German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)

Step 1

Set the oven to 350°F and wait until the heating indicator light turns off, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Grease a 9-inch round cake pan by rubbing softened butter inside the bottom and up the sides, then line the bottom with parchment paper.

Step 3

Wash the apples, cut them in half from stem to bottom, scoop out the core with a spoon, then place each half skin-side up on a cutting board.

Step 4

Slice each apple half crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices, like cutting a roll of bread, keeping the pieces loosely together as you work.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, add the 0.5 cup softened butter and 0.75 cup sugar, then beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes until the mixture looks pale and fluffy, like frosting.

Step 6

Add the 2 eggs one at a time, beating on low speed for 30 seconds after each egg until fully combined.

Step 7

In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 cups flour and 1.5 teaspoons baking powder until no lumps remain.

Step 8

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir with a rubber spatula, using long strokes, until no flour streaks are visible, about 1 minute.

Step 9

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, smoothing the top until level.

Step 10

Arrange the apple slices on top of the batter in overlapping rows, like roof shingles, covering the surface completely.

Step 11

In a small bowl, mix the 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon with the 0.25 cup flour and 3 tablespoons cold butter using your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs (pea-sized pieces), about 2 minutes.

Step 12

Scatter the cinnamon-crumb mixture evenly over the apple slices, pressing gently so some bits stay on the surface.

Step 13

Place the cake pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, until the top looks golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the batter (avoiding apples) comes out clean with no wet crumbs.

Step 14

Remove the pan from the oven using oven mitts and set it on a cooling rack for 10 minutes before turning out or serving from the pan.