Why it works: Vanilla and cinnamon match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 5,287 recipes. Both carry 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, which smells sweet, anise. The science ↓
Dutch Apple Cake
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the batter
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Grease and flour a 9‑inch tart or pie pan.
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, 2 Tbsp sugar, and baking powder.
With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in 1 ½ Tbsp margarine.
Add egg whites, skim milk, and vanilla; beat until smooth. The batter will be stiff.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread to fit the pan.
Top and bake
Arrange apple slices, overlapping, in two concentric circles to cover the batter.
In a small bowl, combine 3 Tbsp sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the apple slices.
Dot the apples with ½ Tbsp margarine.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Apple | 1 medium (182g) | 95 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp extract (4ml) | 12 |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground (2.6g) | 6 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Vanilla + cinnamontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,287 recipes
Shared aroma: 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (sweet, anise).
-
Apple + cinnamontop 4% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,598 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl cinnamate (strawberry).
-
Milk + vanillatop 5% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together19,187 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity, apple peel).
-
Vanilla + appletop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,501 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Sugar + vanillatop 8% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together35,032 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Sugar and vanilla barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 35,032 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Flour
- Provides the structure that holds the stiff batter together as it bakes.
- Egg whites
- Add structure and help bind the batter as it sets in the oven.
- Apples
- Provide moisture and fruit flavor, softening as they bake over the batter.
- Margarine
- Adds fat for tenderness and richness in the batter and on the apples.
- Sugar
- Sweetens the batter and the apple topping, and helps the top brown.
- Baking powder
- Releases gas during baking to lift the batter so it rises.
The step that matters
Spreading the stiff batter evenly in the pan. The batter is stiff, so uneven spreading leaves thick and thin spots that bake unevenly. Spreading it to the pan edges gives an even base for the apples.
Swap the apple
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (flour, sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, cinnamon):
- Raisinfits better
- Figfits better
- Blueberryfits better
- Applethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against flour, sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, cinnamon. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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