Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake
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This moist and tender Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake recipe is an easy traditional dessert in Ireland. This heritage apple cake recipe is a simple and tasty dessert or snack cake everyone will love. It has simple flavors and just a hint of spice!
Like little pots of gold, heritage recipes like this simple and delicious Cast Iron Skillet Apple Cake are treasures like no others. The Irish are known for their simple yet incredibly delicious recipes that have, for generations, passed from mother to daughter in farmhouses all over that beautiful country.
Irish Apple Cake Ingredients
These simple ingredients create a delicious apple cake recipe, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, apple season, or any time you want a delicious Irish cake.
Here’s what you need:
- All-purpose flour
- Butter: Salted or unsalted butter both work
- Fresh Apples: I like to leave the peel intact, but a peeled apple works equally well; slice thinly
- Spices and Flavors: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Large egg (room temperature is best)
- Milk
- Salt (if using unsalted butter)
How to Make This Easy Cake Recipe
The recipe card at the bottom of this post contains complete instructions, but here is a quick overview.
Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 10-inch ovenproof skillet (like a cast iron skillet) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add the dry ingredients of flour and baking powder to a large bowl. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the flour and butter mixture.
- Make a well in the center and fold in the wet ingredients (egg, milk, and vanilla). Mix the batter until a soft dough forms that’s almost scone-like.
- Press the dough into the bottom of the skillet and layer thinly sliced apples over the top. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the apples.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. Switch the oven to broil and cook on the middle rack for 2-3 minutes or until the edges of the cake are golden brown. This step is optional… but I love the added crispness.
Allow the cake to cool slightly before serving.
Serving Ideas
Once cool, cut the Irish Apple Cake into wedges and dust it with powdered sugar. You can also serve it with whipped cream or ice cream, all of which make a delightfully delicious topping!
Irish Apple Cake History
Originally, Irish apple cakes were steamed in pots beside an open fire before ovens became commonplace. They were also largely made from slightly smaller than we’re used to crab apples, which are in abundant supply in Ireland. Irish apples are so plentiful, in fact, The Irish Times says the “Irish spend €100 million annually on apples.” That’s a lot of apples!
Today, apple cakes are baked in ovens all across the lush, green Irish countryside, as well as by thousands of expats around the world craving a taste of home.
Apples, especially crab apples, play a significant role in Irish and Celtic mythology. The legendary Avalon, the location where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds after fighting Mordred at the Battle of Camlann, is considered a sacred Isle of the apple trees.
Why is this Apple Cake baked in a skillet?
I like to bake this sweet and delicious authentic Irish Apple Cake in a cast-iron skillet. It’s a better conductor of heat, giving the edges that crispy texture we love. Plus, I love to serve warm wedges right from the skillet. Somehow, it just seems to add an additional layer of flavor and coziness. It is also closer to how these cakes were originally baked near a cooking fire.
Can I bake this cake in a tin instead?
Yes of course, if you don’t have a cast-iron skillet to hand! Just line it with baking parchment as you would a skillet and proceed with the recipe.
Should I use Irish butter for this recipe?
If you can find it, yes! It is much creamier and adds a wonderful richness to the cake. European butter is also a good substitute – you can use any leftover in (or spread onto slices of) my Irish Soda Bread – or in any other baked good where you can really taste the butter!
What sort of apples should I use for this apple cake?
Whatever you can get your hands on - different varieties of tart apples or crisp apples will give different results, some sweeter and some more tart than others (like Granny Smith), but any apple you prefer will bake a delicious apple cake! Experiment to see which variety you like best in this recipe.
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Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 8 tablespoons butter 1 stick
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- medium apple sliced thinly (about 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Dash of ground cloves and a dash of cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add the flour and baking powder to a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut 8 tablespoons of butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the flour and butter mixture.
- Make a well in the center of the bowl and fold in the web ingredients of the beaten egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix until a soft, almost scone-like dough forms.
- Spoon and press dough into the bottom of the parchment-lined skillet. Layer thinly sliced apples over the dough. Combine 1 tablespoon of sugar and a dash each of ground cloves and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the apples.
- Place the skillet on the middle rack of your oven. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Then, switch the oven to broil. Keep the apple cake in the oven and broil, on the middle rack, 2-3 minutes or until the edges of the cake are golden brown. This step is optional… but I love the added crispness.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly, cut into wedges and dust with powdered sugar. Or serve with whipped cream — or ice cream — all of which makes a delightfully delicious topping to this Irish Apple Cake!
Notes
- Doubling the Recipe: I’ve not tested doubling this recipe. If you do double it, here is a great tutorial on scaling up cake recipes.
- Apples:
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Thank you for getting back so quickly Stephanie 🙂🍀
Thank you for getting back so quickly Stephanie 🙂🍀
Thank you for getting back so quickly Stephanie 🙂🍀
Hi I have 12 inch cast iron pan. Can i make it in that and would that change the amount of time it would need to cook. Or can you recommend how long to cook it for in a 9 inch cake pan
Thx
Hi Cathy! I would opt for the 9-inch cake pan instead. The 12-inch cast iron won’t let the cake get a lot of rise. Coat the cake pan well, but don’t line it with parchment paper. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. I always like to see a few crumbs. Enjoy!!
Thank you for getting back so quickly Stephanie 🙂🍀
Sounds delicious and easy too. What size skillet and how many does this recipe serve?
It’s a super easy, simple, authentically Irish cake. I make it in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, but have also made it in a 9-inch cake pan. Watch the baking time when switching between a skillet and a cake pan. The cake should make about 8 wedges. Enjoy!
this cake sounds so yummy….I Have a set of cast iron pans I use all the time. Can I use cooking spray instead of parchment paper?
This is delicious! I sliced a barely ripe pear on top instead of the apple and it worked out perfectly. A plum would be fun to try too.
Hi Marianna! What a great idea – that’s on my baking list this week! I have made it with a plum — and it’s really good too! Thanks for sharing!!
Plan to make this delicious cake this week for my friends. Looks Delish.
A simple but traditional cake! You’ve inspired me — I’m going to join you and make it this weekend too ??.
Smells great- was an easy recipe. Texture is more like a tart than a cake. Hope it tastes good!!!!
Hi Kay! It is such an easy recipe and one a dear Irish woman game me from her family. I’m so in love with their comfort food!
Smells great- was an easy recipe. Texture is more like a tart than a cake. Hope it tastes good!!!!
Can I double this recipe and put it in a larger cast iron skillet? If so how would the cook time change?
Thank you!!
Hi Nikki – yes, you can double the recipe. Bake it for the same amount of time. It won’t be done yet but begin checking it in 5 minute increments until a cake tester comes out clean. The baking time will not double.
Hi, how do I store the left over cake, and do u remove it from the cast iron skillet before it after serving?
Hi Jan! I do remove it from the cast iron skillet for storing. It can be wrapped up and stored on the counter for about a day. Any longer and I’ll refrigerate or freeze.
Would the texture be changed if I add two sliced apples instead of one?
Thank you-cannot wait to make this!
Hi Brenda! Adding an extra apple shouldn’t affect the texture. I’ve not tried two apples before but I do use an extra large apple, which may be the size of two regular ones. It’s so easy — and delicious! Thanks for your question.
Made this for dinner guests, everyone loved it. I even posted a picture of my end result on Facebook and now getting requests for the recipe. Thanks for this recipe, I am certain it will become part of my traditional annual St Patrick’s Day dinner from now on, but I won’t wait another year to make this again.
Thank you so much Sandy! Would love to see your photo and so glad you enjoyed it! We love it too ?
I’m making this cake right now and noticed the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon & 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg are not mentioned in the directions as to when to add them, I do see the dash of cinnamon and cloves to sprinkle of the apples, but that’s it. I’m adding to flour/sugar mixture and thinking I can’t go too far wrong.
I’m making this right now too :). I’ll clarify the directions — thanks for catching that. You DO add the cinnamon and nutmeg to the flour mixture. Enjoy!
this cake sounds so yummy….I Have a set of cast iron pans I use all the time. Can I use cooking spray instead of parchment paper?
Hi Cynthia! Yes you can – I like to use parchment for easy clean up and easy removal of the cake from the pan. But cooking spray should work just fine too!
Can this be made ahead and reheated in the cast iron? I love the rustic look of serving it from the pan.