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    Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Torta di Mele Recipe (Italian Apple Cake)

    Published: Jan 30, 2012 · Modified: Dec 9, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    134 shares
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    • Yummly
    4.80 from 5 votes
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    My Torta di Mele is one of the best apple cakes you’ll ever have.

    Today it gives me great pleasure to share with you a recipe taught to me by Mama Jeanette many years ago, it’s one of my favorite desserts, and it’s also one of the most reliable recipes I have.

    overhead view of torta di mele on a silver platter with a slice cut out

    No matter who I share this recipe with; the results are always the same……Delicious, and every time I make this buttery apple cake, I think back to a simpler time and the days I spent with Mama Jeanette……

    The weather had changed that morning, it was the kind of day that really made you appreciate being alive. The air was cold and crisp, the cold wind held the scent of ripe apples from the nearby orchard, each breath felt like a gift from God.

    Mama Jeanette said “Sonny Boy, let’s go pick us some apples” My mind went directly to a deep dish apple pie, but Mama Jeanette had other plans. As I peeled the apples she explained we would be making a Torta di Mele, she went on to explain it was her mother’s recipe for an Italian Apple Cake that had been passed down through her family for generations, and now she was giving it to me.

    Italian Apple cake

    That afternoon we sat by the fireplace, with a warm slice of apple cake and an espresso, it was a glorious day to be alive……and today my friends I’d like to pass along Mama Jeanette’s family recipe for Torta de Mele…….enjoy!

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    Italian Apple cake
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    4.80 from 5 votes

    Torta di Mele

    For one of the best apple cakes, you’ll ever have try my Torta de Mele! An apple butter cake will go perfectly with every meal or just as a snack!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 243kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter
    • 3 large apples cut into slices
    • ⅔ cup flour
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 2 large whole eggs plus 1 egg yolk
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ tsp grated lemon zest
    • 1 tbsp powdered sugar to dust
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    Instructions

    • preheat oven to 375, butter a 9” round cake pan
    • In a large frying pan over low heat, melt the butter, reserve 6 tbs for later. Add the
    • apple slices and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
    • In a small bowl mix together flour, salt and baking powder. In a large bowl beat the whole eggs and egg yolks until blended. Add the butter, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest.
    • Stir in flour and apples. Spoon into prepared pan, smoothing the top.
    • Bake until cake is browned, 30-35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool in pan for
    • minutes. Invert cake onto plate to remove the pan and then invert again and return to rack to cool completely.
    • Before serving dust with 10x sugar

    Nutrition

    Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 165mg | Potassium: 92mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 445IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Asha

      August 21, 2021 at 1:11 pm

      Sugar seems excessive in this recipe. Is that an error of 1 cup sugar when the flour is only 2/3 cup?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 21, 2021 at 1:23 pm

        that is the correct amount for this recipe, but you can reduce it to 3/4 cup

        Reply
        • Asha

          October 29, 2021 at 10:00 am

          5 stars
          I finally got to make this recipe using 2/3 cup of sugar as I like desserts but not too sweet. It was absolutely delicious. I took it to an event and people commented that it tastes even better than it looks.

          Thank you!

    2. Mary B-MacL

      December 21, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Dear Chef,
      I recently discovered your site and I’m thrilled with all these wonderful looking recipes. today’s my birthday and I would like to make your torta do mele, however I would like to use sautéed pineapples is this a possibility? I like the fact that this recipe produce is such a beautiful and tall cake thanks again ,
      Mary

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        December 21, 2020 at 10:52 am

        absolutely Mary. Here is the same cake using pineapple https://www.askchefdennis.com/pineapple-butter-cake-and-ask-chef-dennis/

        Reply
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