Polish Apple Cake

This polish Apple Cake (Jablecznik | jabłecznik) has a perfect crispy top over thick apple layer and soft and fluffy meringue. It is a great tasting and healthy low calorie dessert that you can fit in your diet. The cake has a perfect balance between sweet and tart flavors. Apple layer does not have any sugar (you can add if you wish) and apples give just enough natural sweetness and complement the sweetness of the cake.
PRINTABLE RECIPE: https://myfavfword.com/polish-apple-cake-jablecznik/

Ingredients
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 0.5 cup of sugar
- 3 eggs (separated)
- 8 tbs cold butter (one stick/112 g)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 2 tbs ice cold water
- 4 large Golden Delicious Apples (28 oz)
- 6 medium Granny Smith Apples (28 oz)
- 2 tsp cinnamon

For the dough:
- Mix half of cup of sugar and 2 cups of flour, add 2 tsp baking powder, plus pinch of salt
- Dice very cold butter (8 tbs) and add to flour mix
- Separate egg yolks from egg whites
- Add 3 egg yolks to the flour mix
- Combine ingredients using dough and pastry blender or fork
- If needed, add 2 tbs ice cold water for the dough to combine
- Divide the dough: from about 1/3 of the dough form a ball, wrap in wrapping paper or place in a ziploc bag and place it in the freezer while you prepare the rest of ingredients
- Place the rest of the dough on a floured surface and using rolling pin roll into a rectangle that will fit your baking dish (mine is 9 by 13 inches)
- Place the dough into baking dish lined with parchment paper and press so it fits well
- Pierce the dough with a fork to prevent the dough from rising in the oven when being baked
- Preheat your oven to 350F and bake the dough for 15 minutes

While the dough is in the oven prepare apple filling:
- Peel 28 oz of Golden Delicious apples (4 large ones) and 28 oz Granny Smith apples (6 medium size) - you can also use any apples you like: these are just the ones I prefer. Golden Delicious are sweet apples and Granny Smith are harder and tart apples
- Grate the apples on medium side of grater
- Place the grated apples of a sieve to release the juices, you can press the apples down at the end to make sure they are not too wet as it would make soggy dough

Let the apples sit and release juices while you prepare egg white layer:
- Mix the 3 egg whites (previously separated) with one tbs of sugar (16 g)
- mix until the egg whites form stiff peaks

Remove the dough from the oven
Add 2 tsp of cinnamon to apples and mix
Add the apples to the dough (it doesnt have to be cooled)
Press slightly to even out
Spread egg whites over the apples
Remove the frozen dough from freezer and grate it over the egg whites

Bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes

You probably should let it cool, but I love my cakes hot so I cut it and eat it right away ;)
It can be served with powdered sugar on top or ice cream