Cranberry Apple Sharlotka

I don’t have any Russian heritage, but there are many things I love about Russian cuisine. Sharlotka is one of them. {And vodka. I appreciate a good vodka as well.} Sweet, airy cake and fruit combine together so delicately yet so easily; what’s not to love?

This cake would be a lovely alternative to the classic apple pie on Thanksgiving. It has the spices and apples – but I added beautiful, fresh tart cranberries to brighten the flavors. The sweet apples, combined with the classic cinnamon pair perfectly with the cranberries. I also added some pumpkin pie spice and a hearty dose of homemade vanilla extract. The smells in the kitchen were fantastic and the end result didn’t disappoint either.

The prep was minimal and cook time just under an hour. The cake can be made in advance for ease – but this really is the best served warm from the oven. Finish it with powdered sugar and you’ll be loved for bringing something new to the table {but not bucking the system completely.}

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I am blessed to be able to share my passion of cooking with you. Cheers to you and yours.

Ingredients:

3 Honeycrisp apples (or a similar tart variety) peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 cups fresh cranberries
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour (I used King Arthur)
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt
3 eggs
1.5 tsp. pure vanilla extract
powdered sugar for dusting

Method:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9″ springform pan and set aside. Slice the apples into thin pieces and add with cranberries into a bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and 2 tbsp. of sugar. Let sit for 15 minutes.

In your Kitchen-Aid mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the eggs, vanilla extract and remaining 3/4 cup of sugar for 8 minutes until the mixture thickens and forms yellow ribbons or coats the back of a spoon.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Fold the dry mixture into the wet mixture until incorporated.

Add the fruit to the bottom of the springform pan and pour the batter atop the apples and cranberries. Spread the batter atop the fruit and gently tap the pan to allow the batter to settle into the fruit and reach the bottom of the pan.