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Easy and Tasty German Apple Cake: A Must-Try for Any Home Baker

Get ready to make a delicious German Apple Cake. It’s a yummy mix of tart Bramley apples and sweet streusel topping. Perfect for a tasty afternoon tea.

slice German apple cake

How To Make German Apple Cake

I made this simple German apple cake using the ingredients below. To print out the recipe head to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

What You Need

For the streusel topping:

  • 115g plain flour
  • 85g light Muscovado sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 85g unsalted butter, cubed

For the cake:

  • 175g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
  • 175g light muscovado sugar
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 2 Bramley apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges

You also need a 20cm (8in) loose-bottomed cake tin.

Making It

First, we’ll make the streusel topping. Put the flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl and mix them together.

mix ingredients for streusel

Next, add the diced butter.

add butter to streusel

Using your fingertips rub the butter in until you get a crumbly dough.

streusel mixture

Then, wrap the dough in some cling film and put it in the fridge for around 30 minutes.

streusel dough in cling film

While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 190C and grease and line your baking tin.

Now, it’s cake time. Start by beating the butter and sugar in a bowl until it turns pale and creamy.

adding butter to sugar

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Then, mix in the lemon zest.

adding lemon zest to German apple cake

Gradually add the eggs, mixing well each time to prevent curdling. Then sift the flour into the mix and fold it in gently using a metal spoon. Finally, add the milk and mix gently.

add flour to batter

Next, spread half the cake mix into your tin and smooth it out.

add batter to baking tin

Next, lay half the apple slices on top.

arrange apples over batter

Then, spread the rest of the batter mix over the apples and smooth it again.

batter over apples

Arrange the remaining apple slices on top.

It’s now time to add the streusel on the top. Get your streusel dough out of the fridge and remove the cling film. Use a cheese grater and coarsely grate it. Sprinkle the grated streusel evenly over the top of the cake.

add grated streusel

Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 45 minutes. Use a skewer to check if it’s done – if it comes out clean, your cake’s ready. If not, bake it a bit longer.

crunchy streusel on German Apple Cake

Let the cake sit for 10 minutes before you remove it from the tin. Cut into slices and enjoy as it is or with some ice cream or custard.

German Apple Cake Sliced

Tips For Making German Apple Cake

What type of apples should I use for German apple cake?

Bramley apples are best because of their tartness. It contrasts well with the sweet streusel topping.

My cake is browning too fast. What can I do?

If the top is browning too quickly, cover it with aluminium foil for the rest of the bake.

Why do I need to chill the streusel topping?

Chilling the topping helps it maintain a crumbly texture when baked.

Can I use a different type of sugar?

Muscovado sugar gives a rich flavour to the cake, but you can use brown sugar as an alternative.

What’s the best way to store German apple cake?

The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

German Apple Cake Homemade

More Cakes You Might Like:

German Apple Cake Homemade

German Apple Cake

Yield: 8 Slices
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

Streusel Topping

  • 115g plain flour
  • 85g light muscovado sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 85g unsalted butter

Cake Batter

  • 175g unsalted butter, softened (plus a bit more for the baking tin)
  • 175g light muscovado sugar
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 lightly beaten eggs
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 2 Bramley apples

Instructions

    1. To make the streusel topping put the flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl and mix them.
    2. Add the butter and rub it with your fingertips until you get a crumbly dough.
    3. Wrap the dough in cling film and stick it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
    4. While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 190C. Grease and line your baking tin.
    5. Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until it turns pale and creamy.
    6. Mix in the lemon zest.
    7. Gradually add the eggs, mixing well each time to prevent curdling.
    8. Sift flour into the mix and fold it in gently using a metal spoon.
    9. Add the milk and mix gently.
    10. Spread half the cake mix into your tin and smooth it out.
    11. Lay half the apple slices on top.
    12. Spread the rest of the mix over the apples and smooth it again.
    13. Arrange the remaining apple slices on top.
    14. Get the streusel dough out of the fridge and grate it.
    15. Sprinkle the grated streusel evenly over the top of the cake.
    16. Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 45 minutes. Use a skewer to check if it's done – if it comes out clean, your cake's ready. If not, bake it a bit longer.
    17. Let the cake sit for 10 minutes before you remove it from the tin.
    18. Cut into slices and enjoy as it is or with some ice cream or custard.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 547Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 295mgCarbohydrates: 68gFiber: 3gSugar: 38gProtein: 7g

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