Description
Indulgent caramel apple eclair cake delivers layers of creamy delight with crisp pastry and sweet apple essence. Delicate French-inspired dessert promises rich textures and comforting flavors welcoming you to savor each heavenly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 24 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Binding Ingredient:
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
Garnish:
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Peel and slice apples into thin, uniform wedges, ensuring even thickness for consistent caramelization and baking.
- Prepare a rectangular baking dish by lightly greasing the surface to prevent sticking and facilitate easy serving.
- Create a smooth graham cracker base by layering crackers in a single, unbroken pattern across the bottom of the dish, covering the entire surface.
- Whip cream cheese and pudding mix together until achieving a velvety, lump-free consistency that will form the cake’s creamy filling.
- Gently fold whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture, creating a light and airy texture that will enhance the cake’s overall structure.
- Spread half of the cream mixture evenly over the graham cracker layer, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Arrange caramelized apple slices in an attractive, overlapping pattern across the cream layer, distributing them for maximum flavor distribution.
- Add another layer of graham crackers atop the apples, creating a stable middle section for the dessert.
- Pour remaining cream mixture over the second cracker layer, smoothing the surface to create a pristine finish.
- Drizzle caramel sauce in an elegant zigzag pattern across the top, allowing it to slightly penetrate the cream layer.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and texture to set completely.
- Before serving, garnish with additional caramel drizzle and optional chopped nuts for textural contrast and visual appeal.
Notes
- Let ingredients come to room temperature before starting to ensure smooth mixing and even baking.
- Use ripe, firm apples for best texture and flavor, preventing soggy layers in the eclair cake.
- Consider using a sharp serrated knife when slicing to maintain clean, precise cake cuts.
- Customize the recipe by adding chopped nuts or drizzling extra caramel sauce for more decadent flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 50mg