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+ servings
Polish Apple Cake Recipe

Apple Szarlotka: A Polish Apple Cake Recipe

This Polish apple cake recipe consists of lightly stewed apples baked between two layers of crunchy short crust recipe.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Polish
Servings 9 people

Equipment

  • 8 x 8 inch square pan

Ingredients
 
 

For the apple filling:

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 large cooking apples granny smith is a good kind
  • 2 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

For the dough:

  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 7 tbsp cold butter unsalted, cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg yolk and 1 egg
  • 1/2 tbsp yogurt or sour cream
  • 1/2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • To serve:
  • powdered sugar for dusting
  • vanilla ice cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease and line an 8 x 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
  • To make the dough, combine flour and baking powder in a food processor or a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the butter and pulse in the food processor, or mix with a pastry cutter until the mixture is sandy. Add the sugar, egg yolk and egg, yogurt, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Mix together. Tip onto a flour surface and knead gently until a ball forms.
  • Split dough in half and wrap one half in plastic wrap and freeze for 1 hour. Put the remaining dough half in the baking pan and use the palm of your hand and your fingertips to evenly distribute into a uniform dough layer across the bottom of the baking pan and halfway up the sides of the pan. Prick the dough with a fork and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until it is golden and lightly springy to touch. Set aside to cool.
  • For the filling, peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Pour the lemon juice over the apple slices in a medium bowl. Place the sliced apples in a large pan and add sugar, 100 ml water, and cinnamon. Cook for 5 mins over medium heat then remove from heat and leave to cool in the liquid.
  • Spoon the apple mixture over the base, including about half of the cooking liquid. Set aside. You should have a thick layer of apples.
  • Remove the dough from the freezer and coarsely grate the dough over the top of the apple layer.
  • Bake 45-50 minutes until the topping is golden and cooked through.
  • Leave to cool fully, then dust with icing sugar and cut into squares.
  • Serve slightly warmed topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Keyword apple
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