This simple apple cake Sharlotka will amaze you and your guests! Feather light sponge topped with golden apples, this cake only has FOUR ingredients but tastes divine!
One year ago on this day I published my first post. Vikalinka is ONE YEAR OLD and I am very proud of my little blog. Besides a sense of pride, I feel incredibly grateful for what this space has become for me.
What has started out as a tiny homegrown blog, a place to chronicle my recipes, has come to be a little less tiny and ever so growing place to be creative, a place to meet new friends and a place to learn.
It came into my life at such a challenging time and it saved me. When things were blurred and unclear and I wasn’t sure where to apply myself I turned to the only thing I knew how to do well – cooking.
While I was working with my hands God was working in my heart. So today I celebrate. 🙂
And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank those who encouraged me to start and persevere. You know who you are!
I knew I wanted to bake a cake to celebrate one year but what cake was a different matter. I have literally hundreds of recipes on my “to try list” so the decision wasn’t easy. When I actually stopped for a moment to think I realized that I didn’t want the cake to be fancy or complicated.
The idea behind Vikalinka is to inspire home cooks to try easy, accessible recipes that truly WOW! So my mind turned to the cake that is the most common in Russian households. Apple Cake Sharlotka.
An apple sponge cake that has only 4 ingredients. Not bad considering the height of the sponge and a delicate taste that will blow you away!
What is in Apple Cake Sharlotka?
I learned to make this cake when I was 10 and have been making it ever since. The beauty of it is in its simplicity and down to earth ingredients that are staples in everybody’s kitchen.
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Flour
- Apples
No, I am not forgetting anything. That’s it. And the proportions are also so easy to remember.
4 apples, 4 eggs, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar. Pure brilliance! You can of course add vanilla as I did or a lemon zest but the basic recipe is that simple.
Tips for making the best Russian Sharlotka
Key to a good Russian sponge is well whipped eggs and sugar and an even oven temperature. If you are not sure of the accuracy of your oven temperature purchase an oven thermometer to be on the safe side.
Put room temperature eggs and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and whip at high speed for 10 minutes until tripled in size. If you use vanilla or lemon zest add your flavouring at this stage.
Cool the cake completely before you take it out of the pan as the sponge is incredibly delicate and will get crushed easily if it’s still warm.
To this day, I can still hear my grandma’s words, “Air, pure air!” as she reaches for another slice. 🙂
In Russia it’s usually served with tea with lemon and honey and because it’s an everyday cake it’s usually eaten plain with a light dusting of powdered sugar.
It is also incredibly delicious with a light drizzle of a caramel sauce.
Ingredients
- Apples -4 medium
- Eggs- 4 large
- Sugar- 1 cup
- Flour-1 cup
- Vanilla- 2 tsp.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F/180C
- Peel, core and slice your apples. Arrange them on the bottom of a buttered and floured 9" spring form pan.
- Whip eggs, sugar and vanilla until tripled in size for 10 minutes.
- Add sifted flour to the egg mixture in 4 additions, blending each addition gently.
- Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- Let cool for 20-30 minutes and then remove the sides of a springform pan
Hi Julia, I so love all your recipies. I tried the Apple Sharlotka. It is truely fabulous. I plan to make it for Johns retirement. Its easy and so light. Tastes amazing. Surely can’t have any calories. Thank You for shraring these lovely recipies. Vittoria
Thanks so much, Vittoria. I am so happy to hear that. Yes, my grandma used to say about that cake! Hahaha
Having visited Russia recently I am thrilled to find your blog. Your recipes are wonderful. Happy blogaversary!
Thanks so much, Jan and welcome!
It’s so fast and super easy to make! And it so delicious! I love this!
And it’s great how little ingredients are needed!
Thank you for sharing <3
You are so welcome, Alina! I am thrilled you loved this recipe as much as we do!
Looks like my Oma’s cake. Happy memories.
Think I will make this with my granddaughter. Tradition lives on. Thank you for the inspiration 😊
So happy to hear it, Erika!
Your sharlotka looks fabulous! I like it how the apples on the bottom of the baked cake are still golden yellow color. Just one question, please. I see that you do not use baking soda and vinegar traditionally used in this cake. I always make mine with baking soda and vinegar. Do you think that omitting those ingredients will improve the outcome? Thank you in advance.
Thanks Diana. 🙂 I’ve never heard of adding soda and vinegar to Sharlotka. This sponge is traditional to my part of Russia but I am sure there are many other variations. 🙂
I made this cake last night! SO easy and it requires hardly anything at all. It was delicious, I know I will keep the recipe and use it again. My kids absolutely loved it. Thanks Vikalinka for sharing the recipe.
I am so happy to hear that Melissa!!
Made this for our Thanksgiving get-together with my family yesterday. It turned out amazing (I even used a gluten free flour blend)! Everyone loved it! I’ll be making this again, for sure.
So happy you enjoyed it Karen! I had no idea it would turn out with gluten-free blend, good to know!! Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Julia, congratulations on blogoversary! Thank you for all the appetizing recipes you’re sharing with us! 🙂 Sharlotka is one of my most favorite cakes ever – I used to bake it all the time before I learned how to make other cakes. 🙂
Thank you Julia. 🙂 I know what you mean, it’s such an easy and simple cake, almost no baking skills required!
it looks yummy!
Thank you Dina 🙂
Happy Blogoversary awesome you!! This cake looks amazing! Sounds so good with hot tea 🙂
Thank you, Natasha. 🙂
My friend makes cake sharlotka like this, I like how it taste. I want to try your recipe. Maybe when we are visiting in-laws 🙂
I just love how simple and tasty it is! Even my kids approved it and they usually hate cooked fruit. 🙂