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    Home » Apple Cake

    Apple Cake

    Published: Sep 16, 2022 · Modified: Feb 14, 2023 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    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 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 9” 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 ½ 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

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Apple Cake!

    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 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Cooling 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 40 mins
    Course cake, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 Servings
    Calories 247 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • glass batter bowl
    • 9" round cake pan
    • whisk
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ½ tsp fine sea salt
    • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
    • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
    • ½ cup salted butter melted
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar
    • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1 ½ cup apples finely diced

    Cinnamon glaze

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
    • 1 ½ TBS whole milk
    • ½ tsp vanilla
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Line a 9” 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 ½ TBS 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. 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.
    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. 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. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sliceCalories: 247kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 263mgPotassium: 79mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 292IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Orla

      March 03, 2023 at 9:52 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 03, 2023 at 1:43 pm

        Thank you so much Orla! I'm so glad you love it!

        Reply
    2. Ruth

      October 01, 2022 at 7:39 pm

      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.

      Reply

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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