Apple Torte Blackforest Style

We've really loved trying new recipes in the homes of our German colleagues.  Recently, we enjoyed learning how to make an Apple Torte in a Blackforest style.  

Apple Torte Blackforest Style
Preparation: 50 min
Baking: 30 min
Cooking: 5 min
Refrigeration: 3 hours

Ingredients for sponge:
4 eggs, 1 pinch salt, 200g sugar, 80g flour, 80g cornstarch, 2 tb baking powder, 30g cocoa powder

For filling:
5 apples, 500 ml apple juice, 3 tb sugar, 1 pk vanilla pudding powder or apprx. 5 tb custard powder,
500g whipping cream, 2 tb vanilla sugar (or regular sugar with 2 drops vanilla flavour)
For coat: 250g whipping cream, 1 tb vanilla sugar, 1 apple, 2 tb lemon juice, 2 tb chocolate
shavings

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C. Separate egg whites from yolks. Beat egg whites with 4 tb water, salt
and sugar until stiff peaks. Mix yolks and gently fold in to beaten egg whites. Mix flour, baking
powder, cornstarch and cocoa powder, sift and gently fold in. Pour into non-greased spring form
pan (Ø 26 cm) (I always cover the bottom with baking paper). Bake in the middle of the oven for
about 30 min.

2. Wash the apples, peel, core and cube them. Mix 450 ml of apple juice and sugar, simmer apples
and juice for about 5 min. Mix pudding powder or custard powder with the rest of the juice, mix in
and bring to boil. Let cool. Whip cream with vanilla sugar until stiff. Slice sponge into three layers.
Put bottom layer on a cake stand and surround with torte ring. Pour half of the apple compote on the
bottom layer and half of the whipped cream. Put middle layer on top. Pour rest of the apple compote
and cream on top. Cover with top layer. Refrigerate for three hours.

3. Whip cream with vanilla sugar. Coat cake with cream. Core apple and slice thin. Sprinkle with
lemon juice and pat dry a little bit. Decorate cake with chocolate shavings and apple slices