Name: A tender apple cake with kefir and chocolate glaze – the perfect dessert for coffee and celebrations
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 200 g kefir (room temperature); 200 g butter; 500 g plain flour; 3 egg yolks; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; a pinch of salt; vanillin (or vanilla sugar to taste); 900 g apples (coarsely grated); 100 g raisins; 100 g chopped walnuts; 100 g granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; zest of 1 lemon + a little lemon juice; 4 tablespoons cocoa powder; 4 tablespoons granulated sugar; 100 ml milk; 30 g butter

Cut the butter into cubes and mix with the sifted flour. Rub together with your hands until a crumbly mixture forms. In a bowl, mix the kefir, baking soda, vanillin and egg yolks. Add the liquid mixture to the flour crumbs and work into a smooth dough, which you wrap in cling film and put in the fridge for 40 minutes.

Apple filling: Coarsely grate the apples, add the sugar, raisins, nuts, cinnamon, lemon juice and zest. Stir and let stand for a while so the flavors meld.

Divide the dough into 3 parts. Roll each part between two sheets of baking paper to the size of the baking tray. Transfer the first sheet to the tray, remove the top paper and smooth it out.

Layering: Spread half of the apple filling onto the first sheet of dough. Cover with the second sheet, layer on the remaining filling and cover with the third sheet of dough. Gently press the edges together.

Baking: Place the cake in an oven preheated to 180 °C and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.

Chocolate glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the cocoa, sugar and milk. Over low heat, cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Then add the butter, stir and let cool slightly.