Grandma's Italian Apple Honey Torte Recipe

Friday, November 12, 2010
This is a rich Italian Apple Honey Torte. Growing up my grandmother just loved to use honey. She was one to put it on fried dough, on cookies, cakes and tea.This blog post is dedicated to her, the late Grandma Victoria Ferraro Colenzo we miss you always
Ciao, Claudia


Apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar



 Growing up this was one of our favorite tortes, I always wished for fall to hurry and get here because I knew grandma was going to make her favorite cake every year without fail when those apples were ready.  A scratch cake made with love that you'll never tire of.  The taste is like a shortcake  with an amazing glazed apple flavor. Great with coffee, this isn't  real sweet.  Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream or plain.  

Grandma's Italian Apple  Honey Torte Recipe

1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 large or 4 small Mcintosh apples, peeled and each cut into thick slices like wedges (about 1-1/4 pounds)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 extra large eggs or 3 large
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine honey and lemon juice in a large nonstick skillet; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add apples, cook 10 minutes or until almost tender, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, set aside.

Beat 3/4 cup granulated sugar, butter, brown sugar, and vanilla at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in milk and lemon rind. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Batter is very thick. Spread batter into a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray pat down with floured fingers.

Remove apples from skillet with a slotted spoon. Discard remaining any liquid left. Arrange apple slices in a flowered pattern on top or spokelike wheek on top of batter, pressing slices gently into batter, anything leftover can be put in the center of the torte. Combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center, be careful not to over bake. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into wedges using a serrated knife. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Printable Recipe

21 comments

  1. Apple pies are my favorites. The combination with honey makes this cake very fragrant and delicious. Grandmother's recipes are always the best. Bye dear, have a good week end

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  2. Grandma was one smart woman using honey as a natural sweetener. How wonderful to have the recipe in the family.

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  3. Claudia,
    This is a great recipe, I love those that are handed down from generations past. You are paying it forward for your family now.

    Have a great weekend!
    CCR
    =:~)

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  4. Incredible!! i have done a cakes with apple yesterday. Your grandma is very great women and a beautiful cook.
    Good recipe
    Bye

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  5. Claudia, I think your grandma's one looks bigger! haha... I bet yours one as luscious. Have a happy weekend.
    Cheers, Kristy

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  6. This has to be one of my favorite things that you've made.

    Claudia, I love the flavors and love that it was your grandmother's.

    How touching.

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  7. This is the sweetest torte! My grandmother also loved cooking with honey - I imagine it is what she was used to in Italy. The aroma in your kitchen must have been grand!

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  8. the cake part alone sounds delicious and then the apple topping, your Grandmother knew a good thing didn't she...

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  9. Grandma's recipes are just the best! This is a lovely apple cake!

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  10. Hi Claudia, This is one fabulous apple dessert. Wish I had all of my grandmas recipes. Wish we lived closer, I would love a slice of this right about now!

    BTW- check out this holiday recipe contest- http://auntieecookbook.blogspot.com/2010/11/fridays-question-holiday-recipe-contest.html

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  11. Surface is wonderful, I copy and paste the recipe, I hope to try it soon, thanks for sharing!

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  12. I too loved my grandmas recipes. This apple torte looks delicious. Thanks for sharing!!!

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  13. Looks delicious--perfect with some coffee for breakfast, perhaps? Yum. :)

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  14. What a lovely torte. I'm sure grandma was an incredible woman, and I bet the house smelled heavenly while the aplle honey torte was baking.

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  15. Beautiful Claudia! Your grandma must have been a lot like mine...could take anything and turn it into something fabulous. This is lovely.

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  16. Well I can clearly see where your talent stems form...
    What a delightful Torte, and I love that this is not overly sweet...Gorgeous :)

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  17. I love using honey in cakes too...and yet, not once did I put it into an apple cake.
    Love your Nonna's photo...she looks perfect ;o)

    Thanks for sharing this very comforting cake.

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  18. Looks delicious. I love to use honey in my baking as well. ;)

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  19. I have not tried much of baking apart from cakes..any food that brings back memories undoubtedly is the best.

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