Dried fruit apple cake

The apple cake with dried fruit is a delicious and quite simple dessert to prepare. The combination of the sweetness of apples with the crunch of dried fruit makes this dessert a pleasure for palates in search of contrasting flavors and textures. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 3-4 apples (Golden or Renette)
• 200 grams of type 00 flour
• 100 grams of sugar
• 100 grams of butter (at room temperature)
• 2 eggs
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• A pinch of salt
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 100 grams of dried fruit (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts), chopped

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Peel the apples and cut them into cubes or slices, according to your preference.
3. In a large bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until smooth.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Incorporate the flour previously sifted with the baking powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
6. Add the grated lemon zest and mix until smooth.
7. Gently fold the chopped apples and dried fruit into the mixture with movements from the bottom up.
8. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured cake tin.
9. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Once baked, let the apple and dried fruit cake cool before unmolding.

Serve your apple cake with dried fruit at room temperature or slightly warm, perhaps accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a touch of whipped cream for a contrast of temperatures and textures that enhance the flavors.

Curiosity

The apple cake is a classic of Italian home cooking and many other culinary traditions. The addition of dried fruit is a variation that adds an extra touch of crunchiness and flavor, making the dessert even richer.