cake bakes, whisk together milk, sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in a saucepa
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to a pourable custard consistency. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming
- Once the cake is cool, slice it generously and spoon warm (or cool) custard sauce over each piece. Enjoy!
Notes
Do not overmix the cake batter; a few lumps are fine, as this keeps the cake tender.
Use good quality apples for the best flavor; Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith are recommended.
For the custard, stir constantly over medium heat to prevent lumps and scorching. If it gets too thick, whisk in a tablespoon of milk to thin it out.
Always cool the cake completely before adding the custard to prevent sogginess.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cake and custard can be stored separately or together.
To reheat, warm individual slices in the microwave (20-30 seconds) or oven (300°F/150°C for ~10 minutes). Reheat custard in a saucepan over low heat or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring frequently.
This dessert pairs wonderfully with vanilla bean ice cream, coffee, or Earl Grey tea. A dusting of powdered sugar adds elegance.
For substitutions: If no buttermilk, add 0.5 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar to regular milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. Try pears or mixed berries instead of apples. Add a touch of nutmeg or allspice. Drizzle with caramel or chocolate sauce for extra indulgence. For a dairy-free custard, use plant-based milk and a flax egg substitute.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Irish apple cake, custard sauce, dessert, comfort food, apple cake