If you love apple desserts, then you are in for a wonderful treat today. I’m excited to share three amazing apple cake recipes that are perfect for any season, bringing warmth and comfort to your home.
These cakes are simple to make and filled with delicious apple flavor. I think you will find a new favorite here, whether you like a sweet crumbly topping or a rich, moist texture.
Jump to Recipe:
Delicious Apple Fritter Cake
This cake brings all the lovely tastes of an apple fritter into an easy-to-bake cake form. You get soft apples and cinnamon sugar swirls in every slice.
Key Ingredients & Helpful Tips
- Apple Type: Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. They keep their shape well while baking.
- Cinnamon Swirl: Don’t mix it too much! A gentle swirl creates beautiful layers of spice in the cake.
- Glaze Finish: Pour the glaze over the cake while it’s still warm for a nice, even coating that sets well.
What You Need for Apple Fritter Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- For the glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons milk
⏱️ Time: 1 hour 10 mins🍽️ Yields: 8-10 servings
How to Make Apple Fritter Cake
Step 1: Get Ready
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon for your swirl. Set it aside.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder. In a separate bowl, mix the melted butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the diced apples.
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
Pour half of the batter into your prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter. Add the rest of the batter, then sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar. Swirl gently with a knife. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 4: Glaze and Serve
While the cake cools slightly, whisk powdered sugar and milk for the glaze until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm cake. Let it set a little before slicing and enjoying.
📝 Final Note
This cake is best eaten fresh on the day it’s made, but leftovers can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Moist Apple Honey Cake
This sweet apple honey cake is wonderfully moist and full of flavor. The honey adds a special richness that you will adore.
Key Ingredients & Helpful Tips
- Good Quality Honey: Using a nice, flavorful honey makes a big difference in the cake’s taste.
- Fresh Apple Juice: A splash of apple juice helps keep the cake extra moist and adds more apple taste.
- Spice Mix: A mix of cinnamon and nutmeg works perfectly with the honey and apples.
What You Need for Apple Honey Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup apple juice or strong brewed tea
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and grated or finely diced
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
⏱️ Time: 1 hour 20 mins🍽️ Yields: 10-12 servings
How to Make Apple Honey Cake
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Dry Mix
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round springform pan or a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Step 2: Wet Ingredients and Combine
In a large bowl, beat the oil, honey, and eggs until well blended. Slowly add the apple juice. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in the grated apples and walnuts if you are using them.
Step 3: Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer comes out clean from the center. If the top browns too quickly, you can cover it loosely with foil.
Step 4: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15 minutes before taking it out. Finish cooling completely on the rack before slicing. This cake tastes even better the next day!
📝 Final Note
This cake stays moist for several days. Store it well-covered at room temperature.
Classic Apple Streusel Cake
A classic apple streusel cake is always a favorite, with its soft cake base, tender apples, and crumbly topping. It’s a perfect dessert or a lovely treat with coffee.
Key Ingredients & Helpful Tips
- Cold Butter for Streusel: Make sure your butter is very cold for the streusel. This helps create that lovely crumbly texture.
- Apple Slices: Cut your apple slices evenly so they cook at the same rate and are tender in every bite.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the cake batter until just combined. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
What You Need for Apple Streusel Cake
- For the Streusel:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, diced
- For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
⏱️ Time: 1 hour 15 mins🍽️ Yields: 8-10 servings
How to Make Apple Streusel Cake
Step 1: Make the Streusel and Prep Oven
Start by making your streusel. In a small bowl, mix the 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar. Cut in the cold diced butter with your fingers or a pastry blender until you have coarse crumbs. Put it in the fridge. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch square baking pan.
Step 2: Mix Dry and Wet Batter
In a medium bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 3: Combine and Layer
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly, alternating with the sour cream. Mix until just combined. Spread half of the cake batter into your prepared pan. Arrange half of the apple slices over this layer. Top with the remaining batter, then arrange the rest of the apple slices. Sprinkle the chilled streusel evenly over the top.
Step 4: Bake and Cool
Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. If the streusel browns too fast, you can cover it loosely with foil. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.
📝 Final Note
A dusting of powdered sugar just before serving adds a nice touch to this cake.
