Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce

Last Fall I went a bit overboard with my apple picking and found myself looking for a different recipe to try out using the apples that I had left in my pantry. Many websites mentioned an Irish Apple Cake. I found this recipe at cookingclassy.com. It is a bit complicated, but turned out to be well worth the effort for a special occasion. The cake is equally delicious sans the custard sauce, but why?!

Cake Ingredients

• 3 cups flour

• 2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/8 tsp. salt

• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

• 6 oz. of cold butter cut into 1/4" pieces

• 4 apples - cut into 1/4" slices and then cut each slice into three

• 2 eggs

• 3/4 cup milk

• 2 Tbsp. of sugar to sprinkle on top

Directions

• Grease and flour a 9" spring form pan and preheat oven to 375F

• Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cloves and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl.

• Cut butter into flour mixture with two knives, your fingers or a pastry cutter until crumbly.

• Add the sugar, mix and toss in the apples.

• In a separate bowl, beat eggs and milk.

• Add liquid to dry mixture and mix until just incorporated.

• Pour cake into the prepared cake pan and spread evenly.

• Sprinkle with sugar.

• Bake for 45 minutes or until cake is golden brown or a toothpick when inserted in the center comes out clean.

• Serve plain or with the custard sauce.

Custard Sauce Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks ( I freeze my egg whites in the freezer for use in other recipes)

• 6 Tbsp. sugar

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk

• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

• Whisk egg yolks and sugar until they are pale yellow - about 2-3 minutes.

• Add milk to a medium sauce pan and bring to just boiling and remove from heat.

• Slowly whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture.

• Pour mixture back into the sauce pan and stir over medium heat until custard thickens.

• Mix in vanilla.

• Drizzle over cake slices before serving