Easy French apple cake
This delicious and easy to make French apple cake recipe is made with only four simple ingredients: apples, sugar, flour and eggs. No baking powder is needed.
I’ve mentioned before that I prefer desserts that are easy and simple to make. Whenever I have friends over for dinner, I usually get caught up in making several different courses and tend to run out of time for dessert. I’ve learned to delegate dessert to Nicolas, who likes to keep it simple. He loves making this apple cake and considers it an example of a delicious dessert can be simple to make.
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Last summer we were lucky enough to spend some time in the south of France. We stayed with Nico’s aunt Lilou, who happens to be an amazing cook and spoiled us with some of the best meals ever. One of her desserts was this apple cake, it was so good, I had to ask her to share the recipe. Nico was in charge of taking notes for Lilou’s recipes and he also prepares this cake most of the time when we make it at home.
This delicious apple cake is one of the easiest cakes you will ever make. I was actually somewhat scared the first time I saw Nico make it. I was sure he had missed some ingredients, how can you make a cake without baking powder or butter or milk? But, it worked and the cake turned out just like Lilou’s.
This apple cake can be served warm or cold; it can be served as is or accompanied by ice-cream. You can also serve it for dessert or have a slice with cup of afternoon coffee. This cake can also be made with a variety of other fruits: strawberries, blueberries, pears, pineapple, peach, etc – the only adjustment is that based on the amount of moisture in the fruit, you might need to bake it for slightly longer (or less).
Easy French apple cake
Ingredients
- 6 ounces of sugar (regular) 6 oz of sugar = 170 grams of sugar = ~3/4 cup
- 6 ounces of flour (all purpose) 6 oz of flour = 170 grams of flour = ~1 1/3 cups
- 3 large eggs
- 3 large apples peeled and cut in small chunks
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F degrees.
- Mix the eggs with the sugar using an electric mixer for about 2 minutes.
- Use a flat wooden spoon to slowly stir in the flour until the batter is smooth.
- Mix in the apple chunks, pour the cake batter into a buttered and floured cake mold – we used a round 9 inch cake pan.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 400F, then lower to 360F (or 350F is your oven doesn’t have a 360F option) degrees and bake for the approximately 30 minutes or until it turns golden. To test if the cake is done insert a toothpick into the middle, if it comes out clean, then the cake is done.
Video Recipe for French Apple Cake
Step by step preparation photos for this simple french apple cake
Just made the cake this morning and it is absolutely delicious! Even better that it needs only 4 ingredients! Is it easy to substitute another fruit? I look forward to trying out your other recipes!
This recipe perfectly conveys how beautiful and delicious simplicity can be.
Creo que es la primera vez que escribo pero desde hace mucho sigo tu blog porque me encanta :D Esta receta es ideal sin mantequilla (me viene de perlas) pero yo te quiero preguntar cuantos gramos son una barrita de mantequilla? quiero hacer tus empanadas!!! Saludos desde suiza!
Hola Carmen – Una barrita de mantequilla es igual a 113 gramos (o 4 oz o 1/2 taza).
Hi Laylita, just wanted to let you know I tried this recipe yesterday and I can’t believe how yummy the cake turned out with so few ingredients! Thanks for sharing it, it’s definitely something I’ll be making again!
This was by for the easiest homemade desert I have ever made and it was DELICIOUS!! I sprinkled mine with some powdered sugar for a little added sweetness. I am going to make it again this weekend along with Chaufalan de pollo for friends and family. Thanks so much for this fabulous website!
Do you need to make any adjustments for altitude? I’m assuming not, since there is no leavening. I’m at about 4,500 feet, but I’m guessing you have tried this in the Sierra and it turned out fine?
Hi Kevin – You should be fine, though if you have any issues try increasing the oven temp by 25 F degrees.
Tried this recipe immediately after reading it. The cake turned out delicious and I enjoyed it with a cup of afternoon coffee. Thank you for sharing this recipe and several others that I have tried. So far, your recipes have been right on! It’s great to know there is a reliable website for delicious recipes–from all over the world.
i am sooo making this today. it looks delicious! (besides simple) and i have all the ingredients, 1 didn’t have to the store at all!
thx for sharing!!!
¡Me gusta! Y no sabes cuanto. Adoro las tartas de manzana abizcochadas asà que me anoto la receta.
Besos.
Laylita, no tenÃa idea que tu marido tambien es frenchie como el mÃo. One more thing in common!!. Which part of South of France is his family from?. My hubs is from a small town near Aix-en-Provence and seeing your photos makes me feel home. Well, french home :)
Love that cake. I made one like that a few months ago and I was also surprised by its short ingredients list.
Hola Heidi – His parents live in Aix and his aunt lives in the Vaucluse region. Completely agree on the home part, there’s something about the south of France that makes me feel like I’m home. I love traveling, but Seattle, Ecuador and Provence are the places that really have that home feeling for me.