Apple Cake

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This apple cake recipe is moist with rich fall spices and fresh apples. This delicious fall dessert is easy to make – no mixer required!

an Apple Cake on a serving board with 4 slices cut out of it

I have been making this apple cake recipe for many, many years. It’s a simple, classic fall cake perfect for entertaining (just like this apple cobbler, apple pie and apple crisp)!

This apple cake is made with applesauce and fresh fall apples. It’s richly flavored with cozy fall spices and has a perfectly moist crumb.

Top it with the cinnamon glaze, or leave it bare. Either way, this dessert will surely become a family favorite.

a slice of Apple Cake on a plate with a bite taken out of it and a fork

Apple Cake Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

  • All-purpose flour. use an all-purpose, gluten-free baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Salted butter. unsalted butter and ghee are good substitutes.
  • Light Brown Sugar. If you like a little bolder, molasses taste use dark brown sugar. 
  • Granulated Sugar. white sugar, organic cane sugar, and coconut sugar are all good choices.
  • Unsweetened applesauce. Use store-bought or homemade applesauce.
  • Apples. choose your favorite variety. We prefer pink lady, honeycrisp, or fuji!
  • Whole milk (glaze). Half and half or heavy cream are good substitutes.
overhead photo of the ingredients in this Apple Cake recipe

How to Make Apple Cake

We’ll walk through how to make apple cake step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Then, line a 9โ€ round cake pan with parchment paper (or lightly grease), then set it aside.

Next, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl, then set aside.

How to Make Apple cake - mixing dry ingredients

Then, in a large glass bowl, melt the butter (in the microwave, or you can melt it over the stovetop).

Once the butter is melted, whisk in the sugars, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until smooth.

two photos showing How to Make Apple cake - combining wet ingredients in a glass bowl

Then, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until combine.

two photos showing How to Make Apple cake - adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients in a glass bowl

Once the mixture is uniform throughout, fold in the finely diced apples.

two photos showing How to Make Apple cake - stirring in diced apples

Then, spread the apple cake batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared cake pan.

Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cake is set and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove the apple cake from the oven and let it cool in the cake pan completely before removing and transferring to a serving plate.

two photos showing How to Make Apple cake - in a cake pan before and after baking

Make the Glaze

If you’d like to add a glaze, do so once the cake has completely cooled.

Then, whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon, milk and vanilla until smooth. You may need to add up to ยฝ TBS more milk to achieve a pourable but thick consistency.

two photos showing How to Make Apple cake glaze in a white bowl

Pour over cake, then let set at room temperature until hardened.

two photos showing glaze being poured and then spread over an apple cake

Serve

Once the cake is cooled and the glaze is hardened, slice the apple cake and serve. You can serve it with homemade vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream, if desired.

Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

an Apple Cake with 4 slices cut out of it

Freeze

You can freeze the entire cake or individual slices:

  1. Freeze the entire apple cake. Make apple cake and let it cool to room temperature. Then, remove it from the pan and put it in the freezer to harden for 1-2 hours. Once it is hardened, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and transfer it to an airtight container or wrap it in foil, for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cutting and serving. 
  2. Freeze individual slices. If you have a few leftover slices you want to freeze, place them on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer to flash-freeze them. Then, once they’re frozen, wrap them in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for about 6 hours. 
a slice of Apple Cake on a plate

Apple Cake Recipe FAQs

What is the best apple for apple cake?

Here are some suggestions:
Honeycrisp
Pink Lady
Jazz
Granny Smith
Gala
McIntosh
Fuji

Should you refrigerate apple cake?

Yes, since there are fresh apples in the cake it needs to be refrigerated in an airtight container to stay fresh.

How long will this cake keep?

This recipe lasts for 5-7 days in the refrigerator and 2 months in the freezer.

Can you leave apple cake out overnight?

Yes, you can leave it out overnight to cool in the pan.

a slice of Apple Cake on a plate with a bite taken out of it

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Apple Cake Recipe

Laura
This apple cake recipe is moist with rich fall spices and fresh apples. It's easy to make (no mixer required) this delicious fall dessert.
5 from 6 votes
Course cake, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 247
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Cooling1 hour
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients  

Cinnamon Glaze

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line a 9โ€ round cake pan with parchment paper and lightly grease, set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside.
  • In a large glass bowl, melt the butter.
  • Whisk in sugars, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
  • Add dry ingredients and stir until combine.
  • Gently fold in the finely diced apples.
  • Spread batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared cake pan.
  • Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until the cake is set and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let cool in the cake pan completely before removing and transferring to a serving plate.

Make the Glaze

  • Whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon, milk and vanilla until smooth. You may need to add up to ยฝ Tablespoon more milk to achieve a pourable but thick consistency.
  • Pour over the cooled cake, then let it set at room temperature until hardened.
  • Slice and serve.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions
  • All-purpose flour. use an all-purpose, gluten-free baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Salted butter. unsalted butter and ghee are good substitutes.
  • Light Brown Sugar.ย If you like a little bolder, molasses taste use dark brown sugar.ย 
  • Granulated Sugar.ย white sugar, organic cane sugar, and coconut sugar are all good choices.
  • Unsweetened applesauce. Use store-bought or homemade applesauce.
  • Apples. choose your favorite variety. We prefer pink lady, honeycrisp, or fuji!
  • Whole milk (glaze). Half and half or heavy cream are good substitutes.
Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for5-7 days.
Freeze
You can freeze the entire cake or individual slices:
  1. Freeze the entire apple cake.ย Make apple cake and let it cool to room temperature. Then, remove it from the pan and put it in the freezer to harden for 1-2 hours. Once it is hardened, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and transfer it to an airtight container or wrap it in foil, for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cutting and serving.ย 
  2. Freeze individual slices.ย If you have a few leftover slices you want to freeze, place them on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer to flash-freeze them. Then, once they’re frozen, wrap them in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for about 6 hours.ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 263mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 292IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Best apple cake I have ever made! Wonderful blend of spices that makes it delicious. I squirted a half lemon on my apples while I was preparing the other ingredients and this turned out to be a bonus. Cooled as per instructions and it came off the pan perfectly. No need for the glaze her as we love it the way it is.

  2. 5 stars
    Great recipe. I used Granny Smith apples and the cake looks and tastes great. I think next time I will use a little less sugar than the recipe suggests.