Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Meringue Topping

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Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Meringue Topping

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This old-fashioned apple cake with baked-on meringue frosting is ideal to enjoy on a brisk fall afternoon or evening with a cup of tea or chai. But honestly, it’s far too delicious to whip up just one season each year! We’re granting you permission to make this dessert recipe any time.

Copycat Girl Scout Thin Mints
Slice of apple spice cake with a creamy topping on a green plate
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
45 mins
Cool Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
9
Yield:
1 9-inch cake

Meringue:

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 5 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water

Cake:

  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (1 stick)
  • 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 large, meaty unpeeled apples (e.g. Cosmic Crisp, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith), cored and grated on the large holes of a box grater
  • 2 cups spooned and leveled all purpose flour

Directions

  1. Position a rack in the middle level of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease or spray with baking spray a 9- x 9-inch metal baking pan.

    Glass or Ceramic Dish

    If you are using a 9-inch square glass or ceramic casserole dish, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

  2. For the meringue, fill the bottom of a double boiler with enough water to barely touch the bottom of the bowl placed on top. Inside the bowl, add egg whites, brown sugar, and water. Set over high heat and beat the mixture with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. The sugar should dissolve and the meringue should reach 160 degrees F (70 degrees C) on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the top pot from the boiling water and set aside.

  3. For the cake, combine butter, brown sugar, and egg yolks in a large bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer until fluffy. Switch to a spatula, and stir in baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and grated apples by hand. Fold in the flour, blending well but being careful to not overmix.

  4. Spoon batter into the prepared pan. Spread meringue evenly over the batter.

  5. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is crisp, 45 to 50 minutes. The temperature of the center of the cake, not the meringue, should reach 190 degrees F (90 degrees C) on a digital thermometer. Allow the cake to cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

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