Russia · Sweet Dishes
Sharlotka — Russian Apple Sponge Cake
The Russian home cake that appears the moment apples come into season: a whisked sponge poured over sliced apples and baked until golden.
Ingredients
- eggs4
- granulated sugar200 g
- plain flour160 g
- apples500 g
- vanilla1 tsp
- baking powder (optional)1 tsp
- salt1 pinch
- powdered sugar1 tbsp
Method
- 1Heat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 22–24 cm round tin.
- 2Peel and core the apples, slice thin, and spread them over the base of the tin.
- 3Whisk the eggs with the sugar 8–10 minutes until pale, tripled in volume, and thick enough to leave a ribbon. Mix in the vanilla.
- 4Sift the flour with the salt (and baking powder if using) and fold in gently, in two or three additions, keeping the air in.
- 5Pour the batter over the apples and level the top.
- 6Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
- 7Cool in the tin, then dust with powdered sugar before serving.