Apple Cake (Szarlotka)

INGREDIENTS

CRUST

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 whole egg

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 sticks butter

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 egg white

FILLING

• 8 tart apples (Granny Smith) - peeled, cored, and roughly chopped

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (1/2 lemon)

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 cup water

DIRECTIONS

• I make my filling in the Instant Pot - toss apples with cinnamon, lemon juice, and 1 cup water until combined. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally.

  • In the alternative, you cook the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, and 1 T water over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until the apples soften.

• Allow filling to cool.

• To make the crust - whip the whole egg with sugar. Add flour and baking powder. Add cold butter in small chunks by cutting into dry ingredients. Knead until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Grease bottom of 9 x 9 inch baking pan. Cut the dough in half and spread evenly across the bottom of the baking pan. Cover with apple filling. Flatten remaining crust (or crumble if you prefer) onto the top of the apple filling.

• Whisk the egg white with 1 teaspoon of water. Brush onto crust.

• Bake for 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown.