“Oh Holy Night” Polish Apple Cake

Cooking for Families

This is my favorite recipe from my Nanny Kids’ Grandmother’s cookbook. The inside of the cake is more like a pie than a cake, but it isn’t syrupy or sticky like a pie filling. The cake doesn’t require a top crust but if you have extra dough just roll it out and use cookie cutters to cut out stars and a moon to represent a Christmas holy night. The directions in this recipe are very casual and not precise but it always tastes great nonetheless. My Mom Boss made this wonderful dessert — including the stars and moon.

You Will Need:

2 Cups Flour
1 Stick Butter (room temperature)
1 Cup Sugar
3 Tablespoons Sour Cream
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 to 3 Eggs (separate yolks and whites)
6 to 8 Apples (peeled, cored, and sliced into slices)
Handful Raisins (soaked so they are soft, then drain liquid)
Confectioners Sugar (optional)
Springform Pan

What to Do:

1. Combine flour, butter, sugar, sour cream, baking powder, vanilla, and yolks. Knead the dough.
2. Put most of the dough in a springform pan. Brush with egg whites.
3. Combine sliced apples and soaked raisins in saucepan and cook until just tender.
4. Spread apples in pan and cover with dough. Brush crust with egg whites.
5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until crust is golden browned.
6. Cool and sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

References:

Recipe from Polish Grandma

Photos by Stephanie Felzenberg