French Pound Cake with Apples

This is essentially a French snacking cake, not too sweet, and firm enough to eat with your hands. The crumb is golden, and tender, and it’s studded with chunks of apples and grated orange zest!

• 4 large eggs, separated – room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• zest of 1 orange
• 1 1/2 cups flour + 1 tablespoon
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup apples, peeled and chopped

1. Grease a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan, line with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, whisk flour and cinnamon, set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale in color. Add melted butter, vanilla, and orange zest.
4. Add flour with a rubber spatula, and the apples.
5. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add salt and beat until stiff peaks form. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the flour/egg yolk mixture to moisten it, then gently fold in the rest of the egg whites. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes, testing with a toothpick. Let cool on a wire rack.