This Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka) is a simple, comforting dessert with tender apples nestled in a lightly spiced, buttery cake. It’s a classic Scandinavian treat, often served with vanilla sauce or whipped cream.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
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1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
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1 ½ tsp baking powder
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½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
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¼ tsp salt
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½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
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¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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¼ cup (60ml) milk
For the Apple Layer:
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2-3 medium apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and thinly sliced
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1 tbsp lemon juice (to prevent browning)
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1 tbsp sugar + ½ tsp cinnamon (for sprinkling)
Optional Toppings:
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Vanilla sauce (vaniljsås), whipped cream, or ice cream
Instructions:
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Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan.
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Apples: Toss sliced apples with lemon juice and set aside.
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Dry ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
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Cream butter & sugar: Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
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Combine: Alternately mix in dry ingredients and milk until just combined.
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Layer: Spread half the batter into the pan. Arrange apple slices evenly over the batter, then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Spoon remaining batter over apples (it’s okay if some peek through).
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Bake: 35–45 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
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Serve: Cool slightly, then enjoy warm with vanilla sauce or whipped cream.
Tips:
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Extra texture: Add ¼ cup chopped almonds to the batter.
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Make it Swedish: Serve with vaniljsås (warm custard sauce).
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Storage: Keeps well for 2–3 days covered at room temp.
This cozy cake is perfect with coffee for fika (Swedish coffee break)! ☕🍏