Italian Apple Cake — Why This is on Every Table in Lunigiana

Italians make apple cakes often; these cakes are as common as our American apple pie. The Rotunda apples grown in the Lunigiana are not pretty, but the flavor is intense and insanely delicious. We have a huge apple tree at La Fortezza, so this cake is almost always on our credenza in the fall. ---- INGREDIENTS Serves 8 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup type "0" flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons sweet Marsala wine 4 cups 1-inch cubed apples (I suggest Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) 1 to 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 cup whipping cream (optional) PREPARATION Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and 2/3 cup of the granulated sugar medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs to the mixer on low speed, then slowly add the vanilla and Marsala. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. Fold in the apples by hand. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake for 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes before releasing the cake from the pan. Place the cake on a platter and dust it with 1 tablespoon of the powdered sugar. If making the whipped cream, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the cream and remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar. Whisk on high speed for about 5 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Serve the cake warm or at room temperature, topped with whipped cream, if using. The cake can be stored, covered, on the counter for up to 4 days. ---- Be sure to subscribe to my real estate channel, for fun tours of amazing properties for sale in Italy:    / @annettejosephstyle   ---- SUBSCRIBE TO MY 📰 NEWSLETTER: https://annettejoseph.substack.com Check out my 📖 Books! NEW!!! 🍰 Available now - my dessert cookbook, The Sweet Life at La Fortezza: https://annettejoseph.com/ 🔪 The Killer Menu - A Delicious Tale of Food, Family and Murder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFX6N2M4/ 🍽️ At the Table of La Fortezza: https://www.amazon.com/At-Table-Forte... 🍸 Cocktail Italiano: The Definitive Guide to Aperitivo: Drinks, Nibbles, and Tales of the Italian Riviera: https://www.amazon.com/Cocktail-Itali... 🎈Picture Perfect Parties: https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Perfec... 💏 Italy is my Boyfriend: https://www.amazon.com/Italy-My-Boyfr... 🇮🇹My Italian Guestbook: https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Guestb... ✈️🏰 Find out more about Retreats at La Fortezza here: https://annettejosephstyleworkshops.s... ---- Chapters: 00:00 - Leo has a knife! 00:26 - My new book 01:09 - Apple Cake 01:32 - Apple peeling competition 02:25 - Preparing your springform pan 03:22 - Check out my real estate channel 04:16 - Making the batter 07:24 - Mixing in the apples 08:42 - 40 minutes later 10:06 - Taste test #cookingvideo #italy #cake