Description
Invisible Apple Cake, or ‘Gâteau Invisible,’ is a light and elegant French dessert made with thinly sliced apples bound by a delicate custard-like batter. The batter disappears as it bakes, creating a soft, fruit-packed cake with a golden top and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Ingredients
- 4–5 firm apples (Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line or grease a loaf pan or small rectangular baking dish.
- Peel, core, and slice the apples very thinly using a mandoline or sharp knife. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until light and frothy.
- Add the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture to form a smooth batter.
- Fold the thin apple slices into the batter until fully coated.
- Pour the apple-batter mixture into the prepared pan, pressing down lightly to layer evenly.
- Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before removing from the pan. Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.
Notes
Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced variation.Use thinly sliced pears or a mix of apples and pears for variety.Swap regular milk and butter with dairy-free alternatives to make it dairy-free.Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for a gluten-free version.Add a bit of lemon zest for a refreshing citrus note.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
