Description
A rustic, smoky German apple cake baked on an outdoor grill or smoker, featuring tender apples, a caramelized crust, and a rich, warm cinnamon custard topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup wood chips (hickory, apple, or cherry), soaked
- 2 tablespoons butter (for skillet)
- Honey (optional, for drizzling)
Instructions
- Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes. Set up grill for indirect heat at 325°F (160°C). Place soaked chips in a smoker box or foil packet over the heat source until thin blue smoke appears.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In another bowl, cream softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing just until combined. Fold in half of the sliced apples.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Pour batter into skillet and spread evenly. Arrange remaining apple slices on top in a concentric circle. Drizzle with honey if desired.
- Place skillet on the cool side of the grill (indirect heat). Close lid and smoke for 45-50 minutes. Do not open lid for the first 30 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean.
- While cake smokes, whisk heavy cream, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low until just beginning to simmer (do not boil).
- Remove cake from grill. Immediately pour warm custard over the hot cake. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Let cake cool in skillet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice into wedges and serve with remaining warm custard.
Notes
Use fresh, firm apples like Granny Smith to prevent mushiness. Ensure indirect heat to avoid burning the bottom. Custard must reach 165°F (74°C) to set properly. The cake tastes better the next day as flavors meld. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, swap heavy cream for full-fat coconut cream.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of cake
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: Oktoberfest, German Apple Cake, Smoked Dessert, Cinnamon Custard, Outdoor Baking, Grill Recipes, Fall Dessert, Hickory Wood