The German Apple Cake Recipe This simple apple cake is transformed into something special with a delicious, crumbly streusel topping.

Ingredients:

For the streusel topping

1 cup all-purpose flour

1⁄2 cup light brown sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

6 tbsp unsalted butter, diced

For the cake:

12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened,

plus extra for greasing

1 cup light brown sugar

finely grated zest of 1 lemon

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

11.4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra

for dusting:

1 tsp baking powder

1.2 tsp salt

3 tbsp milk

2 tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut

into even, slim wedges

Method:

1 To make the topping, put the flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.

2 Rub in the butter gently with your fingertips to form a crumbly ball of dough.

3 Wrap the streusel dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

4 Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease the cake pan and line with parchment paper.

5 Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and creamy.

6 Add the lemon zest and beat slowly until well dispersed through the batter.

7 Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition to prevent curdling.

8 Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into the bowl, then mix in to the batter.

9 Finally, add the milk to the batter and gently mix it in.

10 Spread half the mixture in the prepared pan and smooth the surface.

11 Arrange half the apple wedges over the batter, reserving the best pieces for the top.

12 Spread the rest of the batter over the apples and smooth once more with a knife.

13 Arrange the remaining apple wedges on top of the cake in an attractive pattern.

14 Remove the streusel dough from the refrigerator and coarsely grate it.

15 Sprinkle the grated streusel evenly over the top of the cake.

16 Bake in the center of the oven for 50–60 minutes. Insert a skewer into the center.

17 If the skewer emerges coated in batter, cook for a few minutes more and test again.

18 Leave the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully remove from the pan, always keeping the streusel on top, and cool on a wire rack. Serve warm.

German Apple Cake Recipe