You can make this delicious, dramatic dessert with just six common ingredients. It’s actually a cross between a pie and a fruit crisp: The brown-sugar crumb mixture serves as the crust as well as the topping. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners’ sugar. Put some sugar in a standard sieve, hold it above the cake, and tap the edge lightly as you move the sieve.

Everyday Food, January/February 2003

Prep Time 45 minutes

Total Time 2 hours

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces

5 pounds (about 12) tart apples, such as Granny Smith

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Using an electric mixer or a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the mixture forms pea-size pieces. Press 2/3 of the mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel apples, cut into thin slices, and place in a bowl. Pour off any accumulated liquid. Toss apple slices with remaining teaspoon cinnamon and lemon juice, and put them in the prepared pan, pressing down gently as you pack them in (they will mound above the edge of the pan). Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top.

Put the pan on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and let the cake cool in the pan to set. Serve at room temperature.