Grandma Gina’s apple and jam cake is one of those desserts that smells like home and memories. My grandmother always used to have it ready on the living-room table, warm just out of the oven, ready for us grandchildren.
She didn’t use whisks or stand mixers: she whisked everything by hand, like people used to do. In fact she didn’t call it a cake, but “pizza sbattuta,” as they say in Ciociaria.
Inside there are sliced apples and jam, which make this cake incredibly soft, moist and melt-in-the-mouth. And don’t forget a little drop of Sambuca that gives it an intense and unmistakable aroma.
This grandma’s apple and jam cake is perfect for breakfast, afternoon snack or as a dessert to end a meal.
Follow me in the recipe for this delicious homemade apple and jam cake and we’ll make it together — I’m sure you’ll love it too!
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 25 Minutes
- Portions: 12 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for a 9.5 in (24 cm) pan
- 3 eggs
- 5.6 oz (about 3/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (about 4.2 oz) sunflower oil (Olive oil also works)
- 1 2/3 tbsp (about 0.85 fl oz) Sambuca
- 1 2/3 tbsp (about 0.85 fl oz) water
- 2 1/4 cups (about 9.5 oz) all-purpose flour (farina 00)
- 1 sachet baking powder
- 3 apples (If small, 4)
- as needed jam
- as needed powdered sugar
Steps
To make the recipe easier we’ll use electric beaters, even though Grandma Gina strictly did everything by hand.
In a bowl put the eggs with the sugar and beat them until you get a light, fluffy mixture.
Pour the oil in a thin stream while continuing to mix. Add the water and the Sambuca and blend well.Add the sifted flour and baking powder and mix on low speed until you obtain a creamy, lump-free batter.
Wash the apples, dry them, peel them and slice them thinly.
Line a cake pan with parchment paper and pour in one-third of the batter, distribute one-third of the apples and a few tablespoons of jam.
Finish with the remaining batter and arrange the apple slices on top.Bake in a preheated fan (convection) oven at 356°F for about 50 minutes. In an air fryer bake at 320°F for 35-40 minutes. Always do the toothpick test.
Let cool, dust with powdered sugar and serve — my grandmother Gina’s apple and jam cake is the special treat to prepare for breakfast and snacks, simple and wholesome!
… Vane’s tips
My grandmother also used to add walnut halves to the batter: try it that way for an even more rustic version.
You can make the apple and jam cake even without Sambuca, replacing it with about 2 3/4 tbsp (40 ml) of water.
