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45 Comments
Vannes_Et_Sa_Femme
October 7, 2021
If you can get your hands on a pommeau instead of calvados, do it. Also to make it GF, I did a 50/50 blend of almond flour and brown rice flour, and used 1/4 cup of salted butter in addition to the sweet butter. It was divine.
J-mart61
September 8, 2021
Great recipe but next time I would reduce sugar content and use a more tart apple. ( I only had gala on hand). But it was moist and delicious and easy to make. Almost even better the next day!
dymnyno
October 16, 2013
Just curious...what does Rosh hashana have to do with apple cake? It is a gorgeous cake!
Paula Z.
September 21, 2014
Apples are a traditional food for the Jewish New Year: from slices of apple dipped in honey (the hope for a sweet and good year, they also represent the Shechinah - the feminine side of G-d), to a mixed salad with a honey-mustard or Bleu dressing, all the way to an elaborate Tarte Tatin, they are incorporated into as many dishes as possible. My own take is an Austrian Kuchen, a recipe from my mom, which can be made with a lot of kinds of fresh fruit.
anne
October 3, 2013
Oh, and everyone stop worrying about the booze and fruit. I use raisins and spiced rum as I had them in my pantry. Any combination or no combination will do just nicely. Really. It's all about the apples and cinnamon anyways.
anne
October 3, 2013
This cake is fun to bake. It looks like a giant cookie as it goes from a stiff, thick batter then to a normal spread out cake looking batter after a bit of time in the oven. I had my doubts, let me tell you, when I was stirring ( and stirring and stirring) that batter but like magic, it becomes cakey. :)
mlledaffodil
September 18, 2013
Calvados worriers: you can sub any apple-friendly spirit -- boubon, rum, amaretto, but you will lose the extra apple-oomph (but you may prefer your sub better anyway). Go for apple cider to get that apple boost -- and for non-alcoholic, use apple juice. And again, for a less appley alternative, o.j. will work well. BTW, you don't have to buy "calvados" -- that is just French apple brandy, which is widely available and just fine to cook with.
kath1
September 14, 2013
I used korean spirit instead of calvados. and I had to go out after an hour so turned off oven, later when I tried to turn it out had a handful of raw cake. quickly shoved back in, rebake. Very nice but variably wet according to the apple variety and I think would be great with a stronger flour, will try with rye.
n
September 12, 2013
That's great. I wasn't going to use the Calvados anyway. This is a cake, not booze but what did you substitute. The liquid... .
Harry G.
September 11, 2013
I'm not Jewish! If I were I would have this cake very Saturday. Might just have it anyway!
DMCherubim
September 9, 2013
Your writing is beautiful! (7.) I'm a writer. I'm going to try your cake! I've been looking for a great apple cake recipe. Thank you!
Donna A.
September 9, 2013
Okay, this was amazing. Didn't have Calvados so replaced it with Maple Whiskey. Absolutely amazing.
CJarolyn
September 9, 2013
So delicious! I used apricots and only added 1 cup of sugar. I'm enjoying my second slice.
Foodiewithalife
September 9, 2013
This is one of my all-time favorite desserts!
Christina
www.foodiewithalife.com
Christina
www.foodiewithalife.com
kath1
September 9, 2013
What can I use instead of dates for the dried-fruit-hating child?
TishAnn
September 9, 2013
Chop the dates up fine and I guarantee the dried-fruit hating child wont notice. So speaks the dried-fruit (especially dates) hating adult.
Donna A.
September 9, 2013
I hate dates as well. Chopped them up and didn't notice they were there at all, but it really added to the overall flavour.
Susan P.
September 8, 2013
What is calvados? My Nana made a Jewish apple cake that had no liquor--which is what I'm assuming calvados is--but was flavored lghtly with orange juice and cinnamon. I think it came from someone of Jewish descent with whom she had business dealings. It's my all-time favorite cake. Now I suppose I'll have to try this recipe.
Harry G.
September 11, 2013
Calvados is Brandy made with apples from the region of Normandy (France) which bears its name. If you don't know of it then you will not have it in your Liquor cabinet so use whatever you have Cognac, Grand Marnier etc.
Hillary
September 8, 2013
I'm going to try it because I love baking with booze. I'm also going to ramp up my usual Los of Apple cake by doing the calvados soak (the cake was a PB bake off winner a gazillion years ago). Marcy Goldman has the greatest not-too-sweet honey cake IMO especially if you sub triple sec for the optional whiskey.
KitchenKim
September 8, 2013
Even though there will be a plethora of apple cakes for the pot luck break-fast next Saturday night, I can't resist trying out this cake!
Arrxx
September 8, 2013
Here in Canada Calvados is kinda expensive and I'm not planning a trip to the duty-free any time soon. How would dark rum or brandy work? I've made a Dorie Greespan recipe for an apple cake with rum. Whadda ya' think?
Lindini
September 8, 2013
Needs nuts, walnuts or pecans would work nicely I think. Any reason not to include?
JenMor
September 8, 2013
Calvados does not need to be kosher. Only alcohol made w/grapes needs to be kosher, like wine and cognac with grape base.
Ann G.
September 8, 2013
There are some issues with Calvados, I'm not sure why, my husband looked it up- there are several with a kosher "hecksher" - the cost made me think again in the apple cake I made, so I used brandy. It worked....
Stephen
September 8, 2013
No 4 = 'my ten year old"..... you assume in your answer that this is a girl. Why? Do not boys help with cooking??
CarlaCooks
September 9, 2013
I'm pretty sure Jenny is talking about her own child, who is indeed a girl.
Linda B.
September 8, 2013
I need to veganize this. I'm thinking applesauce for the eggs, or ??? Also, it needs to be kosher and I'm not sure where to find a kosher apple brandy or Calvados. Any ideas?
Miriam G.
September 8, 2013
I don't have any Calvados, but I do have a bottle of cherry infused bourbon - I'm going to give it a try!
lmichaelj
September 8, 2013
Save the Calvados. When the cake comes out of the oven brush the top of the cake with the Calvados. Your house will smell even better!
barb48
September 3, 2013
Can you skip the Calvados or sub it for something non-alcoholic?
lmichaelj
September 8, 2013
The alcohol all evaporates as the cake bakes, but you could use Apple Cider, but the cake will not be as flavorful. You might try doubling the amount of the cider, and then reduce it to half which would be the amount called for in the recipe before soaking the dates on the theory that a concentrated cider might be more flavorful.
healthierkitchen
September 2, 2013
Looks great! Jenny do you (or anyone else who might have tested/ohotographed this cake) know what size round would work for this? The recipe calls for a 13 x 9 x 2 rectangle. The round is so pretty though!
Sunday@FIve
September 8, 2013
measure pan by amount it holds then use the same size round (or 2 if nec)
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