Hungarian Apple Cake (Almás Pite) Recipe (2024)

Is it apieor acake? It is definitely delicious, an easy to make dessert filled with sweetened shreddedapplespiced with cinnamon and lemon.

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Hungarian Apple Cake (Almás Pite) Recipe (1)

Hungarian apple cake is a true Hungarian classic, quite popular in the country. Is it a pie or a cake? It is definitely delicious, an easy to make dessert filled with sweetened shredded apple spiced with cinnamon and lemon.

I grew up eating this beautiful dessert, my grandmother loved to bake and often made almás pite for us. She alwyas let me help her in the kitchen, I always think of her when I make this recipe.

How to make Hungarian apple cake?

The dough is very simple, made with all purpose flour, butter, sugar, baking powder and egg. I always add some lemon zest, it makes the dough super delicious, and also sprinkle a little vanilla flavoring in. In Hungary we use vanilla flavored sugar, you can use extract as well.

I mix sour cream in the dough. Sour cream is definitely adding moisture to your cakes, also, make your cake richer as it is made from cream that contains fat. Use full-fat sour cream and stir it up in the container or in a a bowl before adding to the dough.

You have to devide the dough into 2 balls and rest for a while before rolling out.

What kind of apples to use in the apple pie?

The applse are shredded in this recipe (not sliced or cubed), I prefer using tart or sweet-tart apples.
These are the best apple for apple pie: Granny’s Smith, Idared, Pink Lady, Jonagold

Once you shredded the apples, add some powdered sugar and sprinkle with ground cinnamon and lemon juice. Let is sit, the apples will release a nice amount of liquid. Take large handfuls of apples and, with your hands clenched, squeeze out most of the juice from the apples (but make sure the apple are not super dry, keep some moisture in, otherwise your pie will be very dry!) and place the balls of squeezed apples in a bowl.

How to make powdered sugar in just 30 seconds?

I teach you how to make powdered sugar at home! It is so simple with the sugar of your choice, once you learn this, no need to buy it any more. In addition, since you are making yours fresh, you can skip the corn starch when you make it at home.

You just need a spice grinder, and you can prinkle the freshest powdered sugar in your dessert. My Mom gave me this grinder, it is a popular brand in Hungary but not available in North America. The Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder at Amazon is easily available for anyone, you can even grind your own coffee and different spices.

Hungarian apple cake (Almás pite)

Hungarian apple cake is a true Hungarian classic, quite popular in the country. Is it a pie or a cake? It is definitely delicious, an easy to make dessert filled with sweetened shredded apple spiced with cinnamon and lemon.

5 from 2 votes

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Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Hungarian

Servings 6 people

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls - large, medium

  • Measuring spoons

  • Measuring cup

  • Zester

  • Greater

  • Pastry brush

  • Parckemt papert

  • Rolling Pin

  • Baking tin (11x8)

Ingredients

For the dough

  • 2.5 cups of all purpose flour (300 grams)
  • 1 stick of butter (115 grams or 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (50 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 tbsp of sour cream + a little extra if needed
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon zest

For the apple filling

  • 6 medium sized tart apples
  • 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (50 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 4 tbsp of ground walnuts (optional)
  • 1 tbsp of lemon juice
  • 1 whole egg for brushing the dough

Instructions

  • Mix the flour and the cubed butter by hand. The mixture will be quite crumbly.

  • Add 1 whole egg, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, baking powder, sour cream, and lemon zest. Knead thoroughly. Add more flour if necessary.

  • Divide the dough into 2 balls, cover and let rest for 20 minutes.

  • Peel the apples, core, and shred them. Add the sugar, the cinnamon, and the lemon juice. Mix well and drain the juice. Drink the apple juice, it is delicious. :)

  • Heat the oven to 180°C (355°F). Butter and flour your baking tin.

  • On a floured surface roll out one part of the dough to the size of the baking tin (11x8), then lay it in.

  • Sprinkle with half of the ground walnuts (optional). Spread the apples on the dough; sprinkle it with the remaining walnuts. Roll out the top crust and place over the apples, sealing the edges and making slits in it.

  • Prick to allow vapor to escape, and brush with egg wash.

  • Bake the cake for 30 minutes, until the top is light-browned. Let it cool. Cut into squares, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve.

Hungarian Apple Cake (Almás Pite) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my apple cake fall apart? ›

There are two main reasons why an apple cake would fall apart: (1) it was simply too warm when you were trying to cut and serve it or (2) you used too many/the wrong kind of apple. See notes above about picking and choosing the best kinds of apples for a recipe like this.

Why is apple cake called apple cake? ›

Apple cakes are cakes in which apples feature as a main flavour and ingredient.

What 4 apples are best used for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

Why is my apple cake raw in the middle? ›

The most common yet overlooked reasons why do cakes sink in the middle may include:
  1. Inaccurate Oven Temperature. Oven temperature can alone ruin your cake! ...
  2. Old and Excessive Baking Powder/Soda. ...
  3. Under-cooked Cake Layers. ...
  4. Incorrect Measurements. ...
  5. Overbeating the Batter. ...
  6. Too little or too much Moisture.
Sep 21, 2023

Why is my apple cake dense? ›

My cake is very dense.

This could be because a/ the cake mixture hasn't had enough air beaten into it, b/ the eggs were added too quickly and curdled or c/ there's not enough raising agent.

How do you keep apples from sinking to the bottom of a cake? ›

The best way to avoid sinking fruit is to toss the fruit in a couple of tablespoons of the flour (just use some from the measured amount for the recipe) to coat it lightly. Once added to the cake mixture the flour coating will thicken the batter immediately surrounding the fruit and help suspend the fruit.

Should you refrigerate apple cake? ›

In warm climates it is better to store the cake in the fridge. The cake can be removed from the fridge an hour before serving to let it come back to room temperature. The cake could be left to cool completely and then iced, but you would need to omit the flaked almond topping.

Can you leave apple cake out overnight? ›

How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.

Why is it called Elvis Presley cake? ›

Before it's served, you'll add a layer of cream cheese frosting and sprinkle candied pecans on top for some crunch. Internet lore would have you believe this pineapple-topped concoction was Elvis Presley's favorite cake, that he even asked his grandmother to make it for him as a kid.

What is the healthiest oil for baking cakes? ›

Grapeseed Oil

It is one of the best baking oils for health because it is a great source of vitamin E and oleic acid. Another great bonus of grapeseed oil is that, like vegetable oil options, it doesn't have a strong flavor.

Why is it called depression cake? ›

Depression Cake, also known as Wacky Cake or War Cake (among other names), originated in the Great Depression. It is a cake made without milk, eggs, or butter. These were all ingredients that were hard to come by during the Great Depression and at wartime.

Are Gala or Fuji apples better for baking? ›

Texture & Use in Recipes: In terms of texture, Fuji apples are also a lot crisper, and less dense than Gala apples. So, they result in a firm bite with juicy flesh while Galas are softer and creamier. Their texture also means that Fujis are better for baking as they hold their shape better than Galas when cooked!

Is gala apple good for baking? ›

Gala apples are also too sweet for most desserts and don't bake as well as other varieties, so save those for snacking, too.

Are Honeycrisp apples good for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

What type of apple is most popular for baking pies? ›

Granny Smith.

Firm and very tart, this variety is the go-to for many when it comes to pie because it keeps its shape extremely well. But it isn't exactly known for its flavor, so Granny Smiths are best used in conjunction with sweeter and/or more flavorful apples.

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