Sharlotka (Russian Apple Sponge)
A light, eggy sponge baked over soft cinnamon apples, simple to make and gluten free with a good flour blend.
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.50 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 248kcal
- 46.3gcarbs
- 29.4gof which sugars
- 4.7gfat
- 1.8gsaturates
- 6.1gprotein
- 2.6gfibre
- 0.2gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease a 23 cm springform tin with the dairy free spread and line the base with baking paper.
- 2
Toss the apple slices with the lemon juice and cinnamon. Spread them evenly over the base of the tin.
- 3
Whisk the eggs, caster sugar and vanilla with an electric whisk for 8 to 10 minutes, until very pale, thick and tripled in volume. When you lift the whisk, the trail should sit on the surface for a few seconds.
10 min - 4
Sift the flour, baking powder and xanthan gum over the egg mix. Fold in gently with a large spoon, in 3 goes, keeping in as much air as you can.
- 5
Pour the batter over the apples and tap the tin once on the work surface. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden and a skewer in the sponge comes out clean.
43 min - 6
Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then release and turn out. Serve warm or cold, apple side up, sprinkled with a little sugar.
10 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
