Yabluchnyk
Ukrainian Apple Cake
Yabluchnyk is a delightful Ukrainian apple cake featuring a tender, cake-like base topped with a generous layer of sliced apples and a crumbly streusel topping. It's an easy-to-prepare dessert that showcases the natural sweetness of apples, often enhanced with cinnamon.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 cups All-purpose flour(plus 2 tbsp for streusel)
- 0.25 cup White sugar(plus 1/2 cup for streusel)
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 0.25 tsp Salt
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter(cut into pieces, plus 2 tbsp for streusel)
- 0.33 cup Cream
- 1 Large egg(beaten)
- 4 Large apples(peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
- 2 tsp Ground cinnamon(for streusel)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish.
- 2
Make the cake batter: In a mixing bowl, sift together 1.5 cups flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in 1/2 cup butter using a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- 3
In a small bowl, whisk together the cream and beaten egg. Add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients and gently mix until a soft dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- 4
Layer the sliced apples over the dough in neat, slightly overlapping rows.
- 5
Make the streusel topping: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp flour, and 2 tsp cinnamon. Cut in 2 tbsp cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the apples.
- 6
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the streusel topping is golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use firm apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for best results, as they hold their shape well during baking.
- ✓For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the streusel topping.
- ✓This cake is delicious served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Substitute other fruits like sliced peaches, plums, or pitted cherries for the apples.
- Add a handful of raisins or chopped walnuts to the apple layer for added texture and flavor.