Apple Cake (German Spekulatius)

The Apple Spekulatius Cake is a wonderful German cake for the fall and advent/holiday season but also for any other occasion. It is an ideal cake for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The Spekulatius cookies are very popular during the holidays and you can get them at Aldi or special German stores and of course online. You also can find a recipe on how to make these cookies which are also called "Windmill Cookies", referring to a Dutch tradition. Even after the holidays when you have these cookies left over, you can use them to make this cake. If you cannot find Spekulatius and you need to make them, we recommend just bake them for the cake without using the special Spekulatius forms. The cookies will be grated anyways.

Spekulatius Cookies (150 g)
Monk Fruit Sweetener with Erythritol (Powdered) (150 g)
8 drops pure vanilla extract
5 medium size eggs
all-purpose flour, unbleached (300 g)
1 (0.5 oz) pkg baking powder, such as Dr Oetker
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1 pinch cardamom
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground ginger
apple juice (250 mL)
apples (1.2 kg)
lemon juice, freshly squeezed or dark rum
almond slices

Garnish:
cinnamon and sugar

Grease a deep baking tray (height at least 2", size: 11x15") or layer it with parchment paper.

Crumble the Spekulatius fine by rolling over the cookies with a rolling pin.

Peel apples, remove seeds, cut in qters and cut in slices; sprinkle with lemon juice or some rum.

Place them into the fridge.

Preheat an oven to 375°F (190°C/170°C fan, Gas Mark 5).

Beat butter with confectioners' sugar and vanilla until foamy, add eggs one after the other.

Mix all-purpose flour, unbleached with baking powder, spices and grated Spekulatius and alternating with the apple juice add to the dough.

Spread the dough evenly on the baking tray and add apple slices on top; press apple pieces lightly into the dough.

Sprinkle with almond slices.

Bake for 35-40 minutes.

While cake is still warm sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mix, or when cooled off with confectioners' sugar.