The Season of Change
“Want to see a present I got for Lee? Look! She opened a little cardboard box. It’s a new kind of potato peeler. Takes off just the skin. It’s easy. I got it for Lee.”
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Inspiration
Apple season, a reminder, a wake up call, we are skidding along the ark of change. Soon it will be fall. There was a time that I dreaded apple season. It was long ago. Standing on a stool I was given a vegetable peeler and scraped and whacked away at the apples until the pile finally, mercifully grew smaller. Now I use a sharp knife to peel apples. In pastry school I learned to quarter the apples, remove the core and then swiftly peel away the skin of each quarter. Even though the work flow has changed there isn’t an apple that I peel that doesn’t bring back childhood memories. Doesn’t matter if it’s slicing an apple for a snack or making a cake, I vividly recall how overwhelmed I felt looking at the huge pile of apples. I don’t mind peeling apples anymore. I suppose its because I get to choose how many apples to peel. The cushion of time softens even the strongest of memories.
The beauty of this recipe for Marie Hélène’s Apple Cake from Dorie Greenspan, is its simplicity. After the cake ingredients are whisked together, the apple chunks are folded into the batter and then the cake is ready to bake. If you have apples you probably will have all the cake ingredients too. There is no cinnamon, only dark rum and a splash of vanilla to enhance the apple flavor. If you can use different apple varieties, do so. That way Marie Hélène’s Apple Cake will have a variety of apple flavors and textures. Some will melt into sauce while others retain their shape, some will be sweeter than others, all adding to the intense apple flavor of this fabulous little eight inch cake. Marie Hélène’s Apple Cake can be baked just until a cake tester comes out cleanly for a more custardy filling or baked another five minutes for a firmer textured cake. Either way this recipe is a wonderful way to celebrate the new harvest of apples.
Essentials
Marie Hélène’s Apple Cake can be found in Food52’s Genius Recipes cookbook. I had resisted buying another cookbook but when I found it at Costco it came home with me and I have no regrets. Making every genius recipe would keep me happy for months. The recipe for Marie Helene’s Apple Cake is all over the internet and can be found on countless other blogs. I even have the recipe bookmarked in Dorie Greenspan’s, Around my French Table. I’ve made the recipe twice and wonder why I didn’t make it sooner. Seasonal, easy and scrumptious, everything I want as we bake our way to November.
What a divine cake, I am all about apple in every bite and your ratio of cake to fruit looks spot on!
Thank you Laura! This is a fabulous Dorie Greenspan recipe!
This looks absolutely delightful! And it really is so hard to resist the stacks of cookbooks at Costco, isn’t it?
Thank you Natalie! Yes, the cookbooks at Costco always get my attention.
Thank you Deb for sharing this delicious recipe. I made it last evening using Granny Smith and Gala apples. It was quite simple to put together and bake. We shared half the cake with the neighbors. I will be making this one again!
I picked plenty of Granny Smiths in Paso Robles over the weekend. Would be happy to share if you are interested. I can drop them off anytime. Just let me know???
Mindy
Thank you for the delicious comment Mindy! It really is a genius recipe from Dorie Greenspan! I would love some apples!
This cake is so nice — one of my favorites. Haven’t made it in ages, though. Your version looks particularly nice — and it’s gorgeous. Thanks!
Thank you John! I wish I would have tried this recipe ages ago, it’s wonderful!
Obviously we both are already enjoying the apple season! Last weekend I made an apple cake (for the first time) from Inspired Edibles and it was quite delicious. Now, looking at yours, looks like I’ll be making another apple cake. I think I’m falling in love with apple cakes!
Thank you for the apple adoration! Apple season has arrived!
Look at all those apples! This sounds so good, what a delicious autumn recipe.
Thank you for the gracious comment!
This looks spectacular! I am not a fan of cooked fruit, but I really like how the apples are incorporated into the cake (not like a pie). This might just be the one to get me eating cooked fruit! Hope you’re well!
Thank you for the apple love Jacquee! I will admit to being rather fond of fruit desserts!
I love all of the genius recipes too, especially from Dorie. Your images look immaculate – all of them. My apple tree is just about ready, my paring knife too. I won’t be daunted. 🙂
Thank you for the apple love Kellie! Is apple butter in your future?
Love how custardy your apple cake is, looks delicious!!
Thank you for the gracious comment Cheri!
A looks SO amazing! I never had an apple season with piles of apples, but I definitely love the beginning of autumn because of the apple recipes and comfort it brings. Thank you for sharing this!
Oh Ala! I hope your autumn is filled with comfort and only the apples of your choosing!
Deb, I don’t remember peeling apples as a child, however, I now consider doing so to be therapeutic. I don’t mind it at all. And I too use a paring knife, not a peeler. I love apple cake and I am enticed by the custardy nature of this one.
BTW, I have held out on buying Genius Recipes for the same reason, but like you, I’m rushing to Costco to get my copy now that I know it’s available there. 🙂
Thank you for the delicious comment Mary! I am happy to hear that peeling apples is not a chore for everyone! The Genius Recipes cookbook is quite amazing, even if we already have some of the recipes in our cookbook “library”….
We are given apples by a neighbour every year – tiny things – an old sort rarely grown these days – with many scars and bruises, and the work involved in preparing them is so daunting… but worth it for the flavour! Loved reading your post this morning Deb, and that cake really does look good. Wonder if we will receive any apples this year… I must check my doorstep! 😉
Thank you Cathy! Lucky you, home grown apples are the best!
This is another beautiful post of yours Deb. I love this apple cake. I would definitely go for the custard like consistency when making this cake. I don’t rember having to peel apples as a child but I do remember having to pick them up from the ground.
Thank you Gerlinde! Playtime for adults who had to work through their childhood is precious indeed!
I can’t wait to try this recipe. It looks heavenly. The Sacramento apple season has begun and it will be a tough choice which apples to pick (pink lady, black arkansas, pippin, granny smith – just too many to choose from).
Your pictures are frame worthy!
Thank you for the wonderful comment Andy! That’s another reason this recipe is genius, a variety of apples is encouraged!
I was tempted to put that cookbook in my costco basket. At the same time Martha’s Vegetable cookbook and bon appetite’s Baking Fall 2016 magazine also found its way in that large cart. I was so proud to have made it out of the warehouse with zero additional cookbooks (but they’re still calling me…). They’re my weakness! 🙂
Beautiful cake and love the images of the apple orchards. I’m going to try to make your cake (found the recipe!). I bet its better than apple pie!
Thank you for the wonderful comment Cristina! Every Costco trip I also check the cookbook selection! Marie Helene’s Apple Cake is all over the web and also in two cookbooks, there must be a reason this Dorie Greenspan recipe is so popular.
A baked good from my fave season! It looks so moist and delish!!!
Thank you for the gracious comment Denise!