This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Apples, whole wheat flour, sugar, applesauce, and cinnamon are the main ingredients in this simple dessert! Baked until golden brown, this apple cake recipe is the perfect warm and cozy treat for any occasion.
Apple cake is the perfect treat that is not too sweet, but will satisfy your cravings every time! The recipe is a simple cake recipe with a few special additions to make this the most delicious and comforting dessert.
The cinnamon and apples work together to create a cozy flavor that tastes like fall in a cake and will leave your house smelling amazing! The cake itself is soft and fluffy, with chunks of tender apple that makes you want another bite. You can serve this yummy cake as a snack or dessert, either way it will be a huge hit.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The cake is soft, light, and moist.
- You can serve this cake plain or drizzled with caramel sauce.
- You can use any kind of apple!
Recipe Ingredients
- Apples—Finely chopped.
- Eggs—Make sure you use large eggs.
- Sugar—White granulated sugar.
- Whole Wheat Flour—Helps give the cake its structure and texture.
- Oil—You can use coconut oil or melted butter.
- Applesauce—To add moisture and extra apple flavor to the cake.
- Vanilla—Enhances the warm, cozy flavors in the cake.
- Cinnamon—Compliments the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Salt—This will help all of the flavors pop.
- Baking Powder and Soda—Both are crucial in helping the cake rise properly.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Apple Cake
Step #1. Preheat the oven.In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, oil, and applesauce. Beat until foamy.Add the sugar and vanilla, stir to combine.
Step #2. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Step #3. Fold in the apples. Pour batter into a greased baking pan.
Step #4. Bake until the cake is cooked throughout. Allow the cake to cool before cutting.
Recipe FAQs
You can use whatever apples you have or prefer! It doesn’t matter if you use a variety or all one kind, it will still taste delicious and have a moist texture. You can choose to make this cake with more sweet apples such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala. But, you can also make this cake with more tart apples such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or McIntosh to contrast the sugar and cinnamon. This recipe is a great way to use parts of apples that might not have been fully eaten and you just have lying around, but don’t want to go to waste!
It all depends on how you want your apple cake to taste! While the overall flavor or integrity of the cake will not change too much based on what kind of applesauce you use, you might be able to taste a subtle difference. I like to use one that is unsweetened and has no spices added, because this recipe already calls for sugar and cinnamon. If that is what you’d like to use then go for it! Just know your cake might taste a bit sweeter or have a cozy, spiced flavor.
If you overmix your batter, then your cake could possibly be dense, not rise, or have a chewy texture. This is because the gluten in the flour will develop and form strong gluten strands. To avoid this problem, be sure to only mix in the dry ingredients until just combined. Until just combined means that you should stop mixing as soon as you can no longer see any flour in the batter. As long as you don’t overmix the batter, your cake should be nice and fluffy!
How to Serve and Store Apple Cake
Apple cake is a wonderful sweet snack that can be served warm, right out of the oven! But if you want to take this dessert to the next level, you can also sprinkle some confectioner’s sugar on top right before serving, make a simple brown butter icing, drizzle on some caramel syrup or add some homemade whipped cream to add some sweetness and pair with the cozy apple flavor! Eat this for dessert or as a snack with some tea or cider.
Store any leftovers of this yummy apple cake in an airtight container. You can keep it on the counter for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Serve it room temperature or heat it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and serve it slightly warmed!
Expert Tips
- I tend to cut my apples from the core and give them a medium chop, not worrying about the exact size because they will be baked into the cake! You can peel them if you want, but I usually don’t.
- You can reduce the sugar in this recipe to 1 cup if you prefer a less sweet cake!
- If you like a spice cake taste, substitute the cinnamon in the recipe for apple pie spice if you have it, or add a pinch of cloves and allspice to the cinnamon.
- You’ll know the cake is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with dry crumbs, and the cake springs back when lightly touched!
More Cake Recipes To Consider
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
The Best Easy Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup oil, or melted butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups chopped apple
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, oil, and applesauce. Beat until foamy.
- Add the sugar and vanilla, and stir to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients and stir just until wet all the way through. Fold in the apples.
- Pour batter into a greased 9-inch square baking pan.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when lightly touched, 35 to 40 minutes.
I cut this recipe in half. I used vanilla Greek yogurt 2g sugar inplace of apple sauce left out the vanilla. I baked this in my small cast iron skillet. I’ve made a maple cinnamon cream cheese frosting to go on top My husband’s kids and I will be eating this with dinner. Thanks for a great recipe. I’ll let you know how we liked it.
Loved it! Will definitely make again.
Hmm it’s been 50 minutes and it’s still not done. Maybe my pan is too small? Also used all purpose flour not sure if that changes the cook time?
Yep, both of those things would change the cook time! A smaller pan makes the batter thicker in the pan so it’ll cook longer and all purpose flour will absorb less liquid so it’s a bit wetter of a batter so that will take it longer to cook too. Keep going!
Can this be made with pureed apples instead of chopped? thinking of making this for my little ones birthday
Yes, you’re not going to need as much though because a cup of puree vs a cup of apple sauce would be pretty different. You can just omit the apples too if you’d like and it’s still delicious.
Do you think this cake (unfrosted) would freeze well? Excited to try it
I actually do think it would freeze really well. It has a texture similar to a quick bread like pumpkin or banana bread and those tend to freeze really well. I’d love to know if you try it!
This recipe looks easy and delicious. Is there anything I could substitute for all, or part, of the oil/butter? Thanks.
Applesauce works great as a sub for the oil in this recipe.