Of course! A Simple Apple Cake is the epitome of comfort food. It’s easy to make, fills your home with a wonderful aroma, and is incredibly satisfying.
Here is a classic, foolproof recipe for a moist, dense, and warmly spiced apple cake.
Simple Apple Cake
This recipe is a “one-bowl” wonder (mostly!) and results in a wonderfully moist cake that lets the flavor of the apples shine.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 40-50 minutes
Serves: 9-12
Ingredients
For the Cake:
· 2 large eggs
· 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
· ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil, canola oil, or melted coconut oil
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1 ½ cups (188g) all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
· ¼ teaspoon salt
· 3 cups chopped apples (about 2-3 medium apples; see note below)
· Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
For the Topping (Optional but Recommended):
· 2 tablespoons coarse sugar (like turbinado or “Sugar in the Raw”)
· ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8 inch or 9×9 inch square baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until well combined and slightly pale. Whisk in the oil and vanilla extract.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt directly over the wet ingredients. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; a few streaks of flour are okay.
- Fold in Apples (and Nuts): Gently fold in the chopped apples and optional nuts. The batter will be very thick, which is perfect.
- Bake: Spread the thick batter evenly into your prepared pan. It will be lumpy with apples.
- Add Topping: If using, mix the coarse sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon together and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the batter.
- Bake: Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake (not just an apple piece) comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing. This cake is delicious warm, at room temperature, or even cold.
Pro Tips for the Best Apple Cake
· The Best Apples for Baking: You want apples that hold their shape and offer a balance of sweet and tart.
· Great Choices: Granny Smith (for tartness), Honeycrisp (for sweet, firm texture), Braeburn, or Gala. Using a mix of two different kinds (like one Granny Smith and one Honeycrisp) creates a fantastic depth of flavor.
· Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter after adding the flour develops gluten, which can make the cake tough. Fold just until you no longer see dry spots of flour.
· Peeling is Optional: Peeling the apples is traditional for a uniform texture, but leaving the peel on adds color, fiber, and a bit of texture. It’s entirely up to you!
· Testing for Doneness: Because the batter is so full of juicy apples, the toothpick test is crucial. Make sure you’re testing the cake batter itself, not a piece of soft apple.
· Serve it Up: This cake is sublime on its own, but it’s also incredible:
· À la Mode: With a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
· With Cream: With a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Popular Variations
· Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake: For a streusel topping, mix ½ cup flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Cut in ¼ cup cold cubed butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter before baking.
· Apple Bundt Cake: Double the recipe and bake in a greased and floured 10-cup Bundt pan for 50-60 minutes.
· Dairy-Free: This cake is naturally dairy-free as written (if you use oil)!
Enjoy this simple, classic, and utterly delicious taste of fall (or any time of the year