Omi’s German Apple Cake

parties bring together laughter, crazy dancing, good friends, great food and even better desserts! Which is why, on my wishlist of the perfect evening, my Omi’s German Apple Cake takes top priority. Found whilst leafing through a cake-splattered, butter-battered Liberty’s recipe book and handwritten in blue biro, inked on a browning page since September 1989, this was my kind of cake for a winter evening of great company. 

When I was little, I would visit my Omi weekly, more so to take out her silver tea set of teapot, cups and saucers which I’d fill to the brim with water and serve up among Sapphire’s “Gold Collection” of Butter Cookies. Even now, I can taste the metallic rim of the cups as I sipped and enjoyed an afternoon of make-believe “tea” and biscuits. However, one immense treat was a traditional German Apple Cake which my Omi would make it her tiny, dark kitchen with the beige linoleum flooring and I came to love it more and more as the years flew by. 

The recipe has been in the family for as long as I can remember and having passed hands to my mum who took note of the recipe and recreates this delicious teatime cake for weekends, roasts and dinner parties, has finally made it’s way to me. I added dollaps of sweet-salty dulce de leche to the apples which creates the undeniably irresistable caramel-apple flavour, to warm the palette on a cold winter night. Moist, dense and crammed with grated apple, this butter cake is delicious served with whipped double cream laced with vanilla sugar and a flood of white icing. 

I owe the beautiful Prunelle Grise for my props – she really is the Queen of brocante! Make this cake for your favourite friends and family for a party evening like no other.