DELICIOUS APPLE CAKE

This simple apple cake is similar to a French apple tart.  This apple cake is much easier to make and with a sprinkling of Calvados on top of the apples, it still has a French flair.  Calvados is a French apple brandy from Normandy.  You can make this cake a Southern cake by adding Applejack or just skipping the liquor altogether.

3 eggs

½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

½ cup half-and-half or cream

1 t pure vanilla extract

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour 

¾ cup granulated sugar

1 T baking powder

Pinch of salt

3 large Honeycrisp apples, cored and peeled

3 T apple jelly, warmed slightly

1 T Calvados or Applejack brandy, optional

1 T granulated sugar, for sprinkling

Line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, half-and-half, and vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut one apple into small chunks and stir into the batter.

Pour into the parchment lined baking pan.

Cut the other 2 apples into thin slices.

Tuck the thinly sliced apples on top, overlaping.

Brush on a layer of apple jelly and sprinkle with brandy, if using.

Lastly, sprinkle on the sugar and bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Serves 9