This Apple Cake is a delicious, moist cake that's filled with tender chunks of apples to make the most delicious apple treat you've ever had! It's then topped with cream cheese frosting and lots of dark chocolate shavings, and is always a complete crowd-pleaser!
Everything tastes better with apples, right? There is something about this fruit that not only reminds us of Fall, but baked goods made with apples always give us wonderful nostalgic and warm childhood memories in the country.
I've been making this cake for over a decade and it's always gobbled down quickly in our house. My kids adore this apple treat.
Not only is it super delicious, but it is also super easy to put together as well. To get the best turnout, there is just one thing to keep in mind that differs from the usual cake baking process.
This cake requires a little longer baking time at lower temperatures due to loads of moist apples in it. But in the end, it's worth all the waiting, trust me. It's one of the easiest cake recipes out there and you're about to fall in love with it.
Want to learn how to make this delicious Apple Cake? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
What is an Apple Cake?
An Apple Cake is a delicious cake that has a batter that's filled with chunks of apples that cook to a tender consistency that's moist, light, and absolutely comforting!
It's the perfect fall cake that makes everything taste better and more wholesome. It's also the perfect coffee cake! A coffee cake is any delicious sweet cake intended to be had with coffee, and trust me this one is perfect for it!
It has the most delicious flavor that's balanced and absolutely perfect. This recipe is not only super easy to make, but it's seriously about to become your most favorite apple cake recipe ever!
What You Need to Make Apple Cake at Home
Making this cake requires simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry. Let's look at what these are one by one:
For the Cake Batter
- Apples: First of all we need some apples to make this delicious apple cake recipe! I've used Granny Smith Apples, but you can use whichever apples you love the most. Some other great varieties include Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Pink Lady.
- Eggs: The next ingredient we need is some large eggs to not only add structure to this cake but also a lot of moistness and a delicious flavor too.
- All-purpose flour: We'll also, of course, need some simple all-purpose flour to make the base of our apple cake batter.
- Sugar: To add the perfect level of sweetness to our cake, we'll also be using some regular white granulated sugar in our cake batter. Sugar actually also makes the cake soft and moist!
- Baking soda: We'll be using some baking soda as our leavening agent, apart from the eggs that we're using.
- Vinegar: You'll also need some vinegar to activate the baking soda, so we'll be using some distilled white vinegar in this recipe.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese: First of all, to make our cream cheese frosting we'll need some cream cheese! We'll be adding softened cream cheese for the perfect consistency and texture.
- Butter: Next, we'll need some unsalted butter to add some silkiness to the frosting and also a delicious, rich flavor.
- Condensed milk: To sweeten our cream cheese frosting, we'll be using some condensed milk which will give it a delicious, special, and unique flavor
- Chocolate bar: We'll be adding some chocolate shavings to the top of our cake, so you can use whichever chocolate bar you love the most. I've used 70% dark chocolate here.
How to Make Apple Cake Step by Step
This Apple Cake recipe is incredibly easy to follow and make. Here's what you'll need to do step by step:
How to Make Apple Cake Batter
Let's start by making our batter! Preheat your oven to 300 F. Next, add eggs and sugar into a large bowl. Beat on high for 10 minutes.
While the eggs are beating, wash, peel and chop the apples and place them in a bowl. Cover with a cap and place the bowl in the fridge to prevent the apples from darkening too much.
Next, activate the baking soda with vinegar and add it to the egg mixture. Mix for one minute until well combined.
Now add sifted flour in three different additions, gently folding in the flour without deflating too many air pockets in the batter.
Finally, add chopped apples and gently fold them in using a spatula.
How to Bake Apple Cake
Time to bake our delicious apple cake! Split the batter equally between two springform pans that have been greased liberally with butter. I recommend a cake pan that is 9 inches for this recipe.
You don't need to use parchment paper for this recipe if you properly grease the pans with butter and use a springform pan as instructed.
Bake for 50 minutes at 300 F or until a toothpick comes out clean. After it's done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before removing the cake sponges from the baking pans and onto cooling racks.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting for Apple Cake
While the cake is cooling start making the frosting!
Add butter and condensed milk into a bowl and beat it on high until smooth, or for about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl if necessary.
Add softened cream cheese and beat for another 2 minutes. Your delicious cream cheese frosting is ready!
How to Assemble Apple Cake
Place the first cake sponge on the cake platter. Place ⅓ of the cream on the sponge and spread it out evenly.
Layer the second sponge over the first layer topped with cream. Using a spatula, spread the rest of the cream over the top and sides of the cake.
Sprinkle the cake with dark chocolate shavings or dust it with some confectioners' sugar. Place into the fridge for at least 10 hours or overnight for the cream to completely set.
This cake slices best with a warm knife heated in a tall glass of hot water to prevent a sticky mess.
Serve it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream along with a cup of your favorite black tea or a hot cup of your favorite homemade latte! You can also drizzle some warm caramel sauce on top of it before serving.
Recipe Variation Ideas for Apple Cake
This delicious recipe is perfect as it is, but here are some fun ideas you can try to change things up and customize it according to your preferences:
Use pears: Another great option that works for this recipe is to use some delicious pears that make for another great fall treat! Just replace the apples in this recipe with some peeled and chopped pears.
Use peaches: Peaches will also work really well in this cake, and it's a great way to customize this recipe for the summertime.
Add nuts: You can also add your favorite nuts to the cake batter before baking it! A great option is walnuts and even pecans will work really well with the flavors in this cake.
How to Store Leftover Apple Cake
Storing this delicious cake is super easy! Just place slices in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. This cake tastes even better the next day!
You can even freeze this cake for up to 3 months. I recommend not layering it with the cream cheese frosting if you intend to freeze it in the freezer. Just let me thaw overnight in the fridge before adding the cream cheese frosting to it before serving.
More Apple Recipes You'll Love
- Sweet Swirl Apple Buns
- Glazed Apple Banana Crumb Muffins
- The Best Apple Pie Recipe
- Easy Apple Crisp
- Cinnamon Apple Bars
- Rice Zapekanka with Apples
- Apple Roses Desserts
- Cinnamon Rolls with Apples and Cream Cheese Frosting
Check out all Fall recipes HERE.
Recipe Card
Simple, Moist Homemade Apple Cake (Super Easy Recipe!)
Ingredients
Apple Cake Batter Ingredients
- 6 large – eggs (room temperature; I used home raised chicken eggs)
- 2 cups – organic sugar (or white granulated sugar)
- 1 tsp. – organic baking soda
- 1 tbsp. – distilled vinegar
- 2 cups – all-purpose organic flour
- 4 large – organic Granny Smith apples
- Dark chocolate bar (for chocolate shavings to top the cake)
Apple Cake Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 8 oz. – unsalted butter
- 14 oz. can – organic condensed milk
- 8 oz. – organic cream cheese
Instructions
How to Make Apple Cake Batter
- Let's start by making our batter! Preheat your oven to 300 F. Next, add eggs and sugar into a large bowl. Beat on high for 10 minutes.
- While the eggs are beating, wash, peel and chop the apples and place them in a bowl. Cover with a cap and place the bowl in the fridge to prevent the apples from darkening too much.
- Next, activate the baking soda with vinegar and add it to the egg mixture. Mix for one minute until well combined.
- Now add sifted flour in three different additions, gently folding in the flour without deflating too many air pockets in the batter.
- Finally, add chopped apples and gently fold them in using a spatula.
How to Bake Apple Cake
- Time to bake our delicious apple cake! Split the batter equally between two springform pans that have been greased liberally with butter. I recommend a cake pan that is 9 inches for this recipe.
- You don't need to use parchment paper for this recipe if you properly grease the pans with butter and use a springform pan as instructed.
- Bake for 50 minutes at 300 F or until a toothpick comes out clean. After it's done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before removing the cake sponges from the baking pans and onto cooling racks.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting for Apple Cake
- While the cake is cooling start making the frosting!
- Add butter and condensed milk into a bowl and beat it on high until smooth, or for about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl if necessary.
- Add softened cream cheese and beat for another 2 minutes. Your delicious cream cheese frosting is ready!
How to Assemble Apple Cake
- Place the first cake sponge on the cake platter. Place ⅓ of the cream on the sponge and spread it out evenly.
- Layer the second sponge over the first layer topped with cream. Using a spatula, spread the rest of the cream over the top and sides of the cake.
- Sprinkle the cake with dark chocolate shavings or dust it with some confectioners' sugar. Place into the fridge for at least 10 hours or overnight for the cream to completely set.
Notes
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This recipe was originally posted on March 10, 2015, and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!