Gâteau aux Pommes de la Reine des Pommes

from the Paris Cookbook

This recipe came to me from my good friend Dianne, and she got it originally from a cookbook called the Paris Cookbook. It's really easy to make and absolutely delicious.

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup of whole milk

4 baking apples, cored, peeled and cut into thin wedges ( I used a variety of apples that I had on hand)

The topping:
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Butter a 9 inch spring form pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour,sugar,baking powder and sea salt, stir to blend. Add the vanilla extract, eggs,oil, milk and stir until well blended. Add the apples and stir to thoroughly coat them with the batter.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Place the pan in the centre of the oven and bake until fairly firm and golden, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the topping. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, egg and melted butter, and stir to blend. Set aside.

Remove the cake from the oven and pour the topping mixture over it. Return the cake to the oven and bake until the top is a deep golden brown and the cake feels quite firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 10 minutes.

Transfer the cake to a pan rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. then run a knife around the sides of the pan and release and remove the spring form side, leaving the cake on the pan base. Serve at room temperature with a lovely glass of white wine from the loire valley, such as a sweet Bonnezeau or Beaume de Venise.