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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

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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……

While we are making Italian desserts, be sure to try my delicious cannoli recipe and my cannoli cake. Soooo good.

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

Torta di Mele

Chef Dennis Littley
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!
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8
Calories 243 kcal

Ingredients
  

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

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: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 1gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 165mgPotassium: 92mgSugar: 30gVitamin A: 445IUVitamin C: 2.1mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.84 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Betty Ann @Mango_Queen says

    March 15, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Wow, Chef Dennis what a wonderful experience for you to be part of the Chef Hangout. So sorry I missed this….I must have been on my way to the airport by then. Can I catch this on a video you have tucked away somewhere? Or on YouTube perhaps?
    Anyway, thank you so much for your great Guest Post and sharing the Torta Di Mele recipe. This was a superb and easy cake to make. I baked this cake while I was visiting family overseas….it was a hit! My family loved it and in fact, kept asking me to bake it again and again. And when I got back here to NJ, I baked it again for my family. Again, a big success. Thanks so much! Your help on the blog was much appreciated!

    Reply
  2. Rachel Pie @ Pieoneer says

    February 08, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    This looks so yummy! All it needs is my almond crumb topping!

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    February 03, 2012 at 5:47 pm

    That cake looks so light and refreshing!

    Reply
  4. Sofie Dittmann @thegermanfoodie says

    January 31, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    congrats! that’s AWESOME!

    Reply
  5. Megan @ Pip and Ebby says

    January 31, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    What an exciting new venture! The torte looks amazing….oh yum..

    Reply
  6. Chris and Amy says

    January 31, 2012 at 10:58 am

    That is fabulous! Congrats!

    Reply
  7. Keeley @ My Life on a Plate says

    January 31, 2012 at 10:38 am

    That cake looks so good… don’t tempt me because I may end up making it this weekend!

    Reply
  8. Kiri W. says

    January 31, 2012 at 7:47 am

    Congratulations!!

    Reply
  9. anne says

    January 31, 2012 at 4:51 am

    Congrats , Chef !!!! We’re so proud of you 🙂 And that cake looks really yummy !

    Reply
  10. Elin says

    January 31, 2012 at 3:27 am

    Congrats Chef to be picked as one of the Chef for Chefhangout !!! I am so happy for you :)))) Now off to see your guest post 🙂

    Reply
  11. Kim Bee says

    January 31, 2012 at 1:30 am

    Hey Mister Magoo, I shall join you to hang out and get advice tomorrow. Was hyper busy today. Off to see your guest post. Hope you are well. Toodles.

    Reply
  12. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    January 31, 2012 at 12:28 am

    Congratulations! I just checked the website – looks cool! How wonderful to be a part of bunch of talented cooks. Good luck! I saw this post on Elizabeth’s site. I hope to try it someday soon!

    Reply
  13. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

    January 30, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    Congrats Dennis!

    Reply
  14. Theresa H Hall says

    January 30, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    Chef you killing me! this is not on my eating plan. It looks positively perfect. Hugs from WDC area.

    Reply
  15. Marsha @ The Harried Cook says

    January 30, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    How awesome to be picked, Chef Dennis! Congratulations 🙂 That’s really awesome… You deserve it! Will go check out Chefhangout.com now… And that apple cake looks really good… love how the crumb of that cake looks! Will go check out your guest post now… Thanks for sharing this recipe, and your great news 🙂

    Reply
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My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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