According to legend, Marina Tsvetaeva, the famous Russian poetess, and her sister Anastasia, liked to host literary evenings and serve this dessert. Make this simple but delicious cake and pretend you’re gallivanting with the intelligentsia at the sisters’ house in Tarusa, Russia.
Tsvetaeva Sisters Apple Cake
Ingredients
3 large Granny Smith apples
Dough
2/3 cup flour
3 ounces sour cream
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons)
Crème (topping)
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon flour
Process
Heat oven to 375° F.
Combine flour, sour cream and melted butter. Slightly butter and flour a round 9-inch pan. Press the dough onto the bottom and the edges. Spread peeled, thinly cut slices of apples on top. If desired, shake some cinnamon onto the apples.
Use a mixer to combine sour cream, sugar, egg and flour.
Pour the crème on top of the apples. Bake for about 50 minutes.
Russian Apple Caramel Cake
If you like Crème Brûlée, you’ll love this dessert.
Caramel Syrup
Pour 4 tablespoons of water into a saucepan.
Add 5 1/2 ounces of sugar (about 10 tablespoons).
Leave on medium flame until the sugar starts getting dark.
Pour 1 cup cream into the hot caramel and change the flame to low, stirring until all is combined well. Cool.
Add 2 eggs, mix.
Add 1 teaspoon of flour and mix.
Dough
Make the dough out of 1 cup flour and 4 ounces cut-up unsalted butter. Roll it out and press into a round pan.
Filling
Peel 4 apples, cut into eighths. Lay apples onto the dough in concentric circles.
Process
Place the cake into an oven, preheated to 400° F, for 20 minutes.
Take it out of the oven and pour the syrup on top of the cake.
Lower the temperature to 300° F and bake the cake for 40 more minutes.
Chill before cutting.
Russian Mini Pancakes
These pancakes are extremely easy to make and children love them.
Ingredients
1 cup sour cream
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
a pinch of salt
2 large eggs (beaten)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
1 shredded apple (peeled)
Method
Combine all the ingredients. Using a soupspoon, ladle circles of batter onto a large, oiled and heated frying pan. Make sure to space the pancakes far apart because they will grow in size. Flip once you see bubbles in the batter.
Serve with jam.