Apfelkuchen - Authentic Southern Bavarian Apple Cake (2024)

Apfelkuchen – Authentic Traditional German Apple Cake Recipe

I am proud of this Apfelkuchen recipe. It brings me back to my time of spending the summer months as a girl in Bamberg, Germany, at my Oma and Opa’s apartment. I would have this cake all the time for breakfast and with a coffee in the late afternoon.

Meine Grosseltern held a traditional German household. We had brotchen with butter and jams, sliced deli meats and cheese, and boiled eggs for breakfast. The large meal was for lunch and a lighter meal for dinner. In between lunch and dinner, there was coffee and cake served. It seemed we always had apfelkuchenon the table, and I finally found the recipe that I remember so well.

Made with fresh apples baked into a dense butter dough and topped with sugar, it is the perfect dessert. It brought me right back to that small medieval Bavarian town in Germany. I love it and am so glad to make it for my family now.

Tips from other bakers.

I have added a running list of some of the collected comments that may make it helpful.

• Spread warm jam or marmalade on top instead of sugar.
• Sprinkle vanilla sugar on top.
• Substitute apple slices for drained canned peaches.
• Substitute apple slices for any sliceable fruit.
• Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon are unnecessary to add.
• Check your bake at the 40-minute mark to ensure not over baking.
• One stick of butter equals 1/2 cup or 4 oz.

Cost to make recipe.

I have calculated this recipe to cost roughly $2.59 for the entire cake, or $0.32 per serving size. I typically make this recipe in season, when my apples are ripe on the trees and free. So my homesteader cost is closer to $2.09 or $0.26 per serving size.

Comments from pins

• fits “8” or “9” springform pan
• all other recipes call for cinnamon, other spices, extracts & fruits as well as layers of batter. this cake is wonderful in it’s simplicity.
• The cake was perfect! I topped it with a bit of salted Carmel sauce and a dollop of whip cream.
• I have made several of these cakes. They are are so easy to make. My family and I just love them. We enjoyed this cake when we served two tours in Germany. It is wunderbar.
• Tasty, I used brown sugar on top instead
• Added 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and one vanilla bean scraped

Similar recipes to try

Recipe adapted

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Apfelkuchen

INGREDIENTS1/2x1x2x

• ▢1stick (4oz or 0.5 cup)butter,softened…[$1.00]
• ▢1cup + 3 tbsp.white granulated sugar,…[$0.30]
• ▢2largeeggs,…[$0.46]
• ▢1cupall purpose flour,…[$0.23]
• ▢1tsp.baking powder,…[$0.04]
• ▢1-2largeapple,…[$0.50]
• ▢3tbsp.powdered sugar,optional…[$0.06]

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 8 or 9-inch springform pan.
• Cream butter and 1 cup granulated white sugar together until a smooth texture is reached.
• While blending, add in eggs one at a time. Add flour and baking powder. Mix until smooth and uniform.
• Spread cake batter in greased pan. The batter will be sticky so be careful.
• Peel and slice apples and place on top of cake batter. Overlapping apples and pressing down into the cake just slightly. The cake batter will rise around the apples.
• Sprinkle the extra 3 tbsp. granulated sugar on top of the batter, but don’t mix in. This step is optional.
• Bake cake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Remove baked cake promptly from pan and let completely cool before cutting into it. Dust with powdered sugar on top and enjoy.

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