Is it a pie or a cake? It is definitely delicious, an easy to make dessert filled with sweetened shredded apple spiced with cinnamon and lemon.
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Hungarian Apple Cake – Almás Pite
Hungarian apple cake is a true Hungarian classic, quite popular in the country. Is it a pie or a cake? It is definitely delicious, an easy to make dessert filled with sweetened shredded apple spiced with cinnamon and lemon.
I grew up eating this beautiful dessert, my grandmother loved to bake and often made almás pite for us. She alwyas let me help her in the kitchen, I always think of her when I make this recipe.
How to make Hungarian apple cake?
The dough is very simple, made with all purpose flour, butter, sugar, baking powder and egg. I always add some lemon zest, it makes the dough super delicious, and also sprinkle a little vanilla flavoring in. In Hungary we use vanilla flavored sugar, you can use extract as well.
I mix sour cream in the dough. Sour cream is definitely adding moisture to your cakes, also, make your cake richer as it is made from cream that contains fat. Use full-fat sour cream and stir it up in the container or in a a bowl before adding to the dough.
You have to devide the dough into 2 balls and rest for a while before rolling out.
What kind of apples to use in the apple pie?
The applse are shredded in this recipe (not sliced or cubed), I prefer using tart or sweet-tart apples.
These are the best apple for apple pie: Granny’s Smith, Idared, Pink Lady, Jonagold
Once you shredded the apples, add some powdered sugar and sprinkle with ground cinnamon and lemon juice. Let is sit, the apples will release a nice amount of liquid. Take large handfuls of apples and, with your hands clenched, squeeze out most of the juice from the apples (but make sure the apple are not super dry, keep some moisture in, otherwise your pie will be very dry!) and place the balls of squeezed apples in a bowl.
How to make powdered sugar in just 30 seconds?
I teach you how to make powdered sugar at home! It is so simple with the sugar of your choice, once you learn this, no need to buy it any more. In addition, since you are making yours fresh, you can skip the corn starch when you make it at home.
You just need a spice grinder, and you can prinkle the freshest powdered sugar in your dessert. My Mom gave me this grinder, it is a popular brand in Hungary but not available in North America. The Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder at Amazon is easily available for anyone, you can even grind your own coffee and different spices.
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Hungarian apple cake (Almás pite)
Equipment
- Mixing bowls - large, medium
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
- Zester
- Greater
- Pastry brush
- Parckemt papert
- Rolling Pin
- Baking tin (11x8)
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2.5 cups of all purpose flour (300 grams)
- 1 stick of butter (115 grams or 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (50 grams)
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 whole egg
- 1 tbsp of sour cream + a little extra if needed
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon of lemon zest
For the apple filling
- 6 medium sized tart apples
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (50 grams)
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 4 tbsp of ground walnuts (optional)
- 1 tbsp of lemon juice
- 1 whole egg for brushing the dough
Instructions
- Mix the flour and the cubed butter by hand. The mixture will be quite crumbly.
- Add 1 whole egg, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, baking powder, sour cream, and lemon zest. Knead thoroughly. Add more flour if necessary.
- Divide the dough into 2 balls, cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Peel the apples, core, and shred them. Add the sugar, the cinnamon, and the lemon juice. Mix well and drain the juice. Drink the apple juice, it is delicious. :)
- Heat the oven to 180°C (355°F). Butter and flour your baking tin.
- On a floured surface roll out one part of the dough to the size of the baking tin (11x8), then lay it in.
- Sprinkle with half of the ground walnuts (optional). Spread the apples on the dough; sprinkle it with the remaining walnuts. Roll out the top crust and place over the apples, sealing the edges and making slits in it.
- Prick to allow vapor to escape, and brush with egg wash.
- Bake the cake for 30 minutes, until the top is light-browned. Let it cool. Cut into squares, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve.
My G Grandparents and my Grandparents were born in Hungary, and my mother is the first descendant of Hungary and I am the second descendant. I want to learn more of Hungary. I still have some family over there.
The cake came out delicious! I even put some sour cherries in it.
You can make it with sour cherry, then it is a sour cherry pie, Meggyes pite! ;-)
I’m not sure what I did wrong, it was more like a pie consistency and I only used 4 apples yet it was too much… what did I do wrong???
Hello Mary,
In Hungarian this dessert is called almás pite, if I wanted to translate it, it would be apple pie. Most of my clients are from the USA for the cooking classes and they always say that they would call it cake, not pie….but it is almost a pie. :)
What kind of apples did you use? I experienced that the best was Idared (bit sour but not too much).
You do not indicate the size of the baking pan. What size do you recommend?
Hello Helen,
I used 10×6 inch baking pan for this cake.
Agnes
What kind of flour is it? Cake, all purpose flour?
Hi Yuki,
It is all purpose flour.
Agnes
Shredded apples…do you mean I grate them? Have you used other fruit like peaches?
Hi Barbara,
Sorry for the delayed response. Yes, you grate the apples. You can use sour cherries too.
Agnes
Aloha. I was a pastry chef at Hauer Caffe house,and later at the Gellert Hotel,i left Budapest 1987, and i miss all the delicious pastry,i am baking here different cookies,like banana or mango bread.and avocado brownies.I made poppyseed sheet cake for my American husband, he never know you can ground them.Big fan!I love to bake Hungarian ,but cant get supplies here.Love your recipes! Judit
Can I bake and freeze almas pite or is it best to combine apples and dough and freeze BEFORE I bake the almas pite?
Hello Brenda!
Honestly, I have never freezed the apple cake so I have no experience. I read many posts, some freeze the almas pite before baking, some freeze it after it is done.
They are all happy with the result, so give it a try. :)
Aggie
Always comes out great! Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks for your feedback, Amalia! So glad that the recipe works perfectly for you! :)
Thanks for posting this Agnes. I had forgotten all about this recipe. My mother always made this when family got together and everyone loved it
Thanks, Irene! Hope yours will be just as delicious as your mother’s. :)
Agnes
Hi Agnes, LOVE your site! I found recipes I haven’t found anywhere else. just “knock offs” so to speak. was born in Budapest but left when I was 15, many years ago. My wife and I are coming to Budapest this fall and we’ve decided to book you in for a full tour and cooking class. Very much looking forward to it. Congrats on your website too. Great looking and easy to navigate. In the meantime… My wife and I will keep busy getting through making your recipes!
Hi Agnes, This is such a hit with my family…. now my 16 year old grandson is making it! He just got braces on his teeth and can only eat soft things and is thrilled to be able to make and eat this delicious treat as he loves apples