Easy Apple Cake Recipe

Indulge in the comforting flavors of fall with our mouthwatering Apple Cake Recipe. This delectable dessert captures the essence of crisp autumn days with its tender crumb, sweet apples, and warm spices, making it a delightful treat for any season.

This delicious homemade apple cake is so moist, and juicy. Made with fresh sweet-tart apples, and spiced with some warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.

Serve this warm, spiced cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or just a sprinkle of some powdered sugar. Enjoy this fall favorite made from scratch in no time.

Jump to:

• What Is Apple Cake
• Ingredients For Apple Cake Recipe
• How To Make Cake With Apples
• Tips
• Storage
• FAQ's
• Fun Recipes
• Easy Apple Cake Recipe
• Fall Baking

What Is Apple Cake

Apple cake is a type of cake that features apples as a primary ingredient. It is a popular dessert in many cultures and can come in various forms, such as a moist and dense cake, a lighter and fluffier cake, or even a more rustic and crumbly coffee cake.

The apples in the cake can be incorporated in different ways, including being diced, sliced, grated, or layered.

Apple cake typically has a sweet and mildly spiced flavor due to the addition of ingredients like cinnamon and nutmeg. It may also include other ingredients like nuts (such as walnuts or pecans), raisins, or a crumb topping for added texture and flavor.

Apple cake can be served on its own, dusted with powdered sugar, glazed with a simple icing, or accompanied by a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

It's a versatile dessert that can be enjoyed throughout the year, but it's especially popular in the fall when apples are in season.

There are countless variations of apple cake recipes, ranging from traditional family recipes to more modern and creative adaptations. This recipe is just one example of a delicious homemade apple cake.

Ingredients For Apple Cake Recipe

These ingredients come together to create a delicious apple cake that's both moist and flavorful. The combination of spices, apples, and a tender crumb makes it a delightful dessert or snack.

Here's a description of the ingredients used in the apple cake recipe:

Apples: Apples are the star ingredient. They add natural sweetness, flavor, and moisture to the cake. They can be diced or sliced, depending on the desired texture.

All-Purpose Flour: This is the primary dry ingredient in the cake. It provides structure and texture to the cake.

Chopped Nuts (optional): Chopped walnuts or pecans can be added to the cake for a nutty crunch and extra flavor. This is an optional ingredient, and you can omit it if you prefer a nut-free cake.

Sugar: Sugar sweetens the cake and helps to create a tender crumb texture.

Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a warm and aromatic flavor to the cake. It pairs wonderfully with apples.

Ground Nutmeg: Nutmeg has a slightly nutty and spicy flavor that complements the cinnamon and adds depth to the cake's spiciness.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the cake and adds a pleasant aroma.

Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor of the cake and balances the sweetness.

Baking Powder: Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.

Eggs: Eggs act as a binding agent and contribute to the structure and moisture of the cake.

Oil: In apple cake recipes, oil plays a vital role by providing moisture to the cake, resulting in a tender and moist texture.

Juice: Orange juice adds a refreshing citrusy note that complements the sweetness of the apples, creating a delightful and balanced flavor profile.

Topping (Granulated Sugar and Ground Cinnamon): This mixture of sugar and cinnamon is sprinkled on top of the cake before baking. It adds a sweet and slightly spiced crust to the cake.

How To Make Cake With Apples

This homemade apple cake is easy to make and comes together in just 3 easy steps. I have shared instructions on making Apple Cake using Instant Pot and in an oven. This apple cake will surely become your family favorite whichever method you pick. Enjoy this warm, spiced apple cake with some vanilla ice cream.

For Instant Pot cooking, a 7 - 8 inch pan works great for this recipe. You can use a spring-form, removable bottom pan, or a simple cake pan. Make sure the pan fits into your IP.

I used an Ekovana Stainless Steel Cheesecake Push Pan Round 8 inches. This 8-inch pan fits well into my 8 quarts Instant Pot. I love this pan as it easily fits into IP, unlike the spring-form pan, where the clips make it quite harder to fit in the Instant Pot.

Secondly, you can push the cake up the bottom, which makes it a lot easier to remove the cake from the pan, without causing any damage to the sides of the cake.

Prep For Recipe For Apple Cake

Grease the cake pan with some cooking spray, and dust it with some flour. Set it aside.

Peel, core, and dice apples. In a bowl, toss apples, walnuts (optional), brown sugar, and cinnamon and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk oil and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in orange juice, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until ingredients are well incorporated, with no large lumps.

Note: The consistency of apple cake batter is dense and thick, unlike the regular cake batter.

Spoon half the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Using the back of the spoon, smooth out the batter. Next, layer half of the apple mixture evenly on top of the batter.

Repeat the process. Spoon the remaining cake batter on top of the apple mixture. Using the back of the spoon, gently smooth out the batter. Finish with the remaining apple mixture on top of the batter.

Apple Cake In Instant Pot

Cover the pan with a piece of paper towel, and then cover the entire pan with foil.

Note: It is important to cover the whole pan, this helps prevent any excess moisture in the cake.

Add 1 cup of water to the inner pot (Instant Pot). Place a trivet, and gently place the cake pan onto the trivet.

Close the lid, and the vent is sealed. Set MANUAL / PRESSURE COOK (high) for 60 minutes. Allow natural pressure release, around 10 minutes.

Carefully remove the cake from the Instant Pot and remove the foil and paper towel. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring the cake onto a serving plate.

Enjoy a slice of warm, apple cake with some vanilla ice cream!!

Apple Cake Recipe In Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Place the cake pan in the center of the oven.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring the cake onto a serving plate.

Enjoy a slice of warm, apple cake with some vanilla ice cream!!

Tips

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to baking a delicious apple cake that everyone will enjoy. Here are some tips to help you make the best apple cake:

Choose the Right Apples: The best apples for this recipe are baking apples, as they are slightly tart, hold their shape while cooking, and are less juicy. Varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Jonathan, or Cortland work well. Feel free to mix different types of apples for a more complex flavor.

Prep the Apples Properly: Peel, core, and dice or slice the apples uniformly to ensure even cooking and distribution throughout the cake. Toss them in a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning.

Add Texture with Nuts: Chopped nuts, like walnuts or pecans, can add a delightful crunch to your apple cake. Toasting them before adding to the batter can enhance their flavor.

Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow ingredients like butter (optional), eggs, and juice to come to room temperature before using. Room temperature ingredients incorporate more smoothly and result in a better-textured cake.

Don't Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until everything is incorporated. Overmixing can lead to a tough or dense cake.

Use a Quality Baking Pan: Use a good-quality, pan and consider lining the bottom with parchment paper to prevent sticking while baking. Alternatively, use a well-greased and floured pan.

For Instant Pot Cake: This is important, wrap the entire pan tightly with foil, to prevent any extra moisture into the cake. Yes, this extra little step does help with the texture of the cake. The cake is not too dense, or gooey.

Check for Doneness: To determine if the cake is done, insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet. Overbaking can lead to a dry cake.

Cool Properly: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling in the pan helps the cake set.

Juice: Orange juice, apple cider add flavor to the cake. You can also use some rum instead of juice.

Freshly Grated Nutmeg: Whenever possible, use freshly grated nutmeg. It has a more vibrant and intense flavor compared to pre-ground nutmeg.

Serve with Whipped Cream or Ice Cream: A dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream pairs wonderfully with apple cake.

Store Properly: Follow the storage guidelines mentioned earlier to keep your apple cake fresh and delicious.

Storage

To store your apple cake, place it in an airtight container or cover it tightly with plastic wrap to maintain its moisture and prevent it from drying out.

Keep the cake at room temperature for short-term storage (1-2 days), in the refrigerator for longer periods (up to 5-7 days).

You can freeze it for extended storage (up to 2-3 months).

FAQ's

Fun Recipes

Fall Baking