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You are here: Home / Recipes / Baking and Snacks / Äppelkaka (Swedish Apple Cake)

March 25, 2013

Äppelkaka (Swedish Apple Cake)

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Serves: Makes ~8 slices
Cost: ~€1.30
Preparation and cooking time: ~50 minutes
Calories: ~215 per slice

Hi folks, this post is coming to you today from glorious England. The dish featured today was made back in France, but I’m in my homeland right now for a couple of weeks of glorious vacation. Spending time with family, visiting some of my old haunts – fantastic! I only arrived yesterday so I haven’t had a chance to get out and about and take any photos yet but I will soon, and I’ll be sure to share them with you just as soon as I do. I’m also eagerly looking around for inspiration on things I can make, both while I’m here, and when I return to France again. English food gets a bad rap but we have some great stuff here and I’m determined to seek out a few things. I dabbled in a bit of English cookery once before on my blog and in case you missed it you can check out all my recipes tagged as “English” here.

For today’s post I’m going a bit further away from the shores of England though and back into Sweden, to make a Swedish Apple Cake, or “äppelkaka” as it’s called over there. To say it’s a cake is misleading – at least in my opinion. There’s no batter, and the vast majority of the cake is entirely apple. It takes no time at all to throw together and after 30 – 40 minutes in the oven you can have it out and on the table, ready to go. Traditionally, the cake doesn’t have cinnamon, but I don’t know a single apple dish which isn’t dramatically improved with a good sprinkle of the spice. It works best as well with apples that have a bit of bite – something like Granny Smith – which will really help lift the flavour up.

Swedish Apple Cake

For the breadcrumbs, I used left-over bread from my Gardener’s Sandwich. I wouldn’t want to throw all that lovely soft filling away and this was the perfect use for it. Let it dry out a bit and then just pulverise it in a food processor. A couple of minutes later you’ve got beautiful breadcrumbs. I served it with a vanilla, pecan and caramel ice-cream which I bought which was a perfect accompaniment for the cake, so I can totally recommend those flavour combinations.

I hope you’re able to give the cake a try and enjoy the video as well. I’ll be back in a few days with, hopefully, some photos and some stories and maybe even something food-related too. Have a good day everyone!

Äppelkaka (Swedish Apple Cake)

YouTube video
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Ingredients

Swedish Apple Cake ingredients

  • 6 or 7 large Apples
  • 140g Demerara Sugar
  • 120g Breadcrumbs (not panko)
  • 60g Butter
  • 1tbsp Cinnamon
  • 3-4tbsps Water

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius and then start off by washing and coring the apples and then slicing them in half. Grate the apple halves coarsely (including the skin) and then set aside.
    Grated Apple
  2. Grease a deep, loose-bottomed or spring-form pan with a diameter of ~20cm. Next, arrange a third of the breadcrumbs evenly over the bottom of the tin. Add in half of the grated apples and push out to form a layer on top of the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle on half of the sugar and half of the cinnamon before sprinkling on another third of the breadcrumbs. Make another layer using the rest of the apples, then the sugar and cinnamon, and then finally top with the remaining breadcrumbs. Cut the butter up into small cubes and dot over the surface of the breadcrumbs, before sprinkling the water on top.
    Dotting on the butter
  3. Place the tin into the preheated oven for ~35-40 minutes and then remove. Allow to cool for a while before removing the ring of the tin. Because of the style of this cake you will probably need to leave the cake on the base of the tin. Dust with icing sugar and enjoy in generous slices, preferably with some ice-cream!
    Swedish Apple Cake

Swedish Apple Cake

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anneli (Delicieux) says

    March 25, 2013 at 12:57

    Great video! Fabulous cake. Pretty good for you too as cakes go without all the usual butter and eggs. I especially enjoyed the grating of the apple at supersonic speed! Lol!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 00:46

      Thanks Anneli – glad you enjoyed the video and you’re right… it’s pretty much “just” apple… not bad at all 😀

      Reply
  2. Glamorous Glutton says

    March 25, 2013 at 14:04

    I have been looking for a genuine Appelkakor recipe for a while. This looks very close to the ones the family made when I was an au-pair in Stocksund. I’ll definitely be making it. The video’s great. Thank you. GG

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 00:49

      Hi GG – I hope you’ll be able to give it a try. Do let me know how it compares to the ones from your memories… I hope I can measure up 🙂

      Reply
  3. Eva Taylor says

    March 25, 2013 at 15:35

    Hi Charles, we’re having JTs family for an Easter lunch on Sunday and I’ve been killing myself trying to find a recipe for dessert, his family are pie eaters and Apple Pie has been requested. It’s a bit of a challenge since we have one diabetic and one hypo-glycemic in the family. Your recipe is PERFECT! There isn’t much sugar, so I can likely cut it down (or I’ve been thinking of trying Stevia), and there is virtually no flour, just the breadcrumbs and I particularly love that it’s so dense with apples. I am definitely making this one, thanks Charles, your recipe saved the day! I’m going to go the English route and serve it with an aged cheddar, maybe even port cheddar!
    PS, I agree, I couldn’t make anything apple without cinnamon either, such a warming combination.

    Reply
    • E says

      April 1, 2013 at 16:23

      Hi Charles, I did make this delightful cake, thank you for the inspiration. Of course, as luck would have it, the bread crumbs that were purchased (we won’t point fingers, but it wasn’t me ;-)!) had Parmesan cheese in it so I had to improvise. I decided oats would be a good substitution, as well, I added a few ground almonds to the mix. It worked out incredibly well. Everyone loved the texture of the dense apple filling. I served it with slightly sweetened Greek yogurt with vanilla and lemon zest. I will for sure post the recipe. Thanks again.

      Reply
      • Charles says

        April 3, 2013 at 00:54

        Goodness… breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese inside? What an annoying invention… that fairly limits your options of what you can do with the things then doesn’t it, and they can be so versatile normally!

        Your adaptation sounds absolutely gorgeous and I’m so glad it turned out well. Can’t wait to see the post… it seems that you’re a real fan of Swedish cakes! I hope you’ll be able to visit us when we live in Sweden some day and try some “live” :).

        Reply
  4. A_Boleyn says

    March 25, 2013 at 22:09

    Yummy cake … mostly shredded apple and very little ‘filler’. :)I’ve made a couple of apple desserts lately myself but haven’t used anywhere near to the amount you did. I like the fact that you’re being a frugal baker and using odds and ends from other recipes to make this cake which is something that I do myself.

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 00:56

      Hi A_ – yeah, I hate to waste stuff… I often put single egg whites into a glass in the refrigerator when I need just a yolk and forget about them for a bit, but then my wife surprises me with eggs in baskets or whatever they’re called for breakfast! <3

      Reply
  5. Barb Bamber says

    March 26, 2013 at 01:39

    It’s been far too long since I’ve had a visit here and what a pretty cake to find when I arrived. I also love the look of your blog, very colorful yet still very “clean” looking! xx

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:00

      Thank you Barb – you’re right… it’s the same with me for your site… not sure what happened there… I’ve been having some problems with my RSS reader and it seems some of my feeds have vanished entirely! Glad you like the look of the cake 🙂

      Reply
  6. Barb @ Profiteroles & Ponytails says

    March 26, 2013 at 04:07

    I’m impressed that you’re managing to post while on vacation Charles! Hope you enjoy your time in England…I’m sure that William is a big hit with your family and getting bigger by the minute. This appelkaka looks like the best way I can imagine to keep the doctor away (an apple a day and all that). I’ll tuck this recipe away for the next time I want to impress a crowd!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:02

      Hi Barb, if I’d been a bit more organised I’d have had some posts queued up in advance but unfortunately things were a bit hectic before we left (I’ll explain in my next post).

      Hope you have a chance to make the cake – it’s very popular with my wife 🙂

      Reply
  7. kristy says

    March 26, 2013 at 05:02

    Hey Charles! I’m happy to hear you all arrived safely. Enjoy your trip. 🙂 Now this is my kind of cake – no batter! It looks delicious. I would have added cinnamon too, and probably a touch of nutmeg and cloves. I just can’t help myself when it comes to apples. I’ll have to give this one a try sometime. Looking forward to your English recipes. 🙂

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:06

      Hi Kristy – we did arrive safely, freaking nightmare trip though. Had my car serviced the day before leaving… got told the clutch was “almost dead”. Decided to rent a car. Arrived at my parents’ place and found a nail sticking out of the car-tyre. Had to go and pay to have the tyre changed… grrrr!

      I did add cinnamon to this cake in fact… cloves would be a nice addition as well though, thanks for the idea! 🙂

      Reply
  8. GourmetGetaways says

    March 26, 2013 at 06:30

    This looks like such a moist and delicious dessert cake! I cannot imagine how lush it tastes. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:07

      Thanks GG – it didn’t last long, that’s for sure 😀

      Reply
  9. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    March 26, 2013 at 07:34

    I’ve never encountered an apple cake I didn’t love, and that ice cream sounds wonderful!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:08

      I dunno, I tend to prefer chocolate ice-cream, but my wife was going nuts over this flavour.

      Reply
  10. Maureen says

    March 26, 2013 at 14:38

    Wash and core but not peel before grating? I’m going to give this a try. It looks delicious!

    Have a wonderful holiday and don’t forget the pics!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:10

      Hi Maureen – exactly, leave the peel on… a fair amount gets left behind when grating anyway. Some people (Jamie Oliver I think) don’t even bother coring… they say it adds extra flavour 😀

      Reply
  11. Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says

    March 26, 2013 at 22:53

    Have fun on holiday and with your family. And an apple pie is one of my favorite cakes 🙂

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:12

      Thanks Marta – apple is such a versatile ingredient isn’t it?!

      Reply
  12. Kitchen Belleicious says

    March 27, 2013 at 05:44

    This looks divine. Something that is refreshing and yet rich- which is hard to come by in desserts. I love it

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:16

      Thanks KB 🙂 It was very warming and nice, and not too unhealthy!

      Reply
  13. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    March 27, 2013 at 07:27

    Aww you are back in homeland! Your family must be so happy seeing and spending time with William! You get to enjoy some free time? I can pretty much go to see a movie when I’m back in Japan when I get babysitter (mom!). 🙂 Swedish apple cake! It looks and sounds really delicious. I have tons of apples right now and I’m eating as it is… should make into a delicious cake like this! Enjoy your vacation!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:19

      Thank you Nami – it’s so wonderful to be here… but we’re going to be so sad to leave. My parents too will be really down about it. They don’t get to see their grandson as often as they want, so it’s like a good reminder that we must Skype more often! 😀

      Reply
  14. mjskit says

    March 28, 2013 at 22:56

    Sounds like you are having a wonderful time in your homeland with family and friends! I bet William hasn’t touched the ground in days. I’m sure he is getting passed from one person to the next. 🙂 This Apple Cake looks delicious! It’s quite different from apple cakes I’ve seen around here. I love it! Enjoy your visit my friend!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:21

      Hi MJ – oh yes, he’s certainly getting lots of snuggles! Of course, he’s almost mobile now so if you do put him down he’s off somewhere within seconds… desperately “swimming” across the floor, in search of things to destroy 😀

      Reply
  15. Hotly Spiced says

    March 29, 2013 at 08:17

    I hope you’re having a lovely time away. The apple cake looks so moist and wonderful. Have a happy Easter xx

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:22

      Thanks Charlie, I’m having a great time here! Hope your easter was good too 🙂

      Reply
  16. fati's recipes says

    March 29, 2013 at 09:36

    Oh my! Your site’s undergone a change 🙂 Sorry if it’s my fault that it’s been changed for a while now and I haven’t realised – I’ve been so busy with uni lately 🙂
    I love apple desserts. And I have to agree the cinnamon just adds such a lovely punch to the flavour of the overall cake.. But that ice-cream.. tell me more about it!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:24

      Hi Fati – haha, it hasn’t changed for so long… I made a few changes a couple of weeks ago. Decided to update the look a bit :).

      The ice-cream – that was just some that I bought… I forget the brand now… Carte D’Or I think or something. Surprisingly good for a not very expensive brand.

      Reply
  17. Jean | Delightful Repast says

    March 29, 2013 at 17:36

    Charles, we were both thinking apples this week! Though your recipe is considerably heavier on the apples than mine. This looks like something I would definitely like – it’s amazing how just a few simple ingredients can come together and make something so scrummy!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:25

      Hi Jean – it’s a surprisingly “healthy” cake. You needn’t add too much sugar and although it’s not very “cakey” in the true sense of the word, it does make a wonderful dessert 🙂

      Reply
  18. shuhan says

    March 29, 2013 at 20:58

    this looks gorgeous charles! I love apple cake, any version, any country. There is just something about apples in the oven that transforms them from delicious to more delicious. I thought I’ve tried qutie a few out there already, but this one takes the cake (HUR. HUR. HUR.) using breadcrumbs and no flour at all?! Looks a treat, one definitely owrth trying. Happy easter to you and your lovely wife and baby, charles !xxx

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 3, 2013 at 01:27

      Oh yeah – apples in the oven undergo all sorts of magical transformations… there’s something fantastic about warm, slightly soft apple with a little sprinkling of cinnamon!

      Reply
  19. Raymund says

    April 3, 2013 at 09:30

    Never seen something like this, I think I would like this compared to the American ones, more apples less crust. Yum!

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 9, 2013 at 00:24

      Hi Raymund, this certainly isn’t heavy on crust! I don’t mind a good crust sometimes, but when you want something a bit lighter (and/or healthier, haha) this is a good alternative 🙂

      Reply
  20. [email protected] chef in disguise says

    April 9, 2013 at 21:35

    Being someone who admits to being in love with all things apple and cinnamon this “cake” just made its way to my must try soon list!
    Thank you for sharing the recipe Charles

    Reply
    • Charles says

      April 15, 2013 at 00:18

      Thanks Sawsan – I hope you get a chance to give it a try 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Easter Menu | Kitcheninspirations says:
    March 28, 2013 at 11:03

    […] if you had any room for dessert, I’m going to make Charle’s Sweedish Apple Cake (from Five Euro Food), which totally looks like the perfect ending to a rich and heavy meal. […]

    Reply

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