How to Make Russian Sharlotka Cake in 35 minutes: The Simplest Recipe
- Admin
- Nov 23, 2017
- 4 min read

Can a cake be healthy and delicious at the same time? Yes, it certainly can! This recipe is a classic example of the above statement and here let me explain why.
We often think that everything that involves baking sweet things is unhealthy and not good for our well - being. Our occasional visit to a local bakery once a week is considered a treat that we allow ourselves once in a while, because we "deserved it." But you must have asked this question: why can some people eat deserts and don't get extra calories or feel zero guilt, while others just feel how the fat from the sweets establishes its home base on the hips?
Well, the answer is very simple - it's all about the ingredients and the quantity, of course, which is a consequence of the ingredients. The most important rule in cooking healthy food is to use natural ingredients, and baking is not an exception. Some recipes for baking have a purpose such as giving a pretty outlook or a nice consistency of the baked item, and thus they consciously sacrifice the healthiness of the dish. Recipes that require artificial colors, thickeners and syrup based decorations are not the recipe we want to use, if we aim for a healthy, natural, and yet delicious desert.
Upon personal investigation of dozens of cakes in stores and learning about healthy baking at home, I found that the biggest enemies for me in cakes are modified corn starch (GMO) and the corn starch. These two ingredients are unquestionably not accepted in healthy baking! Though the second ingredient (corn starch) is somewhat naturally based, it is only used as a cheap thickener (cut costs) and a quick, but not good filler for the tummy. The reason for that is that corn starch is a high calorie ingredient that has no nutritional value and I personally recommend to better stay away from it. There is not much to say about GMO here, as anything artificial does not go together with the word healthy by any means and thus should be avoided as well.
The below Easy Classic Apple Cake (Russian Sharlotka) recipe does not contain corn starch or GMO and as a matter of fact has only 5 ingredients! The history of Russian Sharlotka cake goes back to the 19th century where no artificial ingredients existed. The beauty of this recipe is that it is very simple and easy to cook. It does not require any cooking skills, kitchen appliances and more than 35 minutes In Slavic countries this cake is cooked as a regular dessert when the family wants something freshly and quickly baked. There is no need to be afraid of the sugar as it is a natural ingredient after all, and does not bring any harm if used in balance. For example, a supplemental cup of tea with this desert can be sugar free, so as to balance the sugar amount for your day. Wheat flour is an excellent source of fiber and presented in this recipe in an absolutely reasonable quantity.
I am sure I have eased your mind by providing the true information from many years experimenting about the healthy facts in desserts in general and this yummy cake in particular.
Please enjoy the cooking process and the result afterward! Only healthy and natural ingredients and balanced portions are the keys to health and beauty!
Classic Apple Cake (Russian Sharlotka):
Calories: 231 per serving
Ingredients for 12 servings
- 1 cup sugar (180g)
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup wheat flour (180g) *
- 5 apples **
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1/2 tsp. soda
(needs to be mixed with vinegar; see instruction below)
- 1/2 tsp. vinegar
* If you do not tolerate gluten, a gluten free wheat flour is a great option.
** The sort of apple is based on personal preferences and the season. Granny Smith Apples might be the best choice for this cake.
Directions:
1. Turn the oven to 200 degrees C (400 degrees F). Separate egg whites and yolks. Whisk the egg whites for several minutes until they become foamy (fork is a good device for that motion - no special kitchen appliance is needed), slowly adding sugar in to the process.
2. Continue to whisk, adding yolks one by one and then adding the mix of soda and vinegar.
Instruction on how to mix soda with vinegar:
We mix soda and vinegar when we don't have baking powder available. Additionally, this procedure makes the cooking substance very airy and the structure porous.Simply pour 1/2 tea spoon of vinegar on to 1/2 tea spoon of soda (do it above the cooking bowl) and then pour the whole mixture in the bowl and stir it.
3. Coat the cooking pan (the one that will go to the oven) with the vegetable oil. Pour half of the mixture on to the pan, evenly place cut pieces of apple and pour the rest of the substance on top.
4. Place the pan into the preheated oven. Keep the cake under 200 degrees C for 3 minutes, then lower the temperature until 180 degrees C and bake it for 25 minutes.
Easy Enough?
Happy Baking to Everyone!