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Jewish Apple Cake

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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A traditional Jewish apple cake, my Ema Ljuba would frequently make this dessert on Friday for Shabbat, and it would stay moist all week long. A parev (kosher) dessert, this cake can be eaten with either meat or dairy. A huge family favorite among all of Ljuba’s seven children and many grandchildren.

Sliced apple cake.

Hanukkah is quickly approaching, and with it comes my craving for my Ema Ljuba’s delicious Jewish Apple Cake. While she now lives in Israel, and I won’t be able to celebrate the holiday with her, I love how food and family recipes can make us feel close to loved ones even when they are far away. If you aren’t familiar with Apple Cake, it’s a traditional Jewish dessert, and my bubbe’s recipe is the best. I may be biased, but I stand by it!

This holiday season, I’m partnering with America’s egg farming families to share favorite global holiday food traditions featuring eggs! Whether you’re celebrating the holidays at home or across the globe, gather around the table and start a new holiday recipe tradition this season.

Importance of Eggs

National egg board and egg farming families.
  • Eggs add moisture, color, flavor, and nutritional value to recipes.
  • Eggs are a holiday staple. In fact, more eggs are consumed during the winter holiday season than any other time of the year.
  • Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, with one egg containing 6 grams of high-quality protein and 8 essential nutrients, all for 70 calories. Plus, eggs are naturally free of sugars and carbohydrates.
  • Eggs are one of the few foods that are a naturally good source of vitamin D.
  • There’s a good chance the eggs you’ll use for holiday baking came from an egg farm in your state! Nationwide, the United States produces over 75 billion eggs per year.
  • America’s egg farmers are proud to work hard 365 days a year to ensure that grocery store shelves remain stocked with affordable, nutritious eggs.

Sources:

Ingredients

  • Apples: I usually use granny smith apples, but you could use a mix, like honeycrisp or gala apples as well!
  • Sugar: Coats and sweetens the apples before being baked.
  • Cinnamon: Adds some warmth to balance out the sweet flavors.
  • Flour: An essential ingredient to make the batter.
  • Baking powder: Helps the cake to get the necessary rise.
  • Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients and adds balance.
  • Eggs: Add moisture and help to bind the cake together.
  • Canola oil: You could also use vegetable oil.
  • Orange juice: Adds some acidity as well as delicious citrus notes.
  • Vanilla: Sweet and flavor enhancing.
  • Brown sugar: Creates a delicious glaze around the cake when baked.
  • Butter: Along with the brown sugar, glazes the cake.

How to Make Jewish Apple Cake

Start by peeling and thinly slicing your apples. I like to use Granny Smiths for my Jewish apple cake.

Then put your apples slices in a large bowl, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Give your apples a good toss so they’re evenly coated and set them aside.

In another large bowl, pour in your flour.

Then stir in the salt and baking powder.

Finish by mixing in the remaining sugar, and set this bowl aside as well.

In another bowl or a large measuring cup (I prefer a measuring cup), measure out your canola oil.

Next add the 4 large eggs and vanilla extract.

Finish off your wet ingredients with the orange juice.

A person stirring ingredients

Whisk it all together until the egg yolks are broken and it’s all incorporated.

Slowly mix your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

A person mixing ingredients

Mix until the flour is fully mixed in. It’ll be a very thick, almost dough like batter.

A person adding ingredients to a cake pan

Next, assemble your cake! In your prepared angel food tube pan, pour 1/3 of the batter, and top with 1/2 of the apple slices. Continue with batter, apples, then batter again until it’s all used up.

adding butter to a cake pan

Sprinkle the with the brown sugar and remaining flour, and top with your bits and cubes of butter.

Jewish Apple Cake.

Bake at 375 for a little over an hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve and enjoy your Jewish Apple Cake! I love this with my Chai Infused White Russian Cocktail!

Frequently Asked Questions:

When do you eat Jewish Apple Cake?

While it’s a classic for my family during Hanukkah, Passover, or Shabbat (our sabbath), it’s a delicious dessert that can be enjoyed any time! It doesn’t have any symbolic significance.

What can I use in place of a tube pan?

If you have a Bundt pan with minimal embellishments, that can work. Or, you can fake your own angel food pan using this hack.

I have extra large eggs, how many should I use?

Here is a great conversion chart to use if you ever aren’t sure how many eggs you should use in a recipe.

Can you freeze Jewish apple cake?

Yes, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and you can freeze it for up to 3 months! Otherwise keep in in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Slice of Apple Cake.

More Jewish Recipes

Like It, Eat It, Share It!

Did you try this dessert? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials. Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your cake.

Liz serving a slice of Apple Cake.

This delicious Jewish Apple Cake represents warmth and Hanukkah to me, but most importantly, the love of my family. What will it mean to you?

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Jewish Apple Cake?

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Jewish apple cake closeup

Jewish Apple Cake

4.25 stars average
Liz Della Croce
A traditional Jewish dessert recipe, my Ema Ljuba would frequently make this apple cake on Friday for Shabbat, and it would stay moist all week long. A parev (kosher) dessert, this cake can be eaten with either meat or dairy. A huge family favorite among all of Ljuba’s seven children and many grandchildren.
PREP: 15 minutes
COOK: 1 hour 15 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 30 minutes
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Servings16

Recipe Video

Ingredients
 

  • 4 apples (peeled and sliced (such as granny smith))
  • 2 ⅓ cups white sugar (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup canola oil (or oil of choice)
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 4 tablespoons butter (or parev margarine) (cut in small cubes)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour an angel food tube pan and set aside.
  • Toss apple slices to coat with 1/3 cup of sugar and the cinnamon; set aside.
    apples in a bowl
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, remaining 2 cups of sugar, baking powder and salt.
    salt and flour in a bowl
  • In a third small bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla.
    A person stirring ingredients
  • Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
    adding egg to a flour mixture
  • Pour 1/3 of batter into tube pan then layer with 1/2 of the apples. Add in another 1/3 of the batter and layer with remaining apples. Pour in the final 1/3 of the batter on top.
    A person adding ingredients to a cake pan
  • In another small bowl, mix the brown sugar with 1/4 cup remaining flour and sprinkle evenly on top of the cake batter.
  • Dot with butter then bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
    Jewish apple cake closeup

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 189IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by America’s egg farming families, who are proud to provide safe, healthy eggs for holiday celebrations around the world. Thoughts are my own.


4.25 from 16 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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4 responses to “Jewish Apple Cake”

  1. Becca Avatar
    Becca

    Can I use a round pan instead of a Bundt pan?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Hi Becca! I’m not sure this recipe would work in regular round cake pans. The measurements would be different, and I’ve never done it before! If you try it, I’d love to hear what you did to make it work!

  2. lisa michelle Avatar
    lisa michelle

    Hi there – To clarify – 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour is different from ¼ cup flour? 🤷🏼‍♀️

    Could you teach me the distinction? Thank you very much.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      It’s 3 cups plus 1/4 cup of flour, hopefully that helps!