Italian Apple Cake

Name: Italian Apple Cake
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: Cleaned Golden Delicious apples: 700 g / 1.5 lbs; Medium eggs: 2; Whole milk: 110 g / ½ cup; Butter: 50 g / 3.5 tbsp; Granulated sugar: 70 g / ⅓ cup; All-purpose flour: 70 g / ½ cup; Ground cinnamon: ½ tsp; Fine salt: to taste; Brown sugar: to taste

Discover the authentic taste of Italy with this classic Italian Apple Cake (Torta di Mele). This rustic, melt-in-your-mouth dessert is packed with tender apples and cozy cinnamon, making it the perfect comfort food for breakfast or afternoon tea. Easy, genuine, and deeply comforting!

Info:

Difficulty: Easy
Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 people

Ingredients:

Cleaned Golden Delicious apples: 700 g / 1.5 lbs
Medium eggs: 2
Whole milk: 110 g / ½ cup
Butter: 50 g / 3.5 tbsp
Granulated sugar: 70 g / ⅓ cup
All-purpose flour: 70 g / ½ cup
Ground cinnamon: ½ tsp
Fine salt: to taste
Brown sugar: to taste

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Peel the apples, remove the cores, and yield about 700 g (1.5 lbs) of apple flesh. Slice them thinly and set aside.
Melt the butter in the milk over low heat, then let the mixture cool until lukewarm.
Whisk the eggs in a bowl.
Add the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
Fold in the flour and mix until fully incorporated.
Slowly pour in the milk and butter mixture, stirring continuously to create a smooth, lump-free batter.
Add the sliced apples and gently fold them into the batter until well coated.
Pour the mixture into a greased and sugared 24 cm (9.5-inch) cake pan, leveling the surface with a spatula.
Sprinkle the top generously with brown sugar.
Bake in a static oven at 190°C (375°F) for about 45 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden brown.
Let it cool completely before serving.

... and now, let's enjoy!

Tips:

For the best results, it is crucial to slice the apples very thinly so the cake achieves an even, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Ensure the batter is completely smooth and lump-free, and keep an eye on the oven toward the end—you want a golden-brown top without drying out the interior. This cake actually tastes even better after resting for a few hours, as the flavors have time to settle and deepen.

Additional Info:

Apple cake is a deeply rooted European and Italian home tradition, born as a softer, moisture-rich variation of classic fruit cakes. It is a simple, rustic preparation designed to make the most of humble yet wholesome pantry staples like apples, eggs, and milk.

Substitutions & Variations

Many versions of this recipe exist: some bakers add yogurt or heavy cream to make the texture even creamier, while others enrich the batter with raisins, walnuts, or almonds. You can easily substitute the cinnamon with fresh lemon or orange zest, and some regional variations use a mix of different flours to tweak the cake’s density.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this Italian apple cake at room temperature, ideally with a light dusting of powdered sugar on top. It is fantastic for breakfast or an afternoon snack alongside tea, coffee, or a glass of milk. If you want to elevate it into an indulgent dessert, serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla gelato or a dollop of light custard cream.