Upside-down apple pie with honey and browned butter – a delight made from autumn apples

With the start of the year and the stored apples from autumn, it's the perfect time to conjure up something delicious! Our upside-down apple pie combines the natural sweetness of aromatic honey, the slight tartness of apples, and the nutty depth of browned butter. A truly comforting recipe that's easy to prepare and guaranteed to impress!

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 110 g butter (plus a little extra for greasing the tin)
• 150 g sugar
• 50 g brown sugar
• 1 packet of vanilla sugar
• 2 tablespoons of milk
• 2 eggs (or egg substitute for the vegan version)
• 170 g flour
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

For the topping:

• 130 g aromatic honey (e.g. Hanse Honey Summer Blossom Honey)
• 3 tablespoons of water
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2-3 large, tart apples

preparation

1. Prepare the butter:
Melt the butter in a small saucepan and brown it over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once it is golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma, remove it from the heat and transfer it to a bowl. Let it cool slightly.

2. Mix the dough:
Preheat the oven to 175°C. Line a round springform pan with baking paper and lightly grease the sides.
Cream the cooled butter with the sugar, brown sugar, vanilla sugar, and milk until the sugar has dissolved. Then beat in the eggs (or egg substitute). In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually stir this mixture into the butter mixture until a smooth batter forms.

3. Prepare the caramel and apples:
Gently heat the honey and 3 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Do not stir, but swirl the pan occasionally until the mixture turns golden. Stir in the 4 tablespoons of butter until evenly combined.
Peel, core, and slice the apples into thin wedges.

4. Fill the springform pan:
Pour the warm honey caramel into the prepared springform pan and spread it evenly. Arrange the apple slices attractively on top, ensuring the bottom of the pan is completely covered. Pour the batter evenly over the apples and smooth the surface.

5. Bake and enjoy:
Bake the cake in a preheated oven for 45–50 minutes, until golden brown and fluffy. Test with a toothpick: if no batter sticks to it, the cake is done.
Carefully loosen the edges with a knife and let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then turn it out onto a cake plate and serve preferably while still slightly warm.

Tip:
Use an aromatic honey, like our [Hanse Honey Summer Blossom Honey], to fully appreciate the flavor profile. This cake tastes best lukewarm and is an ideal accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee on cold winter days.

Treat yourself to a slice of coziness and try this honey-sweet apple pie. Perfect for family, friends, or a relaxing afternoon alone – pure bliss!