Winter

Fransk äppelkaka and family

by:
February  1, 2011
0
0 Ratings
Fransk äppelkaka and family
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

This is a recipe I learned when I was living in Germany. In looking for more details I found a base recipe in Foods of the World "The Cooking of Scandinavia," which I am adapting. I am introducing cardamom to this recipe in two ways to make the flavors really come alive: I am first poaching the fruit in wine with cardamom pods and then grinding some cardamom seeds in with the almonds. I have cut down the butter and introduced other fruits beyond apple. The liquid from poaching makes for a great base for drinks! I have a drink mixing the reserve with cardamom tea illustrated with a slice of the äppelkaka in the snow. The kaka featured also include peaches with a few fresh mango slices and pears in small baking dishes. Today's snow storm just made me look for something to enjoy after all the shoveling ahead. —Sagegreen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 lemon
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  • 4 large fruits, a combination of tart apples, pears and/or peaches
  • optional fresh mango slices for accents, without poaching
  • 3 ounces unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup blanched almonds
  • 2 green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon Meyer's lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon Meyer's lemon zest
  • 1/2 tablespoon orange zest
  • 3 egg whites
  • pinch of sea salt
  • garnish with cardamom honey flavored Greek yogurt, if you like
Directions
  1. In a pan combine the wine, water, lemon, honey, ginger and 3 whole cardamom pods. Peel your choice of 4 fruits, core and cut in halves and add them to the liquid right away. Add the peels to the pot for flavor. Bring the pot to a boil and poach the fruit for about 7-10 minutes.
  2. Remove the fruit from the liquid. Reserve the liquid for a drink which can be combined with an equal measure of brewed cardamom tea.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Cream the butter. Add the sugar. Beat in one egg yolk at a time.
  5. Grind the almonds and the seeds from the 2 cardamom pods. Combine these with the batter. Add the citrus juices next.
  6. Whip the egg whites until stiff. Fold these into the batter.
  7. In a lightly buttered shallow baking dish arrange the fruit with the cut side down. In one dish I even added some fresh mango slices with the peaches. Spread the batter on top of the poached fruits. Bake in the center of the oven for about 25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool. Serve slightly warm. Garnish with cardamom honey flavored Greek yogurt as an option.
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10 Reviews

pauljoseph
pauljoseph February 4, 2011
This is one of my favorite recipe will try. What is Meyer's lemon ?
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 5, 2011
Thanks, pauljoseph. Meyer's lemon has a smoother rind with a more pronounced, intense lemon flavor. They have a sharper aroma as well. When I can find them, as in this season, I always prefer them. But regular lemons can substitute as well. Let me know what you think if you do make this.
 
cheese1227
cheese1227 February 2, 2011
THis looks absolutely succulent!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 2, 2011
Thanks, cheese! It was really fun to make. My neighbor who helped me out yesterday really deserved this cake.
 
nannydeb
nannydeb February 1, 2011
That sounds wonderful! Hopefully it heated up the house!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 1, 2011
Thanks, nannydeb. A neighbor is helping me shovel out, so the cakes to her.
 
Blissful B.
Blissful B. February 1, 2011
Baking & shoveling definitely go together. This looks delicious!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 1, 2011
Thanks, BlissfulBaker. I love the crunch on the outside with the soft inside...on the dessert! Now we are starting to get the turnover from snow to ice with way too much crunch there outside.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour February 1, 2011
Love your photo with the tea in the snow! This sounds yummy.
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 1, 2011
Thanks, hla. It is really nice. I love the mango and peach addition. You would love the drink! We have a snow emergency here, so I needed to make something fun before shoveling.