And if you have plenty of fresh apples on hand or just want to celebrate apple season, be sure to also check out my Apple Cranberry Cake and Apple Roses.
Ingredients
This French apple rum cake requires just a short list of simple ingredients, many of which are probably already in your pantry. We will need:
Butter: Unsalted butter allows you to control the level of salt in the cake, but salted butter can also be used. If you decide to use salted butter, be sure to omit using salt in the batter. Apples: I used a mix of Honeycrisp apples and Granny Smith apples, but you can use any variety of apples. Some other good baking apples include Fuji, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, Jonagold, and Pink Lady. All Purpose Flour Baking Powder Kosher Salt Whole Eggs: Use large eggs for the most consistent texture. Coconut Sugar: Since we only share desserts made with natural sweeteners, I made this easy fresh apple cake with coconut sugar, but you can use your favorite dry granulated sugar, like regular white sugar or brown sugar. Dark Rum: Dark rum transforms it from a regular apple cake to an easy French apple rum cake with a touch more elegance. My favorite rum to use here is Myer’s or Mount Gay. Vanilla Extract: If a fresh apple cake with rum is not your cup of tea (or prefer a no-alcohol version), you can skip the rum altogether and use a full tablespoon of vanilla extract in its place.
How to Make an Apple Cake?
For a fast and easy method, I like to bake the apple cake in a springform pan. With that being said, you can use a regular cake pan, just make sure to grease the pan well before adding the batter. Here’s how I like to do it:
Ground Spices: Sprinkle in 1-2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and a dash of fresh nutmeg, or give it a nice warmth with 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice mix. Nuts: Toss in some toasted, chopped walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds for extra crunch. Dried Fruit: Give it even more sweetness with raisins or golden raisins.
How to Store This Apple Cake?
This easy French apple cake recipe is a great make-ahead cake that you can enjoy throughout the week. While it is best on the day it is made, it keeps fresh if stored properly. Here is how I do it:
Storage: The apple rum cake will keep fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature, covered on the kitchen counter. Since the cake itself is very moist, it’s best to store it covered with a cake dome, overturned bowl, or with a few toothpicks inserted throughout the top of the cake and then tented with plastic wrap. Freezing: Due to the high ratio of liquid coming from the apples, I do not recommend freezing this cake.
How to Serve?
Whether you want to enjoy this apple cake as the French do or give it more of an American spin, some of my favorite ways to serve include:
Ice Cream: Serve it slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, such as Honey Vanilla Ice Cream or more decadent caramel ice cream. Cream / Sugar: Finish it with a dollop of creme fraiche, mascarpone cheese, Maple Whipped Cream, or a simple sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar. Sauce: Drizzle it with storebaught caramel sauce, date caramel sauce, or fruit preserves. Coffee / Tea: The sweet apple cake goes particularly well with bitter espresso or a mild cup of tea, such as Earl Grey. Wine: Serve it as the French would, with a chilled glass of Sauternes (a sweet dessert wine) or an after-dinner beverage, like Calvados or Brandy.
Other Baked Goods with Apples You Might Also Like:
Wondering what you can make with fresh apples? Well, you have come to the right place. Here are a few other apple recipes you might also like:
Use room temperature ingredients: When all the ingredients are roughly the same temperature, it makes for a more cohesive batter. In this case, make sure to allow time for the butter to cool down and allow the eggs to come to room temperature. Prevent the apples from oxidizing: For some added insurance, you can toss the diced apples with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to prevent browning. The fresh citrus juice adds a nice little tang, too. Cubed Apples: As you can see in the pictures, this cake is a bit different than your usual fluffy apple cake recipe. Rather, it is cubed apples covered with cake batter. Due to the high moisture content of the cubed apples, it doesn’t rise as much as you would expect. Use the right pan: I used an 8-inch springform cake pan for easy removal. You can also use a 9-inch springform pan, just note that the cake will be thinner. If you do not own a springform pan, a regular 8 or 9-inch cake pan will do, just make sure to thoroughly grease the bottom and sides, and line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper. Pay attention to baking time: Bake times will vary based on your oven. Start checking the cake at the 50-minute mark, and continue to bake in 5-minute increments until golden brown and springy. Browning: If you use coconut or brown sugar as your sweetener, the top of the cake will brown more compared to using granulated sugar. Cool completely: For best results, cool in the pan for 5 minutes, loosen the sides, and then transfer to a cake plate. It is best if you let it cool for at least an hour.
Apple Almond Flour Muffins Vegan Apple Crisp Apple Baked Oatmeal
If you try this French Apple Cake, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
