Make this traditional Swedish dessert and indulge in the sweet flavors of Äppelkaka. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, this apple cake is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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swedish apple cardamom cake

If you ask me, the Swedes make the best music and some of the best cakes in the world. And thank you Sweden for IKEA; it would be punishable to forget that!

This Swedish apple and cardamom cake brings back warm memories from my first visit to Sweden.

My friend explained all about fika (basically what the Swedes call their coffee break) and let's just say I loved every bit of it. I have since been there a couple of times and this is just one of those cakes I always want to have.

why this recipe is so good

This Swedish apple cake with cardamom ticks all the boxes. Here are a few reasons why you will like this recipe:-

Easy to make.
Perfect for special holidays such as Mother's Day, Christmas, and other days when friends and family gather together.
Flavorful: combining the warm aroma of cardamon, and with the sweet and nutty flavor of marzipan it is a fluffy and delicious dessert that will delight your taste buds!
Vegetarian and can easily be made gluten-free!

what is äppelkaka

Äppelkaka is a traditional Swedish cake comprising fresh apples, sugar, flour or oats (havregryn), and butter or margarine. It is particularly popular in cafes and often served during special occasions such as holidays or family gatherings.

It is normally flavored with aromatic spices such as cinnamon and cardamom. It is traditionally served with some vanilla sauce (vaniljsås).

ingredients

Apples - cored and cut into slices
Marzipan - In Sweden, mandelmassa is used. But not to worry, it is very similar to regular baking marzipan, just with more almonds and less sugar.
Medium-sized eggs
Butter - at room temperature.
Granulated sugar and icing (powdered) sugar (optional to garnish)
All-purpose flour - feel free to substitute this with gluten-free all-purpose flour on a 1:1 basis.
Cinnamon and cardamom as spices for the cake.
Almond extract (optional - not pictured) - here, you can also use vanilla extract in place of the almond extract.

The above is a summary of the ingredients you will need to make this recipe, as well as possible options for substitution. The detailed measurements and step-by-step have been provided in the recipe card provided below.

what are the best apples to use?

When it comes to the apples, any variety will do, as it all depends on your preference. I like to opt for crisp and tart varieties that can withstand baking, such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or Honeycrisp. The tangy-sweet Jonagold variety is also a great option. If you have different varieties of apples, don't hesitate to mix them up.

how to make äppelkaka

Preheat the oven and grease a baking tin. Separate the egg yolks from the whites and then whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Cream butter and sugar, add the egg yolks, and almond extract (optional). Fold in the egg whites and add the cinnamon.
Mix in the all-purpose flour, a little at a time, add the marzipan or mandelmassa, and combine everything to a batter. Combine the apples with cinnamon and set aside. Transfer the batter to the greased baking tin, then arrange the sliced apples on top.
Bake until done (a toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean when done).
Dust with icing (powdered) sugar and serve with vanilla sauce or as preferred!

A recipe collage showing how to make Swedish apple cake (äppelkaka)

Related recipes : Hungry for more International cuisine recipes? Then try our Bavarian Potato Salad, homemade Nando's Peri Peri Sauce, and Sausage Rougaille (a flavorful sausage and tomato-based stew).

serving suggestions

The traditional way of enjoying this cake is with some homemade vanilla sauce. But don't just stop there, ice cream, berry compote, and whipped cream also pair up well with it.

variations

Use gluten-free all-purpose flour on a 1:1 ratio to make this cake gluten-free.
As a variation, try caramelising the apples in butter and brown sugar before baking.
For some extra aroma, use freshly ground cardamon, add a teaspoon of vanilla, rum or almond essence into the butter.
This cake can also be made by combining oats with butter, sugar, some all-purpose flour and a pinch of salt, all of which is topped on sliced, sugared apples, to form a crumbly topping.

more world cuisine recipes

Here are more delicious recipes from around the world for adventurous cooks like you!

Äppelkaka (Swedish apple cake with cardamon).

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