Soft spongy cake with baked apples and caramel! The apples are surrounded by their “nest” aka cake that has a lovely caramel flavoured exterior.
About a month ago, I got a little note asking if I’d like to contribute to Fall collaboration with a massive amount of other food bloggers who love to Instagram. Of course I was in! This season’s pick was #AIsForAllTheApples and I got a little excited that this pushed me to plan a new apple recipe (which is lacking around here) AND I had to figure out a recipe that was a bit unique given the size of this collaboration. Special thanks to Square Meal Round Table and What Annie’s Eating for hosting!!
I went digging through many recipe books, Pinterest, and other places for inspiration before I stumbled up a recipe from The Silver Spoon (no affiliation), entitled “Apples in their Nest“. I had never heard of any cake like this before. A quick Google search left me with the impression the recipe has been deconstructed and is more commonly known as Bird’s Nest Pudding and has sliced apples in it.
This cake took many attempts. The first resulted in the dough being undercooked. The second with not enough batter or perhaps I used a pan that was too large. Regardless, the cake felt cursed. Like I was never going to end up with anything that I could get a half decent photo of anyways.
I’m pleased with the final result. The caramel pieces melted as the cake baked and created the most tasty exterior to the cake. I love the way the textures and flavours blend so well together, and yet each bite is unique.
You might remember these Apple and Honey Oat Scones or this Spiced Apple Cider Cake with Frosted Cranberries (although no apples are really involved in the latter, I would feel careless if I didn’t mention it in a Fall post) which both give me all the Autumn feels too.
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3 small crisp apples such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, peeled, cored and halved horizontally
- 2 large eggs whites and yolks separated
- 1/3 cup extra fine berry sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 12-18 caramels store-bought
- pinch of fine sea salt
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Preheat oven to 400° F and prepare an 8" cake pan by lining it with parchment paper and spraying with non-stick spray or greasing.
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Whisk egg yolks and sugar together until pale and fluffy in a large bowl (by hand). Separately, whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form (bowl needs to be completed oil/fat free) by using a mixer.
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Sift flour, baking powder, and the pinch of fine sea salt into the egg yolks. Stir until a flaky dough is formed. Add milk. Stir, until just blended. Gently fold in egg whites until just combined.
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Place apple halves in baking dish and fill cavities with caramels. Place batter around apples (not on top). Bake for 40-50 or until apples are soft and cake is cooked through.
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Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes and then carefully invert onto a plate. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
This recipe was adapted from Apples in their Nest in The Silver Spoon Cookbook.
Be sure to catch all the inspiring Apple recipes from over 40 bloggers!
Cloudy Kitchen’s Salted Caramel and Apple Babka
Square Meal Round Table’s Chai Spiced Tarte Tatin
The Wood and Spoon’s Maple Apple Cake
The Cooking of Joy’s Deep Fried Apple Dumplings with Miso Caramel Dipping Sauce
Pensive Foodie’s Mini Bacon Crusted Apple Pies
My Kitchen Love’s Bird’s Nest Caramel Apple Cake
More Icing Than Cake’s Apple Butter Pretzels with Rosemary Cheddar Dip
Casey Joy Lister’s Waldorf Salad’s Twisted Sister
The Kitchen Sink’s Apple Cheddar Loaf
What Should I Make For’s Apple Puff Pastry Tarts
Jessie Sheehan Bakes’ Apple Fritters
Smart in the Kitchen’s Gluten Free Apple Cranberry Crisp
This Healthy Table’s Cardamom Apple Tart
Figs & Flour’s Apple Purple Potato Pizza
Something New for Dinner’s Savory Bread Pudding with Apples, Sausage, and Pecan
Always Eat Dessert’s Apple Spice Scones with Maple Bourbon Glaze
Rezel Kealoha’s Rose Poached Apples with Rosewater Reduction
The Soup Solution’s Fennel Sausage and and Apple Dressing (Stuffing)
Lemon Thyme and Ginger’s Smoky Maple Apple Dutch Baby
Gobble the Cook’s One Pan Pork Chops and Sausages with Apple
Hola Jalapeno’s Fluffy Apple Chili Biscuits
Salt and Wind’s Pomegranate Ginger Apple Cider Punch
What Annie’s Eating’s Butternut Squash/Apple Soup with Asiago and Sage Croutons
Flours in Your Hair’s Brown Butter Bourbon Apple Pie
Confetti Kitchen’s Kale Salad with Chicken and Apple
Salted Plains’ Gluten-Free Apple Crumb Cake
Easy and Delish’s Fun Candy Corn Apple Pops
This Mess is Ours’ Easy Baked Apple Custard
Butter Loves Company’s Gingerbread with Brandied Apples
Zestful Kitchen’s Puffed Apple Pancake
Sweet Pillar Food’s Apple Honey Brie
A Farmgirl’s Dabbles Peanut Butter Apple Cookies
A Savory Dish’s Peanut Butter Protein Dip
Especially Southern Dishes’ Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Pie Girl Bakes’ Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Cocoa and Salt’s Vegan Apple Stuffin’ Muffins
Saltnpepperhere’s Honey Apple Muffins
Worthy Pause’s Thanksgiving-in-Your-Mouth Paleo Stuffing
Baking The Goods’ Apple Cheddar and Thyme Scones
Smart in the Kitchen’s Gluten Free Apple Cranberry Crisp
Measuring Cups Optional’s Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Inspired by the Seasons’ Brussels Sprout & Apple Slaw
What Should I Make for Dinner’s Apple Puff Pastry Tarts
The Foodie and the Fit’s Venetian Bread Pudding with Apples
Champagne and Cookies’ Apple Cheddar Galette
What’s Karen Cooking’s Country Apple Cake with Cardamom Apple Compote
Enjoy! xo
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