Best French Vanilla Apple Cake Recipes

FRENCH APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch springform or regular cake pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. If using a regular cake pan, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease again.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Using a handheld mixer with beaters or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and rum. Don't worry if the batter looks grainy at this point; that's okay. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chopped apples.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and even the top. Sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on a rack in the pan. Once cool, run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake. If using a springform pan, remove the sides. If using a regular cake pan, carefully invert the cake onto the rack, remove the parchment paper, then gently flip the cake over and place right-side-up on a platter. Using a fine sieve, dust with confectioners' sugar (if using). Cake can be served warm or room temperature, plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Freezer Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

FRENCH APPLE CAKE (OR THE 3/4 RECIPE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9-inch springform pan.
• Combine sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in rum. Mix in 1/2 of the butter.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the egg mixture; mix well. Mix in remaining butter and flour. Fold in apples.
• Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top gently.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.

FRENCH VANILLA APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350; Butter& flour 2 8" round cake pans.
• Remove 3/4 cup apple slices from pie filling; reserve.
• At low speed beat cake mix, eggs, oil and remaining pie filling 30 seconds; increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes.
• Divide batter between pans; bake 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean; cool 15 minutes.
• Remove from pans; cool completely on racks.
• Meanwhile spread nuts on ungreased baking sheet; bake until lightly browned, about 6 minutes; cool.
• Stire cinnamon into frosting.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with 3/4 cup frosting; arrange reserved apple slices from filling over frosting leaving 1" border around edge; top with remaining cake layer.
• Spread top and side of cake with remaining frosting; press nuts all around bottom of cake where you left the 1" border.
• If desired toss apples with lemon juice than pat dry; arrange on cake with walnut half.