Apple Cake - Sharlotka
Did you know that the dessert Russian Sharlotka was created in the 19th century by a French chef who served Russian Tzar in London? Many call this dessert the Russian version of apple cake (not to be confused with apple pie). When you bite into Sharlotka, you will find that its texture is light and airy. The sweetness of this cake is perfectly balanced with tangy apples. Serve this dessert with tea, coffee or any beverage of your choice. The recipe is simple, easy to follow and doesn’t require any baking skills. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup of all-purpose flour (120g)
1 cup of light brown sugar (200g)
4 eggs
1/4 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon of baking powder
5-6 apples (granny smith preferred)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
juice of 1 lemon and zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder (optional)
1 tablespoon of butter to grease baking dish or non-stick cooking spray
Directions
Preheat the oven to 365 degrees Fahrenheit (185 Celsius).
Peel and slice the apples while also removing the core. Then pour half the portion of lemon juice on top of apples so they don’t oxidize. Combine apples with cinnamon and lay them on a greased baking dish.
To prepare the batter, beat the eggs and then gradually add all of the sugar, remaining lemon juice and all of the lemon zest. This should take only few minutes.
Combine flour with baking powder and salt and then sift everything.
Slowly start folding the flour into the batter without overmixing it. As soon as the flour is evenly distributed, your batter is ready.
Pour the batter on top of apples, right on the baking tray.
Bake the apple Sharlotka for 30-35 minutes, then check the batter with a toothpick. If it runs clean then your cake is ready, if not bake for additional 10 minutes until the toothpick runs clean. Enjoy!