4-Grain Apple Cake

Apple cake is a classic homemade dessert, and the 4-grain version adds a rustic and nutritious touch to the sweet treat. Here’s how to make a 4-Grain Apple Cake.

Ingredients

• 200 g of 4-grain flour (if you can’t find a pre-made blend, you can combine, for example, wheat, spelt, oats, and rye flour in equal parts)
• 3 medium-sized apples (Golden or Renette are excellent for this recipe)
• 100 g of brown sugar
• 80 g of unsalted butter (or an equivalent amount of olive oil or other vegetable fat for a lighter version)
• 2 eggs
• 1 packet of baking powder
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1 pinch of salt
• Icing sugar for decoration (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large bowl, mix the 4-grain flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs with the brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Peel the apples, remove the cores, and slice them thinly. Drizzle them with the lemon juice to prevent browning.
5. Melt the butter and let it cool down, then add it to the mixture of eggs and sugar, stirring well.
6. Gradually incorporate the flour into the wet mixture, gently stirring with a spatula to avoid lumps.
7. Add the pinch of cinnamon and the apple slices to the batter, distributing them evenly.
8. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured cake pan, or one lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Allow the cake to cool before dusting it with icing sugar, if desired.

Trivia

Apple cake is a dessert with very ancient origins and is found in different variants in many countries around the world. Interestingly, apple cake has often been a symbol of hospitality and domestic warmth. The addition of the 4 grains makes this version particularly nutritious and filling, suitable for an energetic breakfast or an afternoon snack.