{"slug":"french-apple-cake","collection":"recipes","is_recipe":true,"visibility":"public","title":"French Apple Cake","description":"A Milk Street-inspired French cake with browned butter, brandy-glazed apples, and a deeply caramelized top crust.","body_md":"## Source\n\nMilk Street\n\n## Special Equipment\n\n-   9\" springform or round cake pan\n-   12\" non-stick skillet\n-   Small heat-proof bowl\n-   A second small bowl\n-   Large mixing bowl\n-   Large plate on which to cool cooked appless\n\n## Preheat Oven\n\n1.  Preheat to 375°F\n\n## Ingredients\n\n-   113g (4oz) unsalted butter\n-   7 grams of salt, divided into 3 grams and 4 grams\n-   ¼ teaspoon ground allspice\n-   680 grams (1 ½ pounds) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices\n-   454 grams (1 pound) Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices\n-   149 grams (12 tablespoons) white sugar, divided into:\n    -  25 grams (2 tablespoons)\n    -  113 grams (9 tablespoons)\n    -  12 grams (1 tablespoon)\n-   2 tablespoons brandy or Calvados\n-   95g (3oz) all-purpose flour\n-   1 teaspoon baking powder\n-   2 large eggs\n-   2 teaspoons vanilla extract\n\n## Preparation\n\n### Prep Pan\n\n1.  Butter and flour the 9\" springform or cake pan.\n\n### Melt Butter\n\n1.  Add **butter** and **4 grams salt** to a 12\" non-stick skillet\n2.  Cook on **medium-high heat**, swirling the skilled frequently until the milk solids are golden brown; about 5 to 7 minutes.\n3.  Pour butter into a small heat-proof bowl, without scraping the skillet; leaving excess butter for the next step.\n4.  Add **allspice** to butter and stir. Set aside.\n\n### Apples\n\n1.  Add all of the **apples** to the still-hot skillet.\n2.  Add the **25 grams (2 tbsp) sugar** and **3 grams of salt**.\n3.  Cook over **medium-high** heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are starting to brown and liquid has evaporated; about 15 minutes.\n4.  Add **brandy** and cook till evaporated; about 30 seconds.\n5.  Transfer cooked apples to a large plate, spread into a single layer, and refrigerate till cool; about 30 minutes.\n\n### Cake Batter\n\nOnce the apples are cool...\n\n1.  In a small bowl, whisk together **flour** and **baking power**.\n2.  In a large bowl, whisk together **eggs**, **vanilla**, and **113 grams (9 tbsp) sugar**.\n3.  Into the eggs/sugar, gradually whisk in the browned butter.\n4.  Using a rubber spatula, stir in flour mixture.\n5.  Add cooled apples; fold until well combined.\n\n### Pour into Pan\n\n1.  Pour batter into the prepared pan.\n2.  Spread into an even layer.\n3.  Sprinkle remaining 12 grams (1 tbsp) sugar over top of batter.\n\n## Bake\n\n1.  Bake until cake is deeply browned; **35 to 40 minutes**.\n2.  Let cool **10 minutes**; run a knife around the edge of the pan.\n3.  Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.\n\n\n## Notes\n\n- **Arithmetic fix (2026-07-30):** the sugar total read 149g but its three parts (25g + 113g + 12g) sum to 150g; the tablespoon split (2 + 9 + 1 = 12) was already correct. Total corrected to 150g. The three sub-portions are indented sub-bullets carrying only a quantity, so they parse with a null item and are dropped from shopping lists — harmless here, since the parent line covers the purchase.\n- **Unit repair (2026-07-30):** the ounce figures in this recipe were placeholders, not conversions — everything between 14g and 40g had been written \"(1oz)\" and everything between 43g and 65g \"(2oz)\". The gram weights are correct and unchanged; only the bogus ounce fragments are removed. Where a spoon or cup measure sat in the same parentheses it is kept, since that one is real.\n","draft":false,"servings":"8","prep_time":"20 minutes","cook_time":"1 hour 20 minutes","total_time":"2 hours 10 minutes","source_name":"Milk Street","created_at":"2017-12-27T03:32:43Z","updated_at":"2026-07-30T12:00:51.578749Z","categories":["dessert"],"tags":["Apples","brandy","milk street"],"methods":["Baked"],"themes":["Vegetarian"],"ingredients":[{"section":"","items":["-   113g (4oz) unsalted butter","-   7 grams of salt, divided into 3 grams and 4 grams","-   ¼ teaspoon ground allspice","-   680 grams (1 ½ pounds) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices","-   454 grams (1 pound) Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices","-   150 grams (12 tablespoons) white sugar, divided into:","    -  25 grams (2 tablespoons)","    -  113 grams (9 tablespoons)","    -  12 grams (1 tablespoon)","-   2 tablespoons brandy or Calvados","-   95g all-purpose flour","-   1 teaspoon baking powder","-   2 large eggs","-   2 teaspoons vanilla extract"],"parsed":[{"raw":"-   113g (4oz) unsalted butter","qty":113,"unit":"g","item":"unsalted butter"},{"raw":"-   7 grams of salt, divided into 3 grams and 4 grams","qty":7,"unit":"g","item":"of salt","prep":"divided into 3 grams and 4 grams"},{"raw":"-   ¼ teaspoon ground allspice","qty":0.25,"unit":"tsp","item":"ground allspice"},{"raw":"-   680 grams (1 ½ pounds) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices","qty":680,"unit":"g","item":"Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices"},{"raw":"-   454 grams (1 pound) Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices","qty":454,"unit":"g","item":"Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices"},{"raw":"-   150 grams (12 tablespoons) white sugar, divided into:","qty":150,"unit":"g","item":"white sugar","prep":"divided into:"},{"raw":"    -  25 grams (2 tablespoons)","qty":25,"unit":"g"},{"raw":"    -  113 grams (9 tablespoons)","qty":113,"unit":"g"},{"raw":"    -  12 grams (1 tablespoon)","qty":12,"unit":"g"},{"raw":"-   2 tablespoons brandy or Calvados","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","item":"brandy or Calvados"},{"raw":"-   95g all-purpose flour","qty":95,"unit":"g","item":"all-purpose flour"},{"raw":"-   1 teaspoon baking powder","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","item":"baking powder"},{"raw":"-   2 large eggs","qty":2,"item":"large eggs"},{"raw":"-   2 teaspoons vanilla extract","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","item":"vanilla extract"}]}],"servings_int":8,"qc":{"status":"passed","last_checked_at":"2026-07-30T12:13:09.841802Z","checked_by":"claude-code","standard_version":"2026-07-29","findings_count":0,"stale":false}}