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Peter's Food Adventures

Russian food blog exploring my favorite Russian recipes and Global dishes I love.

Sharlotka Apple Cake

by 37 Comments

This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Sharlotka Apple Cake (Шарлотка) Sharlotka ingredients on table This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Sharlotka Apple Cake (Шарлотка) This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious.

There are many variations of Sharlotka Apple Cake out there. It’s a basic apple cake made with simple ingredients. Some recipes only contain only 4 ingredients! This is not like my American Apple Pie, which is worth checking out, but it’s definitely a cake.

This is my wife Rita’s Sharlotka recipe, and I’m grateful she shared the recipe and baked it all for me. Apples and cinnamon are an amazing combination together, one that must not be tinkerevd with, even in the simplest of cakes. The apples aren’t coated in cinnamon and sugar like they are in a pie, but are sprinkled on top of the cake just before serving. There’s a delicate balance of not adding too many apples otherwise the cake will fall apart. Too few apples, and it’s just a glorified sponge cake.

This version of Sharlotka Apple Cake requires a bit longer cooking time due to the apple-batter ratio, but it’s still a simple, quick and delicious cake to whip up at a moment’s notice. My wife has been baking Sharlotka Apple Cake for years and it’s become a family favorite. Simple food done well, is perfection. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

Apple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка) Cut ApplesApple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка) batterApple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка) Piece of Cake

This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Sharlotka Apple Cake (Шарлотка)
5 from 8 votes
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Sharlotka Apple Cake (Шарлотка)

This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Apple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка)
Course Dessert
Cuisine Russian, Slavic
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Author PetersFoodAdventures

Ingredients

  • Butter or nonstick spray for greasing pan
  • 5 large tart apples (Bramley or Granny Smith)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
  • cinnamon sugar to top your cake before serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Line a 9x3 round cake pan or springform pan with parchment paper. Butter or spray both the paper, and the sides of the pan. I believe butter gives a better aroma whilst baking instead of an oily chemical aroma.
  2. Peel and core the apples, chop in quarters, then slice into thin bite size pieces.
  3. Place the apples into the buttered cake pan.
  4. Using a mixer or whisk, beat the eggs and sugar in a bowl until the sugar dissolves (around 5 minutes).
  5. Add the vanilla and mix throughout mixture.
  6. Gently add the flour and mix with a spoon until batter is thick and smooth.
  7. Pour over the apples in the cake pan, spreading it evenly over the apples. Gently shake the pan to allow the batter to go down to apples.

  8. Bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Check cooking time at 40 minutes with a toothpick to see if cake is ready (Some ovens this is enough cooking time). Tip: Don't rush the cooking time, or the centre will remain raw.

  9. When cake is ready, allow to cool on a baking tray for 10 minutes.
  10. Using a knife, run along sides of the cake pan. Carefully flip upside down onto a baking tray. Peel off the parchment paper, revealing the apple base (now the top of your cake).
  11. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar to taste, and transfer to a cake stand or plate. Serve with thickened cream or vanilla bean ice cream.

© PetersFoodAdventures.com

This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Sharlotka Apple Cake (Шарлотка)This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Apple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка) This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Apple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка) This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. This is the best Russian Apple Cake recipe. It's light, fluffy, moist and delicious. Not an apple pie, but a cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar - Rita's Apple Sharlotka Cake (Шарлотка)


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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. This cake looks wonderful! I followed the directions and filled the cake pan to about 3/4 full of apples the put the batter on top, I had about 1 1/2cups of apple left over. Perhaps my apples were overly large! Does that sound right or should I have only filled the pan about 1/2 full of apples? It is in my he oven now, so I have no idea how it’s going to turn out……
    Jen

    Reply

    • Hi Jenny! It depends on a few things, the height and size of the pan and also the size of the apples also. It sound like you did the right thing, don’t fill any higher than ¾. Some people like less apples and more cake so you can fill to half in that case. Hope it worked out well for you! ????

      Reply

    • Thanks Sabi. That’s right, never did use baking powder, and it always tastes amazing. Some recipes will add a pinch of baking powder, others will dissolve 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and vinegar to the batter. 🙂

      Reply

      • I panicked because it looked like too few batter…it looks like just barely coated apple slices, so I added a teaspoon of baking in hopes to get a little more oomph!

        Smells wonderfully.

        *Patiently waiting for it to finish baking* ????

        Reply

        • It is very apple-y ???? hope you love the recipe! I think the lack of baking powder/soda was probably from simpler times when some of those ingredients weren’t available. It is a bit of a denser cake. Enjoy!

          Reply

    • Hi Nadya, it’s just a slightly whipped whipping cream until it’s thickened but still runny. You can also can use Creme Fraiche, or even a Clotted Cream. ????

      Reply


  6. The cake is delicious and easy to make. I used Cartland apples because I have a tree full of apples! My cake looked just like the picture. It is great all by itself.

    Reply

    • Thanks Suzan for trying it out! I’ve not heard of Cartland apples before, but it’s a great way to use any apples off a ripe apple tree! ???? Thanks for checking it out!

      Reply


  7. This is an incredible tasty, versatile and easy cake! I have now used the recipe a number of times and made different variations. Right now there is an apple and mince meat charlotka in the oven. I have also made it with mixed red fruits (with extra sugar added)

    Reply

    • Hi Dorothy! Thanks for asking. I am not sure where in the world you are asking from, but here in Australia they sell a gluten free flour, made by a company called White Wings, which bakes like regular flour. Perhaps you have tried similar brands. 🙂

      Reply

      • I am in California and am hosting a group of ladies where we have those that are gluten free
        and wanting to make this Russian cake

        Reply

  10. my sisters have destroyed all the old recipes from my parents by trying to make them cheaper me and my one brother and several nieces and nephews have been searching for some of the old Slavic Russian and polish recipes can you help and thankyou

    Reply

    • Hey Jim, that’s too bad. Feel free to search on my site by clicking Recipe Index, and you will find my Russian recipes. You can also google Slavic and Polish recipes, you might see some familiar ones you remember! Good luck with the search 🙂

      Reply

  11. I actually had to read the recipe a few times to make sure I was reading correctly and there is no baking powder nor baking soda in it. Went back on line to make sure I actually had the whole recipe. Have a batch in the oven right now so just waiting to see the results. It is already smelling pretty good.

    Reply


  15. It’s a really easy cake to make and it’s so yum have made 2 times so it will be a favourite so quick to make and very yum

    Reply


  16. Hi peter i wanna tell u. That today i rebake ur recipe.. it’s smells so nice and i bet the taste is good (i’m still waiting the time to break my fasting :))..first i got a little doubt since there is no butter either any oil in the recipe but i was keep on going to work it out and baked it.. and the result, voila… the cake seems perfect like in ur pic.. so glad to tell this to u :))

    Reply

  17. Still in the oven after 60 min. Followed the recipe as stated. Not sure why it’s taking extra baking time
    Plus I had one apple left over. Maybe you should state 5 medium sizes apples or small
    Sorry to seem so negative, but I’m serving this new recipe to our dinner guests
    Ok,… let’s see what happens. I hope. I hope 🤔

    Reply

  18. Made this tonight. I sprinkled a little cinnamon and pecan pieces on the apples before I poured the batter over them.. It came out beautifully. My husband and I loved it. Thank you for the recipe, it’s a keeper.

    Reply

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