Try This Sweet French Apple Cake with Maple Ginger Custard Sauce Recipe

French apple cake tantalizes taste buds with its rustic charm and delicate textures.

Culinary traditions from rural france inspire this delightful dessert, blending simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Soft, moist crumb embraces chunks of seasonal fruit, creating a harmonious balance of sweetness and subtle spice.

Fragrant notes of warm baking spices whisper through each tender slice, inviting memories of cozy kitchen gatherings.

Elegant yet unpretentious, this cake represents the heart of home cooking—where love refines basic ingredients into something magical.

maple ginger custard sauce adds a luxurious dimension, elevating the dessert from delicious to unforgettable.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this crowd-pleasing recipe with confidence.

What Makes French Apple Cake with Maple Ginger Sauce Special

• Savor Layered Apple Delights: The cake features a unique two-layer batter technique that creates a rich, moist texture with beautifully embedded apple slices, offering a complex flavor profile in every bite.
• Transform Ordinary Dessert into Gourmet Experience: The maple ginger custard sauce elevates this classic French apple cake from simple to extraordinary, adding a sophisticated, warming spice note that complements the sweet apple base.
• Master Flexible Baking Technique: This recipe teaches smart microwave softening of apples and careful egg tempering, making it an excellent learning opportunity for home bakers wanting to develop advanced culinary skills without extreme difficulty.
• Celebrate Seasonal Comfort: Perfect for autumn gatherings, this dessert captures the essence of cozy, comforting flavors with its warm spices, rum-infused apples, and creamy custard sauce that feels like a delicious culinary hug.

Everything You’ll Need for French Apple Cake

• Flour: Provides structure and helps bind the cake together, all-purpose works best for a tender crumb.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with caramelization and golden brown color.
• Eggs: Whole eggs and additional yolks provide richness and help with cake's texture.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth batter.
• Oil: Ensures a moist and tender cake with soft crumb.

• Apples: Fresh, firm apples create layers of texture and natural sweetness.
• Lemon Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds bright, fresh flavor.
• Spiced Rum: Enhances apple flavor with warm, complex notes.
• Vanilla Bean Paste: Provides deep, rich vanilla flavor with visible vanilla specks.

• Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides elegant finishing touch and light sweetness.

• Milk: Creates smooth, creamy base for custard.
• Maple Syrup: Adds natural sweetness with rich, distinct flavor.
• Ginger: Introduces warm, spicy undertones to the sauce.
• Egg Yolks: Thickens sauce and provides luxurious, silky texture.
• Vanilla Bean Paste: Adds depth and aromatic vanilla flavor.
• Spiced Rum: Complements ginger and adds complexity to sauce.

Simple Steps to Make French Apple Cake

Step 1: Prepare Apples

• Slice apples into a microwave-safe bowl
• Microwave in 1-minute intervals for 3 minutes
• Stir between intervals until softened
• Toss with lemon juice and spiced rum
• Let cool for 10 minutes

Step 2: Prepare Baking Equipment

• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Butter a 9-inch springform pan
• Place pan on parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet

Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Whisk together in medium bowl
• Flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 4: Create Cake Batter

• Mix in large bowl
• Whole egg
• Milk
• Oil
• Vanilla bean paste
• Gradually add dry ingredients
• Mix until just combined
• Set aside 1 cup of batter

Step 5: Combine Apple Mixture

• Whisk 2 egg yolks into remaining batter
• Fold in cooled apple slices
• Pour into prepared pan
• Press apples evenly

Step 6: Final Batter Layer

• Add 2 tablespoons flour to reserved batter
• Whisk until smooth
• Spoon over apple mixture
• Spread evenly
• Sprinkle remaining sugar on top

Step 7: Bake and Cool Cake

• Bake 1 to 1.25 hours
• Bake until golden brown
• Cool on wire rack
• Remove from pan when completely cooled
• Dust with powdered sugar before serving

Maple Ginger Custard Sauce:

Step 1: Infuse Milk

• Combine in small saucepan
• Milk
• Maple syrup
• Sliced ginger
• Bring to simmer
• Remove from heat
• Steep for 30 minutes

Step 2: Prepare Custard Base

• Strain out ginger slices
• Return milk mixture to simmer
• Whisk egg yolks in separate bowl
• Slowly whisk warm milk into egg yolks
• Return mixture to saucepan

Step 3: Finish Custard

• Stir constantly
• Cook until custard thickens
• Coat back of spoon
• Remove from heat
• Stir in vanilla bean paste
• Stir in spiced rum

Step 4: Chill Sauce

• Pour into heat-safe bowl
• Cool on counter
• Refrigerate until cold

Tips to Perfect Your French Apple Cake

• Soften Apples Strategically: Microwaving apple slices ensures they're pliable and won't release excess moisture during baking, preventing a soggy cake bottom.
• Prevent Batter Leakage: Always place the springform pan on a lined baking sheet to catch any potential drips and protect your oven from messy spills.
• Fold Gently with Apples: When incorporating apple slices, use a light folding technique to maintain the cake's delicate texture and distribute fruit evenly.
• Master Egg Tempering: When making the custard sauce, gradually add warm milk to egg yolks to prevent scrambling and ensure a smooth, silky consistency.
• Chill for Optimal Flavor: Let the maple ginger custard sauce cool completely in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and develop a rich, intense taste.

How to Keep and Reheat Apple Cake with Custard Sauce

• Refrigerate: Store the French apple cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap to prevent moisture loss and maintain its delicate texture.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cake slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. Serve with the cold maple ginger custard sauce for a delightful contrast in temperatures.

What Complements French Apple Cake Well

• Sip Spiced Rum Cocktail: Create a complementary cocktail using the spiced rum from the recipe, mixed with apple cider, a dash of ginger, and a maple syrup drizzle to echo the cake's flavor profile.
• Pair with Creamy Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Serve a scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream alongside the cake, which will beautifully match the vanilla notes in both the cake and custard sauce.
• Match with Warm Chai Latte: Brew a rich, spicy chai latte that will harmonize with the cake's warm spices, ginger undertones, and sweet maple custard, providing a comforting beverage experience.
• Enjoy with Salted Caramel Macchiato: The complex, buttery notes of a salted caramel macchiato will complement the apple cake's richness and enhance the dessert's multilayered flavor dimensions.

Flavor Add-Ins for Apple Cake with Ginger Sauce

• Caramel Apple Infusion: Replace maple syrup with rich caramel sauce in the custard, adding a deep golden sweetness that complements the apple cake's rustic texture.
• Spiced Bourbon Variation: Swap spiced rum for bourbon in both cake and custard, creating a warmer, more robust flavor profile that enhances the apple's natural warmth.
• Nutty Crunch Edition: Fold chopped toasted almonds or pecans into the cake batter before adding apple slices, introducing a delightful crunch and nutty undertone to the dessert's soft texture.
• Cinnamon Maple Remix: Incorporate ground cinnamon into the cake batter and increase maple syrup concentration in the custard, amplifying the warm autumnal notes of the dessert.

French Apple Cake with Maple Ginger Custard Sauce Recipe

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4.9 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Delightful French apple cake embraces rustic charm with its moist crumb and elegant maple ginger custard sauce. Silky custard elevates this classic dessert, offering sweet warmth and complexity you’ll savor with each memorable bite.

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Ingredients

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French Apple Cake Ingredients:

Fruits:

• 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) tart apples (Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/8 inch slices

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (140 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon (220 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 whole egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon spiced rum
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Maple Ginger Custard Sauce Ingredients:

Liquids:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) whole milk
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) maple syrup

Eggs and Flavoring:

• 5 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon spiced rum
• ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Aromatics:

• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced

Garnish:

• Powdered sugar (for sprinkling)

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Instructions

1. Gently microwave apple slices in a shallow bowl for 3 minutes, stirring periodically until they become soft and malleable.
2. Toss the apples with lemon juice and spiced rum, allowing them to cool and absorb flavors for 10 minutes.
3. Prepare the oven by heating to 325°F and preparing a springform pan with butter, placing it on a lined baking sheet to catch potential drips.
4. Create a dry ingredient mixture by whisking flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
5. In a separate large bowl, combine whole egg, milk, oil, and vanilla bean paste, mixing thoroughly.
6. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
7. Separate and reserve one cup of the batter, setting it aside for later use.
8. Whisk egg yolks into the remaining batter, then gently fold in the cooled apple slices.
9. Transfer the apple-infused batter into the prepared springform pan, carefully pressing the apple slices to create an even distribution.
10. Add flour to the reserved batter, whisking until smooth, then delicately spread it over the apple layer.
11. Sprinkle the remaining sugar across the top of the cake.
12. Bake for approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, watching for a golden-brown color.
13. Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before removing from the pan.
14. For the maple ginger custard sauce, combine milk, maple syrup, and sliced ginger in a saucepan.
15. Simmer the mixture, then remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes to infuse flavors.
16. Strain out the ginger slices and return the milk mixture to a gentle simmer.
17. Temper egg yolks by slowly whisking in warm milk, then reintroduce the mixture to the saucepan.
18. Continuously stir until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
19. Remove from heat and incorporate vanilla bean paste and spiced rum.
20. Cool the custard at room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
21. Before serving, dust the cake with powdered sugar and accompany with the cold maple ginger custard sauce.

Notes

• Prepare apples in advance by microwaving and letting them cool to ensure even texture and prevent excess moisture in the cake.
• Always use a springform pan on a lined baking sheet to catch potential batter leaks and maintain clean oven surfaces.
• Temper egg yolks carefully when making the custard sauce by slowly introducing warm milk to prevent scrambling.
• Let the cake cool completely before removing from the pan to maintain its delicate structure and prevent crumbling.
• Steep ginger in milk mixture for a full 30 minutes to extract maximum flavor complexity in the custard sauce.
• Serve the chilled maple ginger custard sauce alongside the warm cake for a delightful temperature and flavor contrast.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 580
• Sugar: 42g
• Sodium: 250mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 66g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 8g
• Cholesterol: 140mg