It's apple season! While there are many irresistible apple recipes on the internet, this Unique Apple Cranberry Torte Dessert Recipe For Fall will quickly become the perfect recipe to use up the apples you picked at the apple orchard.
I have made many delicious apple recipes throughout the years and this recipe tops my list, as it has simple ingredients, and it is one of the desserts that my husband prefers every fall instead of a classic apple pie.
I was gifted this recipe from my dear friend Andrea who passed away a few years ago. She served this Apple Torte for the Jewish holidays in September. I have been making this delicious dessert every fall and have toyed with replacing my cranberries at my Thanksgiving dinner with this recipe. My husband loves the outside of this torte and I love the gooey inside. If you add this to your healthy apple recipes this fall, let me know what you think!
History of Tortes
The history of tortes is closely tied to the 18th-century Eastern Europe pastry development and desserts. I'm thinking about the Sachertorte, for example, that Vienna is famous for. The Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam and a chocolate glaze, is one of Austria's most iconic desserts. Over time, torte recipes have evolved and diversified, leading to various regional and seasonal variations. For example, the Linzer Torte is a traditional Austrian torte with a lattice design on top, while the Dobos Torte from Hungary is known for its caramel layer and chocolate buttercream.
Jump to:
- History of Tortes
- Ingredients for an Apple Torte
- How to make this Apple Torte Recipe
- What can I substitute or how can I create variations on this Apple Torte Recipe?
- How to Store This Unique Apple Cranberry Torte Dessert Recipe For Fall
- Top tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Unique Apple Cranberry Torte Dessert Recipe For Fall
This torte, while not truly having a cake layer, is similar to having a granola bar crust with a cranberry and apple pie filling. Or, similar to an apple crisp with a delicious oatmeal crust or oatmeal cookies with an apple filling. It makes a great dessert to serve for company and the best part is that it will always be one of the unique apple recipes that your friends and family won't see on every table.
This was inspired by my sparkling caramel apple cider float recipe and my apple cider milkshake! It was first featured in the cookbook Kosher By Design written by Susie Fishbein. The original recipe was written to be served at a pareve meal however, I have adapted this to be served at a dairy meal. See the substitutions for help on adapting this recipe.
Ingredients for an Apple Torte
- Flour
- Dark brown sugar
- Quick cooking oatmeal
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Fresh apples
- Whole berry cranberry sauce
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make this Apple Torte Recipe
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Coat a 9" springform pan with nonstick spray.
Prepare the crust by combining flour, brown sugar, oatmeal, butter, and cinnamon.
Reserve 1 ½ cups of the mixture. Press the remaining mix into the prepared pan and halfway up the sides of the pan.
Combine the apples, cranberry sauce, and flour. Mix well. Pour the apple mixture onto the crust. Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture over the top. Use the back of the spoon to gently press the mixture so that they cover the top and meet the crust that is coming up the sides of the pan in order to completely enclose the filling.
Bake for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Hint: I use a 9" springform pan. I also like to add a layer of parchment paper on the bottom of a pan that has been already sprayed with nonstick spray. This will help lift the cake off the bottom of the pan when finished.
What can I substitute or how can I create variations on this Apple Torte Recipe?
- Butter - in order to make this recipe Pareve for kosher meals, substitute the butter for margarine or another plant-based butter.
- Gluten-free - I make this gluten-free by subbing out the flour for an all-purpose gluten-free flour. My favorite brand is this one.
- Apples - while I don't list which type of apple to use, I have used Cortland apples, granny smith apples, pink lady apples, or any other varieties of apples successfully in this recipe. Tart apples will be slightly better tasting than sweet apples, however, you can whichever type of apple you prefer. I love to go apple picking and this is one of the best ways to use up those apples!
- Cranberries - I use a canned cranberry sauce. It's simple and easy. I like this one. However, I have also taken fresh or frozen (defrosted) cranberries and added some sugar to them, allowing them to sit for 20 minutes, before adding them to the apples.
- Caramel - You can add a jarred caramel sauce to this recipe. It will make the end result fairly sweet and add a completely different flavor. It will be more like caramel apples with cranberry notes.
- Serving - My hubby loves to eat this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream but I am happy to eat it plain. You can also serve this with whipped cream.
How to Store This Unique Apple Cranberry Torte Dessert Recipe For Fall
Store the finished torte covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. I do not recommend making this recipe ahead of time if you are serving this for company. It is best eaten the day it is made as the crust on the sides will become slightly damp.
You can reheat the cake in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or place it in the oven on low heat for 10 minutes before serving.
Top tip
Make sure you encase the filling with the crust. If you leave any spaces surrounding the torte, the filling will leak out.
FAQ
This recipe for a cranberry apple torte makes a terrific way to use up apples that are going bad. The apples create a filling that is super delicious!
If you would like to extend the shelf life of your apples, place them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Apple prefer refrigeration.
One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite variety is good for baking. It has a distinctively juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It works well in this recipe.
Lastly, if you make this Apple Torte be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Unique Apple Cranberry Torte Dessert Recipe For Fall
Equipment
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups all purpose flour sifted
- 2 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups oatmeal quick cooking
- 1 cup butter melted
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon ground
Filling:
- 4 apples peeled and cut into small chunks
- 1 16 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.
- Coat a 9" springform pan with nonstick spray and parchment paper (if you prefer).
Crust:
- Mix 2 cups of flour, brown sugar, oats, butter, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
- Reserve 1 ½ cups of the mixture to use for the top.
- Place the remainder of the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing the mixture halfway up the sides of the pan as well.
Filling:
- Combine the apples, cranberry sauce, and 2 tablespoons of the flour. Mix well in a medium size bowl.
- Pour the apple mixture into the prepared crust.
- Sprinkle the reserved crust over the filling.
- Spread the reserved crust evenly over the top meeting the crust halfway down the sides of the pan. This will create a completely enclosed filling.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
Gwen
yay!
Barbara Asher
This torte is nothing short of amazing. I have made it 3 times in the last 2 months, and it was a hit. Even beat out the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. And totally easy to make. It will be my go to dessert recipe from now on. Thanks Gwen.