Delight Your Taste Buds with Traditional Polish Szarlotka

Poland is known for its rich culinary traditions, and one of its most beloved desserts is the szarlotka, a delectable apple pie that warms the heart and delights the palate. This traditional Polish dessert features a buttery crust and a sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple filling, making it the perfect treat for any occasion. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to create your own authentic Polish szarlotka at home.

BREAKING NEWS:

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Poland’s beloved apple pie, known as szarlotka, has been named the best sweet cake in the world by the esteemed culinary guide TasteAtlas. This accolade highlights the country’s rich baking traditions and brings international attention to a dessert that has long been a staple in Polish households.

Ingredients

For the dough:

2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup of unsalted butter (cold)
½ cup of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons of cold water (if needed)

For the apple filling:

6-8 medium-sized apples (preferably tart apples like Granny Smith)
½ cup of granulated sugar
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare the Dough:

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, powdered sugar, and baking powder.
2. Cut the cold butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract, and mix until the dough starts to come together. If the dough is too dry, add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough is smooth and cohesive.
4. Divide the dough into two portions, with one slightly larger than the other. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Prepare the Apple Filling:

1. Peel, core, and grate the apples.
2. Put the bowl with the grated apples aside for 20 minutes to let the apples release some juice. Handful by handful, grab a portion of grated apple and squeeze the juice. You can also do it with a clean gauze or cotton cloth.
3. In a large bowl, combine the grated apples with granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, flour, and vanilla extract. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.

Assemble the Szarlotka:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Roll out the larger portion of dough on a floured surface to fit the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan. Press the dough evenly into the pan.
3. Pour the apple filling over the dough and spread it out evenly.
4. Roll out the remaining dough and cut it into strips to create a lattice pattern on top of the apples, or simply place the rolled dough on top and cut a few slits for ventilation.
Optional: Instead of rolling out the remaining dough, try dividing a dough into halves, put half into a freezer, and grate on top of the layer of apples. It makes it much easier to grate if it’s frozen. The bottom layer can wait in the fridge while the top layer is being frozen, before rolling out on the bottom.

Bake and Serve:

1. Bake the szarlotka in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender.
2. Allow the pie to cool slightly before removing it from the pan.
3. Serve warm, optionally dusted with powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Enjoy your homemade Polish szarlotka with friends and family, and experience a slice of traditional Polish culture in every bite. Smacznego!