This Apple Mascarpone Cake is a delightful and moist cake featuring the creamy richness of mascarpone cheese and the sweet, slightly tart flavor of apples. The mascarpone cheese, an Italian cream cheese known for its high fat content, contributes to a wonderfully tender and moist crumb, setting this cake apart from more traditional recipes. The apples are typically sliced and arranged on top of the batter before baking, or sometimes incorporated within the batter itself, infusing the cake with their soft texture and fruity sweetness. The cake batter is usually made with eggs, sugar, flour, and a leavening agent like baking powder, along with the mascarpone cheese. The eggs provide structure and richness, while the sugar adds sweetness and aids in browning. The flour gives the cake its body, and the baking powder ensures it rises to a light and airy texture. The mascarpone cheese is the key ingredient that elevates this cake, imparting a subtle tanginess and a luxurious creaminess that keeps the cake incredibly moist even after a few days. The apples, as they bake, soften and release their juices, further moistening the cake and adding a lovely fruity aroma. The top of the cake often develops a beautiful golden-brown color, and the baked apples become tender and slightly caramelized. A dusting of powdered sugar after baking is a common and elegant finishing touch. This Apple Mascarpone Cake is relatively simple to make yet yields a sophisticated and flavorful dessert that is perfect for afternoon tea, a light dessert after dinner, or a special treat for any occasion. The combination of creamy mascarpone and soft, sweet apples creates a harmonious and satisfying cake that is both comforting and elegant.
The texture of Apple Mascarpone Cake is characterized by its exceptional moistness and tenderness, thanks to the mascarpone cheese. The crumb is soft and delicate, almost melting in your mouth. The baked apple slices on top become tender and slightly caramelized, adding a pleasant textural contrast to the smooth cake.
The flavor profile is a delightful balance of sweet, slightly tangy, and fruity. The mascarpone cheese imparts a subtle richness and a hint of tanginess that complements the sweetness of the sugar and the natural sweetness of the apples. The apples, depending on the variety used, contribute a sweet and sometimes slightly tart flavor that permeates the cake.
Apple Mascarpone Cake is a versatile dessert suitable for various occasions. It’s perfect for afternoon tea, a light and elegant dessert after a meal, a treat for brunch, or a lovely addition to a gathering. Its moistness ensures it stays delicious for several days.
The preparation of Apple Mascarpone Cake involves whisking eggs and sugar, incorporating mascarpone cheese, folding in flour and a leavening agent, and then arranging sliced apples on top before baking. The process typically begins by whisking eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mascarpone cheese is then gently folded into the egg mixture until well combined, creating a rich and creamy base. Sifted flour and a leavening agent (like baking powder) are then carefully folded into the wet ingredients until just incorporated, ensuring not to overmix the batter to maintain a tender crumb. The batter is then poured into a prepared cake pan (often a ring pan, as suggested by the image, but a round or square pan also works). Sliced apples are arranged decoratively on top of the batter, sometimes slightly pressed into it. The cake is then baked in a preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. After baking, the cake is usually cooled slightly in the pan before being transferred to a wire rack to cool completely. A final dusting of powdered sugar is often added before serving.
Ingredients (as listed):
- 4 eggs
- 120 g sugar
- 250 g mascarpone
- 200 g flour
Likely Additional Ingredients (not listed):
- 1-2 medium apples (such as Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
- Butter and flour, for preparing the cake pan
Likely Instructions:
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a cake pan (a ring pan as shown, or an 8-inch round or square pan).
- Whisk Eggs and Sugar: In a large bowl, whisk the 4 eggs and 120 g of sugar together until light and fluffy. This may take a few minutes of vigorous whisking or using an electric mixer.
- Incorporate Mascarpone: Add the 250 g of mascarpone cheese to the egg mixture. Gently fold it in with a spatula until just combined and the batter is smooth and creamy.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the 200 g of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Sifting the flour helps to ensure a light and airy cake.
- Fold in Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mascarpone mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a tough cake. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract if using.
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Arrange the sliced apples on top of the batter in a decorative pattern, slightly pressing them into the surface.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40-50 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 1 The baking time may vary depending on your oven 2 and the type of pan used.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Enjoy this moist and delicious Apple Mascarpone Cake!