1-Making Irish apple cake with custard sauce is straightforward and fun, especially if you’re a home cook looking for reliable steps. Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees and preparing a 9-inch springform pan with butter and flour. This sets the stage for a cake that’s moist and full of flavor.

2-In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice for about 20 seconds. Add 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter diced into small pieces and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine crumbs, then stir in 1 cup granulated sugar.

3-Peel, core, and dice 1 1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples into small chunks, and toss them with the flour mixture to coat. In another bowl, whisk 3/4 cup milk, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until combined. Pour this over the apple mixture and gently toss by hand until everything comes together the batter will be a bit lumpy, which is okay.

4-Baking and Serving the Cake
Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it evenly. Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle it on top. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, then remove the ring and cool further.

5-For the custard sauce, heat 1 1/2 cups whole milk with 1 pinch salt over medium heat until just boiling. In a separate bowl, whisk 6 large egg yolks and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly add 1/2 cup of the hot milk to the yolks while whisking, then pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk, whisking constantly.

6-Cook on medium-low heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes, but don’t let it boil. Remove from heat, stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and let it cool slightly. Serve the cake warm with this sauce for the best taste. For more apple dessert ideas, check out our classic apple pie recipe on the blog.