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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Famous Czech Apple Slice Recipe

    Published: Oct 8, 2021 · Modified: May 29, 2024 by Petra Kupská | Cook Like Czechs · Leave a Comment

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    • 1.2Kshares

    This amazing apple slice with meringue topping is hugely popular in the Czech Republic. The best translation of the Czech name "Hraběnčiny řezy" into English is probably Countess' slices.

    Czech apple slice with meringue topping.

    These apple slices consist of three layers. At the bottom is a thin layer of homemade pie crust. Sliced apples are placed on it, seasoned with cinnamon, and sprinkled with chopped walnuts. The upper part forms meringue topping and grated pie crust.

    Preparing the apple slices is easy; just follow the steps I've described in detail (see below), including process photos.

    TIP: If you are a fan of apples, try this Czech apple bread pudding called Žemlovka!

    ➜ Ingredients

    PIE CRUST:

    Apple slices ingredients.
    • Yolks; carefully crack the eggs and separate the yolks from the whites. Use the whites later for the meringue topping. Take the eggs out of the refrigerator at least two hours in advance. Egg whites are easier to whip if they are at room temperature.
    • Unsalted butter; the same applies to it as to the eggs. Take it out of the fridge far enough ahead that it will soften at room temperature on the kitchen counter.
    • Coarse sugar
    • Milk
    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder

    Next, you need a tablespoon of butter and flour or fine breadcrumbs to prepare the baking sheet.

    APPLE FILLING + MERINGUE TOPPING:

    Ingredients for apple slice.
    • Cinnamon; ground
    • Walnuts
    • Apples; fresh
    • Lemon juice; prevents the browning of apples; sweet apples get a more pronounced flavor
    • Egg whites; left over from making the dough
    • Coarse sugar
    • Wine vinegar; can be omitted if necessary. The wine vinegar will help keep the snow firmer during baking.

    Furthermore, you need some icing sugar to dust the baked apple slices before serving.

    ✅ You’ll find the exact amount of ingredients below in the recipe card, which you can also print out.

    ➜ Instructions

    BEFORE BAKING: Grease a baking tray with butter and dust with flour or fine breadcrumbs. Preheat the oven to 340 °F (170 °C).

    STEP 1: Place the softened butter in a bowl, add the coarse sugar, and beat them together with a hand spatula. Then incorporate the egg yolks, one at a time. Finally, add the flour mixed with baking powder and milk. Work into a soft, smooth dough.

    Making pie crust.

    STEP 2: Separate a third of the dough, wrap it in plastic, and place it in the freezer to stiffen up.

    Pie crust / dough.

    STEP 3: Press the remaining dough into a thin layer on the bottom of the prepared baking sheet.

    STEP 4: Chop the walnuts coarsely using a large knife.

    Chopping walnuts.

    STEP 5: Peel the apples, remove the cores, cut them into thin slices, or grate them coarsely. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent the apples from browning.

    STEP 6: Spread the apples evenly over the dough, dust with cinnamon, about two tablespoons of sugar, and chopped nuts.

    Making apple slice.

    STEP 7: Beat the egg whites using a hand-held electric mixer with the remaining sugar until stiff. Finally, whisk in a tablespoon of wine vinegar. Carefully spread the snow over the apple layer.

    STEP 8: Take the remaining third of the dough out of the freezer and grate it coarsely. Sprinkle the grated dough over the meringue layer. The dough should not form a thick impenetrable layer; instead, the meringue should be visible under the batter.

    Makig apple slice.

    STEP 9: Bake the cake for 45 minutes in an oven preheated to 340 °F (170 °C).

    Baked apple slice.

    ➜ Serving

    Let the apple slices cool down for a while, and dust the surface with icing sugar. Slice and serve.

    Apple slice recipe.

    ➜ Kitchen Equipment

    The basic recipe is designed for a baking tray of about 12x16" (30 x 40 cm). You will also need a hand grater, a spatula, and a large knife to roughly chop/slice the walnuts.

    ➜ Useful Tips

    • Sugar the apple layer to taste. For more sour apples, add sugar; for sweeter apples, you can reduce the sugar.
    • Aside from nuts, add raisins to the apples if you like them.
    • This apple slice tastes best on the day it is baked. The fluffy meringue layer gets wet over time, and the cake is not as crispy as fresh out of the oven.

    More Czech recipes:

    • Trdelník Chimney Cake
    • Bublanina
    • Pan fried apple rings – in pancake batter
    • Gingerbread slice – perník
    • Apple jelly cake
    • Dried apples "Křížaly"

    Tried this recipe?

    Leave a review down in the comments! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Other readers and I love hearing what you think. Stay in touch by following me on Facebook and Pinterest. For more Czech stuff, subscribe to my newsletter!

    Apple slice with meringue topping.

    Famous Czech Apple Slice Recipe

    Author: Petra Kupská | Cook Like Czechs
    These amazing apple slices with meringue topping is hugely popular in the Czech Republic. The best translation of the Czech name "Hraběnčiny řezy" into English is probably Countess' slices.
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    Print recipe
    Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
    Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Servings: 25 slices

    Tap or hover to scale

    Ingredients 

    Pie crust:

    • 4 egg yolks
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 ⅓ stick unsalted butter softened at room temperature
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder

    Apple filling:

    • 5 medium apples
    • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 1 cup walnuts
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Meringue topping:

    • 4 egg whites
    • ½ cup granulated sugar

    Misc.:

    • 1 Tablespoon solid fat to grease the baking sheet
    • 2 Tablespoons breadcrumbs to dust the baking sheet
    • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar to sprinkle the baked apple slice

    Instructions 

    • BEFORE BAKING: Grease a baking sheet with 1 Tablespoon solid fat and dust with 2 Tablespoons breadcrumbs. Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
    • Place1 ⅓ stick unsalted butter in a bowl, add ¾ cup granulated sugar, and cream them with a spatula. Then incorporate 4 egg yolks, one at a time. Finally, add 3 cups all-purpose flour combined before with 2 teaspoons baking powder and ⅓ cup milk. Work by hand into a soft, smooth dough.
    • Separate a third of the dough, wrap it in plastic, and place it in the freezer to firm up.
    • Press the remaining dough evenly into a thin layer on the bottom of the prepared baking sheet.
    • Coarsely chop 1 cup walnuts using a large chef's knife.
    • Peel 5 medium apples, remove the cores, and either slice them thinly or grate them coarsely. If desired, sprinkle them with lemon juice to prevent browning.
    • Spread the apples evenly over the dough, dust with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, and chopped nuts.
    • Beat 4 egg whites with ½ cup granulated sugar using a handheld electric mixer with whisk attachement until stiff peaks form. Then, whisk in a tablespoon of wine vinegar. Carefully spread the meringue over the apple layer.
    • Take the remaining third of the dough out of the freezer and grate it coarsely. Sprinkle the grated dough over the meringue layer. Ensure the dough does not form a thick, impenetrable layer; the meringue should still be visible beneath the grated dough.
    • Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. Let the apple slice cool down and sprinkle with 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar.

    Notes

    • The basic recipe makes about 25 slices.
    • SERVING: Let the apple slice cool for a while, and dust the surface with powdered sugar. Slice into bars and serve.
    • EQUIPMENT: The basic recipe is designed for a rather large baking sheet of about 12x16" (30 x 40 cm). You will also need a hand grater, a spatula, and a large knife to roughly chop/slice the walnuts.
    • Sweeten the apple layer to taste. If the apples are more tart, add extra sugar; if they are sweeter, you can reduce the amount of sugar.
    • In addition to the nuts, add raisins to the apples if you like them.
    • This apple slice tastes best on the day it is baked. Over time, the fluffy meringue layer can become moist, and the cake loses its fresh, crispy texture. Enjoy it while it's fresh from the oven for the best experience.

    Nutritional estimate pro serving

    Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
    Servings: 25 slices
    Calories pro serving: 216
    Course: Sweet Pastry
    Cuisine: Czech
    Keyword: Fruit cake, Recipes with apples
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    Hi, I am Petra, a born-and-raised Czech and self-taught cook with 25+ years of experience. I am here to show you that you can cook Czech food—even if you live abroad or never learned it growing up. With clear steps and trusted guidance, Czech cooking becomes simple, joyful, and meaningful, right in your own kitchen.

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