Does it get more Irish than this Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce? This recipe is a simple cake that my Irish grandmother used to make on St Patrick’s Day each year. She would make her signature homemade custard sauce which we absolutely adored as kids. It was such a treat. And now I can finally share the recipe with you.
Start by making the apple cake which is a pretty standard cake batter which incorporates chunks of apple. To make the custard sauce, whisk egg yolks and sugar in a bowl while milk comes to a boil in a medium saucepan.The hardest part when making custard is whisking the hot milk into the egg/sugar mixture without scrambling the eggs. My tip is to take it very slow! Once combined, return the mixture to the saucepan and stir until the sauce thickens.
To make Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Grease and line an 8 or 9 inch springform pan.
Sift 3 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon each of ground cloves and nutmeg into a very large mixing bowl.
Cut 6 ounces of butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add ¾ cup of sugar to the crumb mixture and stir well.
Fold the apple chunks into the flour and sugar mixture until fully combined.
Beat 2 eggs and ¾ cup of milk together in a separate bowl. Pour the egg mixture into the flour and apples and mix until just combined. The batter will resemble a thick dough-like mixture.
Transfer the cake mixture to the prepared baking pan and flatten the top using a spatula. Sprinkle the top with 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Bring 1½ cups of milk just to a boil in a small saucepan. Whisk 6 large egg yolks in a bowl with 6 tablespoons of sugar for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is pale yellow. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture.
Return the mixture to the saucepan. Stir constantly over medium heat for about 4 minutes, until the custard sauce thickens. When the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, stir in 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla. Transfer the sauce to a bowl or serving jug.
Serve the cake with a warm or cold custard sauce poured over.
This Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce is a real taste of my grandmother’s kitchen. I love it and I hope you do too! If you make it, post some pics! Just don’t forget to tag #CookMeRecipes.
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