Irresistibly Easy Bavarian Apple Cake: A Cheesecake and Apple Pie Fusion Featuring Cosmic Crisp® Apples
Imagine a dessert that captures the comforting essence of a classic apple pie, yet offers the creamy indulgence of a cheesecake, all encased in a tender, buttery shortcrust that requires no fussy rolling. This isn’t just a dream; it’s our Easy Bavarian Apple Cake, a truly spectacular creation that’s as simple to make as it is impressive to serve. Crafted with the remarkable Cosmic Crisp® apples, known for their extraordinary crispness and perfect sweet-tangy balance, this cake promises to be a showstopper at any gathering. The luscious cheesecake layer forms a delightful base for a generous mound of cinnamon-kissed apple slices, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that will undoubtedly ‘wow’ your guests. Perfect for entertaining, this dessert can even be prepared ahead of time, allowing you to relax and enjoy the occasion without last-minute fuss.
Thanks to Cosmic Crisp® Washington Apples for sponsoring this post, allowing me to share this delightful recipe and highlight one of my absolute favorite fruits for snacking, cooking, and baking.
The Magic of Cosmic Crisp® Apples: A Baker’s Dream
Our secret ingredient for this extraordinary cake is the Cosmic Crisp® Washington apple. Ever since these stellar apples graced our grocery shelves again this season, they’ve been a constant in my kitchen, transforming everything from a simple snack to elaborate baked goods. Their incredible crunch and unique sweet-tangy profile make them a joy to eat fresh, whether you’re munching one straight from the fridge for a mid-afternoon energy boost or dicing it to add a vibrant, crisp texture to a fresh green salad. But it’s in baking that Cosmic Crisp apples truly shine. Unlike other varieties that might turn mushy, these apples retain their shape and a delightful tender-crisp texture, infusing baked goods like our Bavarian Apple Cake with a bright, fresh apple flavor that’s simply unmatched.
The journey of the Cosmic Crisp apple is quite fascinating, spanning several decades of classical breeding at Washington State University. It’s a non-GMO success story, a natural cross between the ‘Enterprise’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ varieties, resulting in a large, juicy apple with a remarkably firm texture. Beyond their exceptional flavor and crispness, one of their most valuable attributes, especially for bakers and snackers alike, is their natural resistance to browning when cut. This means your apple slices stay beautiful and appealing longer, whether you’re arranging them artfully on a cake or preparing a fruit platter for guests. This inherent quality not only enhances the visual appeal of your dishes but also provides peace of mind when you’re preparing food in advance, making Cosmic Crisp apples an ideal choice for any recipe requiring fresh apple slices.
The Harmonious Layers of Our Bavarian Apple Cake
The magic of this Bavarian Apple Cake lies in the synergy of its three distinct yet perfectly complementary layers. First, we have the crust – a buttery, cookie-like shortcrust that eliminates the need for any complicated pastry rolling. This straightforward base is pressed directly into the springform pan, making it incredibly easy to prepare, even for novice bakers. It bakes up golden and crisp, providing a sturdy, flavorful foundation for the layers above.
Next comes the creamy cheesecake layer, a delicate yet rich component that provides a wonderful contrast to the apples. It’s just the right thickness – enough to impart that signature cheesecake tang and silkiness, but not so much that it overwhelms the star of the show: the apples. This layer bakes up beautifully, creating a smooth, custard-like texture that truly elevates the dessert, making it more than just an apple pie.
Finally, the crowning glory: a generous topping of thinly sliced Cosmic Crisp apples. These are lightly tossed with a hint of cinnamon and a minimal amount of sugar. Because Cosmic Crisp apples are naturally so sweet and tangy, we can significantly reduce the added sugar, allowing their pure, intense apple flavor to shine through. Even after baking, their texture remains wonderfully tender-crisp, ensuring every bite is fresh and vibrant. A sprinkle of sliced almonds adds a subtle nutty crunch and a beautiful golden finish, while a final dusting of icing sugar makes this cake look as exquisite as it tastes. When you present this masterpiece, expect a chorus of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ – it’s simply irresistible!
Let’s Bake Our Easy Bavarian Apple Cake
Let’s dive into the wonderfully simple process of creating this show-stopping Bavarian Apple Cake. You’ll be amazed at how easily these layers come together. The total hands-on time is minimal, leading to maximum flavor and enjoyment!
Crafting the Effortless Crust
Forget about chilled butter and finicky pastry doughs. For this crust, you’ll simply cream softened butter, a touch of sugar, and vanilla extract in your stand mixer until light and fluffy. Then, gradually add the flour (whether you’re using a gluten-free blend or all-purpose flour, both yield fantastic results). The mixture will initially appear dry and crumbly, but with continued mixing, it will magically transform into a soft, cohesive dough, much like playdough. There’s no need for a rolling pin! Just press this malleable dough evenly into a 9-inch springform pan, extending it halfway up the sides. To ensure a uniform thickness and smooth out any thick spots, gently press the bottom of a flat cup or jar into the corners and along the edges. This little trick ensures your crust is perfectly even and golden. For an elegant touch, you can use the rounded side of a small measuring spoon to create a beautiful scalloped pattern along the top edge of the crust – an extra detail that makes the cake look even more special.
Whipping Up the Velvety Filling
There’s no need to even clean your mixing bowl after making the crust! Once the crust is prepared, simply add the room-temperature cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract directly into the bowl. Beat these ingredients until the mixture is smooth and completely lump-free. The importance of using room-temperature cream cheese cannot be overstated here; it ensures a silky, uniform consistency for your filling, which translates to a perfectly smooth baked layer. Gently pour this luscious cream cheese mixture over your prepared crust, spreading it out evenly to create a perfect, creamy canvas for the apples.
Arranging the Flavorful Topping
Now for the star: the Cosmic Crisp apples. Peel, core, and slice three to four medium-large apples into thin wedges. As you slice, feel free to sneak a few bites – their irresistible sweetness and tang are hard to resist! In a separate bowl, toss these beautiful apple slices with a modest amount of sugar and a kiss of cinnamon. Thanks to the natural sweetness and tang of Cosmic Crisp apples, you won’t need much added sugar, allowing their true flavor to shine. Carefully arrange these cinnamon-sugar coated apple slices over the cream cheese filling. You can opt for a charmingly rustic, haphazard pile, or take a moment to arrange them in elegant concentric circles for a truly stunning presentation. Don’t worry if you get distracted; Cosmic Crisp apples are naturally slow to brown, so your slices will maintain their fresh, inviting appearance, even if you pause for a moment. Finally, sprinkle the sliced almonds generously over the apples, adding a lovely crunch and toasted aroma as the cake bakes.
Baking to Golden Perfection and Serving with Flair
With all layers assembled, your masterpiece is ready for the oven. You’ll start with a short burst of high heat at 450°F (230°C) for 10 minutes, which helps the crust crisp up beautifully, then reduce the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking for another 25-30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and the apples are tender. Once baked, allow the cake to cool in the pan. After about 10 minutes, carefully run a knife around the inner edge of the springform pan to prevent the crust from sticking as it cools and to ensure an easy release later. For best results and optimal slicing, chill the cake for 1 to 2 hours, or even longer – this also makes it a superb make-ahead dessert. Once thoroughly cooled and chilled, carefully remove the springform ring and transfer the cake to a beautiful serving plate. Just before serving, give it a light dusting of icing sugar – a simple yet elegant finishing touch that adds a touch of sophistication. This Bavarian Apple Cake is absolutely exquisite on its own, but it reaches new heights of deliciousness when served with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream, or even a delicate drizzle of warm caramel sauce. Every bite offers a delightful symphony of buttery crust, creamy cheesecake, and tender, vibrant apples – sheer dessert heaven! Your guests will be asking for the recipe, guaranteed.
You’ve got a buttery cookie crust, a creamy cheesecake layer, and a whole mound of tender, baked Cosmic Crisp apples. Sheer pie-cake-cheesecake heaven in every forkful.
Take a bite of that lusciousness, enjoy the taste sensation, and let the world stop for a moment. This is bliss.
Beyond the Cake: Versatile Uses for Cosmic Crisp® Apples
This beloved recipe, a treasured adaptation from a wonderful Swiss baker friend, Elsa, has been refined to truly highlight the magnificent qualities of Cosmic Crisp apples. By slightly reducing the sugar content from the original, we allow the apples’ natural sweetness and bright tang to take center stage, proving that quality ingredients truly make all the difference. While this cake is a fantastic way to enjoy Cosmic Crisp apples, their versatility extends far beyond baking.
Stock up on a basketful at your local grocery store, and you’ll have a gourmet treat ready for any occasion. Store them in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer to maintain their exceptional crunch and freshness. They’re perfect for quick, healthy snacking on the go, or for creating an elegant fruit platter, especially since they resist browning so well, keeping your presentation pristine. Consider incorporating them into a vibrant Festive Waldorf Salad for a holiday meal, adding an unexpected crispness and tangy sweetness to the classic. Or, for a refreshing change of pace during festive gatherings, switch things up with light and refreshing Apple and Shrimp Salad Rolls, where the crisp apples provide a delightful textural contrast. And for a lighter start to your day after indulging a little too much, a healthy breakfast version of Bircher Muesli with these crisp apples is simply divine. Enjoy Cosmic Crisp apples while they are in season – they truly are a special gourmet gift to yourself and your loved ones, offering endless culinary possibilities!
Guten Appetit!
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Bavarian Apple Cake (Bayrischer Apfelkuchen)
Margaret Bose Johnson
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Ingredients
for the crust:
- ½ cup (1 stick/115gms) salted butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend (or all-purpose flour for non-gluten-free)
for the filling:
- 1 package (8oz/250gms) cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ cup (50gms) sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
for the topping:
- 4 cups peeled and sliced Cosmic Crisp apples 3-4 medium-large apples/500 gms when peeled & sliced
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) sliced almonds
to serve:
- a dusting of icing sugar/confectioners sugar
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Make the crust: Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer until fluffy. Add the flour and mix until the dough comes together in a smooth ball. It will be dry and crumbly at first, but eventually form a soft cohesive mass (like playdough).
- Pat the dough into a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan, pushing it halfway up the sides (don’t clean out the mixing bowl just yet). Use a flat-bottomed cup or jar to push the dough into the corners and along the sides to smooth them out so the dough is not thicker at the crease around the bottom edge. Level out the top edge all the way around by pushing down on it to make it even. You can scallop the top edge in a pattern by pushing down with a measuring spoon all the way around, if you wish (or just leave it straight).
- Then the filling: Into the mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese (if it wasn’t softened enough, put it in the microwave for 20 seconds on high power) and sugar. Cream them together until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth and lump-free. Pour the cream cheese filling onto the prepared pastry crust and smooth the top.
- And finally, the topping: Peel, quarter, and core the apples, then cut out the cores. Cut each quarter into thin lengthwise slices (6 to 8 slices per quarter). Mix the cinnamon and sugar, then sprinkle it over the apples and toss to coat all the slices.
- Arrange the sugared apple slices on top of the cream cheese filling, either in a charming haphazard way or in a pattern of concentric circles. Lay the apple slices out singly (it doesn’t take long, I promise) rather than dumping them in, so that they stay on top of the cheesecake layer. Scrape in any apple juices from the bowl.
- Sprinkle with the sliced almonds.
- Then bake: Bake the apple cake for 10 minutes at 450°F (230°C), then lower the heat to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking for another 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan. After 10 minutes, run a knife around the inside of the ring to loosen it, then continue to cool the cake until it is no longer warm. Chill for 1 to 2 hours or longer. Remove the springform ring and put the cake onto a serving plate.
- Dust with icing sugar just before serving. Delicious with whipped cream.
- Serves 8.
Notes
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You might also like these delightful apple recipes:
German Crustless Apple Pie
Versunkener Apfelkuchen (German Sunken Apple Cake)
Buckwheat Apple Crumble Cake
Classic Apple Crisp