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Irish Apple Crumble Cake 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!

 

Thanks for PINNING!

An Irish Apple Crumble Cake dusted with powdered sugar

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PRINT THE RECIPES!

Print
Irish Apple Crumble Cake
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 

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!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 8
Author: Tricia
Ingredients
For the Crumble Topping:
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Apple Cake:
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (plus 3 tablespoons divided)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • dash of nutmeg and ground cloves (optional)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 3 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • powdered sugar for dusting if desired
Instructions
For the Crumble Topping:
  1. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl.  Add the flour, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.  Mix with a fork to combine.  Set aside.
For the Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  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.

  2. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.  Set aside.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, just until the yolk disappears. And the vanilla bean paste and mix just until blended.

  6. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar.  Beat on low until incorporated.  Add about 1/2 of the milk and blend until smooth.  Repeat adding 1/2 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Top with a Apple Brandy Sauce if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

Don’t forget the make the sauce too!

Print
Apple Brandy Sauce
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

A delicious, creamy vanilla sauce with apple brandy

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 8
Author: Tricia Buice
Ingredients
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 3 tablespoons apple brandy
Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium-low just until warm. 

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

Recipe adapted from April 2010 Epicurious.com

 

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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48 Comments

  1. Cynthia S says

    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 to this comment >

    • Tricia Buice says

      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 to this comment >

  3. Julie G says

    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 to this comment >

    • Tricia Buice says

      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 to this comment >

  16. Monica says

    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 to this comment >

  18. tanna says

    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 to this comment >

  22. cheri says

    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 to this comment >
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