Invisible Apple Cake (Gâteau Invisible)
The Invisible Apple Cake originates from France with a high popularity in Japan! The Japanese also incorporate miso paste into the batter for the extra flavor profile – sounds delicious to me. I personally did not have any on hand and made it the traditional way and loved it!
The aspect of this cake that makes it special is the thin slices of apples. I had never seen a cake use this technique and had to try it when I saw it. Simply peel and core your apples and slice them on a HAND HELD MANDOLINE. If you like this cake, you will love my gluten free Greek Yogurt Apple Cake.
For this recipe I suggest using a sweet tart apple like Fuji apples (what we used) or HoneyCrisp or Pink Lady apples. Since this is a sweet cake, stay away from Granny Smith apples which are more sour in taste.
Make sure you bake this until its done – mine took about an hour to get the golden crisp on the top. Since every oven is different, watch the loaf on about 50 minute mark. It will rise and be puffy but will deflate once it comes out of the oven and cools. I topped mine with a little powdered sugar sprinkle but you can also do a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture to sprinkle on top PRE-BAKE. For this, whisk together two tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
If you like this recipe, you will love:
- 3 Ingredient Greek Yogurt Cake
- Traditional Greek Yogurt Cake
- Orange Olive Oil Cake
- 4 Ingredient Lemon Bread
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Invisible Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2/3 cup milk, slightly warmed
- 3 tbs butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 apples, (about 2 lbs)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 ℉. Line a 9×5" loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, quickly whisk together the eggs, milk, butter + vanilla. And then also quickly add in the flour, powdered sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt and mix until smooth. Batter is supposed to be on the thin side.
- Peel, core and slice your apples REALLY THIN with a mandoline (I used Fuji apples but Honeycrisp or Pink Lady are great here too). Add them into the bowl and mix to coat all in the batter. Transfer the apples only to the pan, a little at a time, gently flattening out any pieces that are sticking up. Pour on the remaining batter to the top of the loaf pan evenly. Transfer to the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. Or until the top is golden brown.
- Allow to set in pan for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool for another 15 minutes. Optional: sprinkle with a little powdered sugar and slice to enjoy.
I made this today and the consistency is more like cooked apples w scrambled eggs. It cooked for 60 minutes and was brown on top. Wondering if I should have cooked it a bit longer or if that’s how it should be. It doesn’t taste bad:)
Hi Jodie, I’m sorry the recipe didn’t work for you. Did you slice the apples super thin?
Same
Same here. It’s not like cake at all.
Looks delicious! I’m wondering if it could be frozen. Also, how long it would keep in the fridge.
This tastes great, but it seems more the consistency of soufflé than cake. I followed the recipe exactly as written, but I did leave it in a bit longer than 60min. It was puffed up and golden brown. It’s still very wet inside after cooling and looks quite custardy. I’m wondering if additional flour would make it more cake like.
Totally agree, it gets too “egg’y” for me. I may try with only two eggs
My exact thoughts – omelette with apples. I also think that it needs a bit more sugar. It tasted bland without caramel syrup on top (I used Honeycrisp apples).
The recipe was ok but mine stayed more custardy? I had it bake almost 2 hours and it never firmed up. Almost like scrambled eggs. I also added pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon and that tasted good. But yeah it was weirdly raw inside
I sliced my apples super thin with a mandolin and still got a scrambled eggs texture between the slices of apple. Not set well at all. I cooked it longer than suggested and it was mush. maybe next time I will add a cup of flour instead of a half of a cup? Batter seemed way to thin to set up. It tastes good just a terrible mess on a plate.
Recipe is spot on! I really liked it because it was not overly sweet! Served with a little apple/cinnamon ice cream 🤤
Hi Laraine, exacty! That’s why I like it too!
Hi what type
Of apples are recommended? Thanks.
HI Maureen, sorry I didnt state that in the recipe box.. I updated it in the post. I used Fuji apples and recommend HoneyCrisp or PInk Lady. Dont use Granny Smith though
Is it possible to substitute some of that flour with protein powder? Make a healthier desert? I am trying it regardless!
Hi Heather, I havent tried it but that sounds like a great idea to me! Please let me know if you try it!
So easy (if you have a mandolin) and so delicious!!
Hi Diane, definitely a mandoline necessary recipe! Glad you liked it!
Hello…I am going to make this. Thank you for the recipe..quick question. 2 lbs of apples before or after peeling and coring. Thank you
Hi Donna, 2 lbs before peeling! Enjoye!
Haha well reading this explains why I thought it was odd I needed 6 apples when the recipe said 4 for two lbs. I did 2 lbs of apples after they were peeled and cored. It did seem like too many but I got it all in the pan!
I made this tonight and tasted it only after cooling it for 10 minutes. It’s FANTASTIC! I baked for an hour but probably could have gone a little longer to get it more golden on top. Easy to make also. Will DEFINITELY make again! Thank you!
Just to add my experience here… currently baking it and have extended time to 70 minutes now and going another 5 still because tops still not brown. Gas oven. Just in case anybody else is wondering about bake time!
Hi Stella.
Would grating the apples vs thinly slicing work? The mandolin is not my friend. 😂
Hi Kathy – I feel you with the mandoline!!! lol
Yes I think this would still work okay with shredded apple. May need to up it to 5 apples though….
Please let us know how it came out if you try it! <3
Can I replace the sugar with 1/2 c. of honey?
Hi Brenda, I personally havent tried that version so I can’t say for certain if it would work. The batter is on the thin side, so you can possible adjust with a little more flour.
Hi Stella, this looks so delish. Thoughts on making ahead and freezing after cooking and cooling? Thanks for all your yummy dishes.
I’d love to know this too!
I made it and used oat flour and a scoop of unflavored protein powder….swerve powdered sugar for the sweetener. It came out very well
Could you use a sugar alternative?
HI Tyna, I havent tried it myself with any other sweetener so I cant say for sure. However, the batter is on the thin side so if you try it with maple syrup or honey, maybe adjust with some more flour. If you try it, please let us know how it came out!
I used Monk fruit sweetener and the cake tastes the same as when using sugar. I sprinkled a little bit of sitúate in top because monk fruit doesn’t caramelizase. This is a favorite at home already.
Great feedback! Thank you for sharing with us!
I tried it with Splenda brown sugar and it was very good.
could you use non dairy milk?
Hi Diana, yes you can use any milk of your choosing!
Can you sub sugar free almond milk for dairy milk?
Hi Jeanine, absolutely yes!
Can I use maple syrup instead of powdered sugar?
HI Teresa, I havent tried it myself so I cant say for sure. However, the batter is on the thin side so if you try the maple syrup, maybe adjust with some more flour. If you try it, please let us know how it came out!
Could you use pears instead of apples?
HI LIsa, yes that’s a great idea! Just make sure they are thin sliced with a mandoline and they are sweet pears.
Yes, pears would be yummy !
I love this recipe! I’m so glad I came across it. Baking it for the second time now 🙂
yum great idea
What can I use instead of flour? Almond flour and tapioca flour?
HI Stacia, I haven’t personally tried it with almond flour but it might work. There are three eggs and that always helps in recipes with almond flour. I’m confident it would work with gluten free flour though 100%, and my instincts tell me that almond would also work here. Please let us know if you try it <3
would putting struesel on top be okay?
Hi Olivia, brilliant idea