Description
This Invisible Apple Cake is a delicate French-inspired dessert made with thin layers of tender apples held together by a lightly spiced custard-like batter. Once baked, the apples seem to disappear into one another, creating a stunning, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s simple yet elegant — perfect for brunches, tea time, or holiday tables.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 4–5 large apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, or Pink Lady)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk (any milk works)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: ½ teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg
- Optional topping: powdered sugar
Instructions
1. Preheat and Prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line an 8-inch round or square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until pale and frothy.
- Add melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract; whisk to combine.
- Sift in flour, cinnamon, and salt, then stir until smooth.
3. Add the Apples
- Thinly slice apples using a mandoline or knife.
- Fold apple slices into the batter until every piece is well coated.
4. Bake
- Pour mixture into prepared pan, spreading apples evenly.
- Press lightly to flatten the top.
- Bake for 45–50 minutes, until golden and set in the center.
5. Cool and Serve
- Let cake cool for 15 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar.
- Slice and serve warm or chilled.
Notes
- Choose firm, crisp apples such as Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best texture.
- Slice the apples very thin and uniformly to achieve the signature “invisible” layers.
- Avoid overmixing the batter — keeping it light ensures a delicate finish.
- Serve with Greek yogurt, crème fraîche, or a dollop of whipped cream.
- Prep Time: PT20M
- Cook Time: PT40M
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg