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Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce

5 from 6 votes

Irish Apple Crumble Cake ~ fresh apples, cinnamon, & a sweet crumble top, this rustic & moist cake is perfect drizzled with Apple Brandy Sauce!

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Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is homey and delightful especially when drizzled with the Apple Brandy Sauce! www.savingdessert.com

 

Irish Apple Crumble Cake ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top.  This rustic and moist Irish apple cake is delightful drizzled with our creamy Apple Brandy Sauce!

First, you’ve probably figured out that I’m a bit obsessed with simple cakes, and especially those with a crumble top like our delicious Lemon Crumble Breakfast Cake.  I think I like crumble tops better than icing; but that’s today, so we’ll have to see what tomorrow brings.

 

Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is homey and delightful especially when drizzled with the Apple Brandy Sauce! www.savingdessert.com

Is Irish Apple Crumble Cake easy to make?

When researching Irish Apple Cake recipes, I found that most are extremely simple to make, and all are chocked full of fresh, tart apples.  The crumble topping is not always included in the old recipes, but is more prevalent in recent years. We couldn’t resist the crumble topping and then took it over the top with the apple brandy sauce. Our cake is nice and thick and easy to make in a springform pan.

 

Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is homey and delightful especially when drizzled with the Apple Brandy Sauce! www.savingdessert.com

I’m a big fan of real, authentic Irish recipes and often think about the delicious food we enjoyed on our trips to the Emerald Isle.

If you’ve thought about going to Ireland on holiday, I can’t say enough nice things about it,  just do it!  The country is absolutely breathtaking, the food is phenomenal and the people are gracious, helpful and perfectly wonderful to visit.  The Irish don’t seem to be in such a big hurry all the time like we are.  It probably helps that there are few things to do outside their little towns and villages, especially at night.  But rest assured, there’s plenty of pubs with cold beer and Irish music to keep you entertained on your visit.

Check out our posts about ‘Traveling in Ireland‘ for tips and plenty of photos!

 

 

Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is homey and delightful especially when drizzled with the Apple Brandy Sauce! www.savingdessert.com

One thing that sets Irish Apple Cake recipes apart, is the creamy vanilla sauce spiced with apple brandy that’s passed around the table with the cake.

While the cake is super moist and doesn’t really need the additional drizzle, I encourage you to go ahead and give it a go.  I took a simple, creamy vanilla sauce and elevated it with vanilla beans and a good splash of apple brandy.  Doesn’t that sound delicious?  It’s the perfect topping and actually enhances the flavor of the cake!

 

Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is homey and delightful especially when drizzled with the Apple Brandy Sauce! www.savingdessert.com

What kind of apples are good for baking this Irish Apple Crumble Cake?

There are plenty of apple varieties that are great for baking and cooking. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Jonagold apples fall in the sweet apple category. They were developed as a cross between the Jonathan apple and the Golden Delicious. The Jonagold apple has a honey-like sweetness with moderate acidity and is great for snacking, salads and baked goods.
  • Granny Smith apples are one of my favorite tart apples and are perfect combined with sweet apples when baking. Developed in Australia in the mid-1800’s, the Granny Smith apple is crisp with plenty of acidity and flavor. This apple does not break down like some softer apples, making this great for pies when you need texture not apple sauce. Granny Smith’s are great in anything where sugar is added to off-set the tart flavor.
  • Gala apples are a sweet variety of apples, are very aromatic and great for cooking. They would be perfect in this apple sheet cake!
  • Empire apples have a pleasant cider-like flavor making them great for snacking. They’re also terrific in salads, sauces, cakes, cookies and pies. They make lovely apple butter!

 

Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce ~ made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is homey and delightful especially when drizzled with the Apple Brandy Sauce! www.savingdessert.com

Everybody loves this cake!

I may have seen family members (who will remain nameless) actually lick their plate clean after devouring this cake and sauce.  I think they liked it! This cake never made it outside the family.  They wouldn’t let it go and I bet you won’t either.  Apple desserts are great any time of the year.  Try it and you’ll see!

 

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An Irish Apple Crumble Cake dusted with powdered sugar

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Irish Apple Crumble Cake with Apple Brandy Sauce

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Yield: 8
Course: Dessert, Dessert Sauce
Author: Tricia
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5 from 6 votes
Made with fresh apples, plenty of cinnamon, and a sweet crumble top, this rustic and moist cake is delightful drizzled with a creamy Apple Brandy Sauce!

Ingredients

For the Crumble Topping:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Apple Cake:

  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus 3 tablespoons divided
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • dash of nutmeg and ground cloves optional
  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 3 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • powdered sugar for dusting if desired

For the Brandy Sauce:

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 3 tablespoons apple brandy

Instructions

For the Crumble Topping:

  • Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl. Add the flour, sugar, and ¼teaspoon cinnamon. Mix with a fork to combine. Set aside.

For the Apple Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Invert the bottom of an 8" springform pan (to make it easier to slide the cake off the bottom) then lock on the sides of the pan. Lightly grease and flour the bottom and sides of the pan. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper and set aside.
  • Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Peel, core and thinly slice the apples and place them in a large mixing bowl. Toss the apples with 3 tablespoons of flour and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar. Beat for several minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Beat in the eggs, one at a time, just until the yolk disappears. And the vanilla bean paste and mix just until blended.
  • Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat on low until incorporated. Add about ½ of the milk and blend until smooth. Repeat adding ½ of the remaining flour, then all the remaining milk. Finally, blend in the last of the flour mixture and mix just until incorporated. Scrape up the batter from the bottom of the bowl give it one last spin. Fold in the apples.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the crumble topping (leaving some in large clumps). Place a large sheet of foil on the lower oven rack to catch any drips that may come from the cake. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Cover the cake with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking if needed to prevent over browning. Check the cake by inserting a toothpick in the center. It should come out with only crumbs attached, no wet batter.
  • Cool the cake on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes if serving warm, or cool completely before removing the sides. Carefully slide the cake onto a serving platter and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
  • Top with a Apple Brandy Sauce if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

For the Brandy Sauce:

  • In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium-low just until warm.
  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and salt until slightly thickened and lighter in color. Slowly pour half the warm milk into the yolk mixture while whisking continuously.
  • Pour the now warm yolk mixture back into the saucepan, whisking to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spoon.
  • Place a medium mixing bowl over an ice bath, and strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve set over the bowl. Add the vanilla bean paste and stir to combine. Continuing stirring until the mixture cools. Add the apple brandy (or other liquor) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Recipe Notes

Apple Brandy Sauce Recipe adapted from April 2010 Epicurious.com
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 212mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 823IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 3mg

 

Don’t forget the make the sauce too!

Here are a few more crumble desserts you might enjoy:

Do you plan to make a Irish dish or two for St. Patrick’s Day?  Or maybe you are planning on a few green beers 🙂  If you’re looking for more inspiration – check out a few of our favorite SRFD Irish recipes!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend.

Tricia

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54 Comments

  1. Karen

    5 stars
    I made this for book club tonight and it was absolutely delicious. I loved the apple brandy custard on top! I did not have an eating sprinkle pan so I just used a tall 8 inch pan and lined it with extra long parchment paper, so I could pull it out easily. It worked!

    Reply

  2. Liz

    5 stars
    Great recipe! Our family is Irish living in England, so I decided to try this recipe to connect with our roots. It was that good that two cakes lasted only four days in our house! Did the recipe without the crumble topping, still absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing this! Go leor beannachtaí, Liz x

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      So glad you enjoyed this cake Liz! We hope to visit England one day, and love Ireland. I wish we could travel again – maybe someday soon 😉 Thanks for trying the recipe and for taking the time to comment!

      Reply

  4. Cynthia S

    I love anything apple. I made two apple pies for Thanksgiving, and they both were gobbled up. I wanted to ask if you have ever tried brown sugar in the topping, instead of white sugar. The reason I ask is because I won’t be able to make the apple Brandy sauce. Thanks for a yummy recipe! Cynthia S

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Hi Cynthia. This cake will be delicious even without the Brandy Sauce so don’t worry about that. It’s delicious for sure, but not essential to the success of the recipe. I have not tried brown sugar for the topping. I’m not sure how that will turn out but I think it’s worth a try. No way it will ruin this cake. It may not be as crispy as brown sugar is made with molasses and is more moist than granulated sugar. I also love all things apple! With two pies for Thanksgiving your family must have been thrilled. Thank you for the great question and comment! Have a blessed holiday season 🙂

      Reply

  5. Kay

    Hello:) this looks very yum! Just wondering if I could make in advance & freeze for a week or so? Don’t see any reason why not.. Just wondered if anyone had tried?

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Hi Kay – I haven’t tried freezing the prepared cake. With so many apples it may turn out a little mushy and soggy after being frozen. The crisp crumble top is one of the best parts so I don’t recommend freezing. But if you try it, let us know if it turned out okay! It’s a delicious cake for sure 😉 Thanks for the great question.

      Reply

  6. Julie G

    This recipe is delicious! I made it in a 9” cake pan, baked exactly 50 minutes, cooled 30 minutes and it popped out of the pan easily. Moist cake full of apples with a yummy crunch topping. Just perfection. I have to pick up an 8” springform to try it in that along with all the other breakfast cakes. The pumpkin one is next!

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Thank you so much Julie – you picked a great one! The springform pan makes these cakes so easy to bake and release. You’re the best for trying our recipes and especially for the comments. Just saying, you’re going to love the pumpkin one too 😉 XOXO

      Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Hi Jackie! Great question – I would just leave the brandy out and the sauce will be great. It is wonderful as a plain vanilla sauce too. Thanks for reading and I hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

  9. Dom

    oh I do love a crumble cake and yours looks so good… love the really thick crumble topping too, it looks perfect. So summery too, makes me happy!

    Reply

  11. Susan

    My family would devour this, I know! There is nothing as simple and delicious as an apple cake but the sauce really sets it apart from the rest.

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      I know what you mean Gerlinde – there are some super talented bakers and cooks out there. I want to make everything. Hope you’ll try this cake and the sauce! A great dessert for any occasion. Have a terrific weekend.

      Reply

  14. Erren

    Mmm the perfect flavor of apple! And it’s an Irish recipe too, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! I love this, thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  19. Monica

    Simple *and* special, is what it is! Looks beautiful and the crumb topping is calling out to me. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever eating an apple cake. So much to try and savor. It’s snowing out here today so time to bake again…wish I had this lovely cake on my table right now. Enjoy the weekend!

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Snow in spring – it’s just not right! Hope you don’t get too much of a mess but I bet the baking will be fun and delicious. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  21. tanna

    A perfect St. Patty’s dessert! Oh, I remember how beautiful your photos were from your trip to Ireland. That adventure is still on our bucket list. 😉 Have a wonderful weekend, Tricia! blessings and hugs ~ tanna

    Reply

  25. cheri

    I knew you would be posting a few amazing Irish recipes this time of year and I can see why this cake did not make it outside the family. Love the crumb and the sauce Tricia, another masterpiece for sure.

    Reply

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