Easy Apple Cake Recipe with Fresh Apples and a Homemade Twist
This apple cake recipe is a cozy, fruit-filled dessert that’s as comforting as it is delicious.
Whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing fall treat or just a simple way to use up those extra apples, this cake recipe checks all the boxes.
It’s warm, tender, and bursting with real apple flavor in every bite.
There’s something undeniably nostalgic about the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven.
This easy, no-fuss recipe is perfect for weeknight baking or special gatherings, and you don’t need any fancy ingredients to pull it off.
What are the ingredients in apple cake?
Cold unsalted butter and all-purpose flour form the base of a tender dough, while baking powder helps the cake rise. Cinnamon adds a cozy touch of spice, and sliced fresh apples bring sweet-tart flavor and moisture to every bite.
The rest of the ingredients include eggs, milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt to round out the flavor. And for an indulgent finish, a rich whiskey cream topping is made with heavy cream, white chocolate, a bit of butter, and a splash of Irish whiskey.
How to Make an Apple Cake
Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe, then gather your ingredients and let’s get baking!
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F to ensure even baking.
- Blend cold butter and flour in a food processor until crumbly, then mix in sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add eggs and milk, stirring until everything is well combined.
- Peel and slice your apples while the batter rests.
- Roll out half the dough and press it into a greased and floured springform pan, layer with sliced apples, and top with the remaining dough.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool before removing from the pan.
- For a decadent finish, pour warm Irish whiskey white chocolate sauce over each slice before serving.
The best apples for apple cake are firm varieties that hold their shape during baking. Granny Smith is a classic choice for its tart flavor, but Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady are great options too. For extra depth of flavor, try mixing sweet and tart varieties!
Yes, freeze it (without the cream sauce) in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and warm before serving.
A 10-inch springform pan works best to easily release the cake without damaging the layers.
Absolutely! You can leave it out entirely or replace it with a splash of vanilla extract for a kid-friendly version.
No need to cook the apples first—slicing them thinly is enough! They’ll soften perfectly as the cake bakes, absorbing all those cozy spices and adding moisture to each bite. Cooking them ahead can make them too soft and lose that nice texture contrast.
Cuisinart Food Processor 14-Cup Vegetable Chopper for Mincing, Dicing, Shredding, Puree & Kneading Dough, Stainless Steel, DFP-14BCNY
Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Springform Pan, Carbon Steel with Quick-Release Non-Stick Coating, PFOA Free, Round, 10-InchesKitchenAid KE305OHERA Classic Fruit Slicer, One Size, Red
If you’re loving this apple cake, you’ll definitely want to check out these other great apple dessert recipes too:
- Try a classic Apple Pie Recipe for that timeless, all-American dessert everyone craves.
- Wake up to something sweet with this cozy Apple Coffee Cake Recipe—perfect with your morning coffee.
- Don’t forget to try your hand at homemade Apple Butter Recipe — it’s easier than you think and so delicious on toast or biscuits.
- Wondering what to do with extra apples? These leftover apple recipes turn those extras into something amazing.
Best Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter cold
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 5 fresh apples peeled and sliced in thin pieces
Whiskey Cream Topping:
- 1/2 pint heavy cream
- 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 12 ounces white chocolate
- 3 teaspoons Irish whiskey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Ensure your oven is fully preheated before placing the cake inside. This helps with even baking.
- Combine the cold butter and flour in a food processor and blend to a crumbly texture.
- Transfer butter and flour mixture to a large mixing bowl.
- Add baking powder, salt, cinnamon and 3/4 cup of sugar and stir to combine.
- Mix in eggs and milk into the dry ingredients and stir until all ingredients are well mixed in.
- Peel and slice apples.
- Grease and flour a 10-inch springform pan.
- On a floured surface, roll out half the dough to a 10-inch circle. Put in the spring form pan.
- Top with sliced apples, and then the second half of the dough.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents it from breaking apart.
- To make the best frosting for apple cake, heat heavy cream and butter over medium heat until just boiling, while stirring frequently.
- Add white chocolate and Irish whiskey to a mixing bowl.
- Pour hot heavy cream over the white chocolate and stir until the chocolate has completely melted.
- Slice and serve with sauce.
What are the European weight equivalents?
I am sorry I wouldn’t know how do that.