Invisible Apple Cake (Gâteau invisible aux pommes)

A French home baker’s favorite, the Invisible Apple Cake is a deceptively easy, yet exceptional recipe for apple season. It features nearly invisible apple slices layered in a custardy batter and baked until sweet, melty and golden.

The result is an incredibly moist dessert with a big fruity flavor and a visually striking look. A fabulous way to showcase freshly picked apples!

What is an invisible apple cake?

Known in France as a “Gâteau invisible aux pommes”, this invisible apple cake is a beloved French cake for home bakers and pastry chefs. This dessert is made from fresh apple slices layered with a custardy batter in a loaf pan, and baked until golden.

The very thin apple slices “disappear” when baked, almost binding into the custard – hence the name “invisible”. But you would also think this cake got its name for the fact that it disappears within minutes!

The result is halfway between a flan and a cake, with an incredibly melty texture and a big apple taste. So, if you enjoy custardy desserts like the clafoutis or the flaugnarde, you’ll love this one!

This cake has a high fruit-to-custard ratio, letting the pure taste of seasonal apples shine. And like the majority of French apple cakes, this one is flavored with just a splash of vanilla extract. You won’t find any cinnamon nor nutmeg, which is more typically found in American apple cakes or pies, rather than French ones.

Ingredients you’ll need for this Invisible Apple Cake (Gâteau aux pommes invisible)

This cake is easy to make with simple pantry ingredients and fresh seasonal apples. Here is a detailed look at the ingredients you’ll need.

1. Apples. You need 6 large apples to make this cake. I know this seems like a lot, but trust me here! You want a variety of apples that are crisp and that hold their shape well when baked, such as Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Braeburn or Pink Lady.
2. Eggs. You need 3 large eggs at room temperature.
3. Sugar. White sugar is best here.
4. Butter. Unsalted butter gets melted and cooled down to room temperature before being added to the batter.
5. Milk and cream. A mix of ¼ cup of whole milk and a ¼ cup of heavy cream (35 m.f.) yields the best richness to the cake batter, without being too rich either.
6. Vanilla extract. Just a splash of vanilla extract flavors this cake, letting the taste of apples shine.
7. Flour. All-purpose flour is the way to go. Avoid cake flour as it isn’t sturdy enough to hold the cake together. I would also avoid whole wheat, as on the contrary, it will alter the light texture of the cake. The flour gets mixed with baking powder and salt before being added to the batter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What variety of apples are best for baking?

For baking an apple cake, look for a variety of apple that is crisp, firm and that will hold its shape well when baked. My favorite varieties available in North America are Pink Lady, Jonagold, Jazz, Honeycrisp and Fuji. If you like your apples on the tarter side, Braebrun and Granny Smith are great choices too.

How do you serve this invisible cake?

This invisible apple cake can be served warm or cool, on its own or with a dollop of crème fraiche or a drizzle of caramel.

To slice it, I recommend you use a serrated knife to cut it neatly into large slices.

How long can you keep this cake?

This cake can be kept in the fridge, well wrapped in plastic film, for up to 2 days. Because it is a very moist cake, I don’t recommend keeping it any longer as it becomes a bit “wet”.

I don’t recommend freezing this cake, as the custardy texture will get soggy when thawing.

Audrey’s baking tips

• This recipe is best for 9”x 5” (22,8cm x 12,7cm) loaf pan.
• The apples need to be sliced fairly thin – but not too thin. When holding a slice, it should stay flat without bending. Ideally, use a mandolin slicer to get evenly thin slices.
• To create a good horizontal layering of the apple slices into the loaf, dump your apples into the pan in several additions (at least 3). Between each addition, make sure the apples are laying flat in the pan. You can use a fork or spoon to fix the apple slices sticking up. By taking this extra time, you’re ensuring neat looking slices and avoiding any air pockets that may form between apple slices.

I hope you’ll love this classic French Invisible Apple Cake (Gâteau invisible aux pommes) recipe as much as I do. If you have any questions, please leave a comment. 

More French Apple recipes to try: 

• Classic French Apple Cake
• Apple Breton Pound Cake
• Apple Jelly
• Skillet Caramelized Apple Cake from Brittany
• Normandy Apple Tarte (Tarte Normande)
• Classic French Tarte Tatin
• Apple Cinnamon Galette
• Gluten Free Apple Crisp
• French Thin Apple Tart

Invisible Apple Cake (Gâteau invisible aux pommes)

Print Recipe

Serves: 8-10 Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 50 Minutes 50 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.1/5

( 14 voted )

Ingredients

1 kg (2.2lbs) apples (about 6 apples)
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup (67g) white sugar
2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
¼ cup (60ml) whole milk
¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream (35% m.f.)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (120g) all purpose-flour
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

Instructions

Step 1 – In large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until lighter in color and foamy. Add the melted butter, milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract, and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Step 2 – In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

Step 3 – Peel the apples, core them and pass them through a mandolin to get thin slices. The apple slices should be fairly thin but not paper thin – you don’t want them to break when you fold them into the batter.

Pre-heat your oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle. Line a 9”x 5” (22,8cm x 12,7cm) loaf pan with parchment paper (bottom and edges).

Step 4 – Whisk the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. The batter should be on the thinner side. Switch to a spatula or large spoon and fold in the apple slices until they’re all coated in the batter. It will feel like a lot of apples for a little batter – that is normal.

Step 5 – Gently dump the batter with the apples into the prepared loaf pan. Go a little at a time, flattening any apples slices that stick up. Lightly press the apples down with a fork or spoon between each addition.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the top starts to golden. Transfer to a cooling rack, and let cool for at least 30 minutes before transferring onto a serving plate. Enjoy warm or cool. Use a serrated knife for cutting clean slices.