Apple Cake (Torta di Mele) from Col delle Rane Agriturismo
One of my favorite things about the Italian countryside is the abundance of small, family owned hotels and the food they serve. Each has its own personality, expertise and of course, recipes. Col delle Rane, an agriturismo 30 miles northwest of Venice is one of these special places. Owned by the Gallina family for three generations, the 17th century farmhouse has 15 comfortable and spacious rooms with 4 apartments. Run by brothers Matteo and Domenico and overseen by their parents Rosanna and Elso, Col delle Rane means “Frog’s Hill” because the original farm had many happily croaking frogs. Located in the heart of Prosecco country, the agriturismo is a terrific home base from which to explore this glorious part of Italy.
In addition to the large vegetable garden, raspberry bushes, hen-house and vineyard, one of the specialties of Col delle Rane is the large number of fruit trees. Cherry, apricot, peach, plum, apple, pear, fig, persimmon and quince give incredible fruit throughout the growing season.
The grapes grown in the beautiful vineyard are made into Prosecco and red wine, specially bottled for Col delle Rane. Daily breakfast is served in the bright glass enclosed courtyard room in the warm weather or the cozy dining room inside the farmhouse in the colder weather.
In order to be a licensed Agriturismo, a certain percentage of the food served must come from the property. And with all those fruit trees, you can be sure that you’ll be served plenty of them with the selection of jams, juices, fresh fruit and baked goods.
Rosanna bakes all the bread, cakes, cookies and tarts using the fruits and vegetables grown on the property (as well as eggs from those cute chickens) and she was kind enough to share some of her favorites with me. Since her cakes are for breakfast, they have the perfect amount of sweetness to go with your morning cappuccino. And as it’s apple season, Rosanna’s Torta di Mele is the perfect one to bake!
- 1 large apple (I like Granny Smith)- peeled and sliced
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ c. sugar
- ⅓ c. plus 1 T. flour
- 6 T. vegetable oil
- 3 T. grappa (or rum)
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- pinch of salt
- dash of cinnamon
- ⅓ c. raisins
- Preheat the oven to 375°.
- Grease and parchment paper line an 8" round cake pan.
- Chop ¾ of the sliced apple leaving the other ¼ in slices to use on the top of the cake.
- In a bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, flour, oil, grappa, baking powder, vanilla, salt and cinnamon 1-2 minutes, just until combined.
- Add chopped apples and raisins and stir together.
- Pour into prepared cake pan and place sliced apples on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until slightly golden.
Meet Laney Sachs
I’m not just enthusiastic about travel—I live travel, each and every day. From plotting out my clients’ next great escape, to logging airmiles on my own adventures (I always have a suitcase packed and at the ready!), travel drives me in everything I do.
I’ve learned a few things along the way, and I’d love to share them with you. Learn a bit more about my journey to founding my own travel agency—it involves quite a few glasses of Italian wine!
