Classic Apple Cake

February 14, 2024

Every time we would go to my great grandmas house, she would have an apple cake in her kitchen. It was simple, but so memorable and anytime I see this classic style of apple cake, I think of her baking one up for us in her little house dress…

Baking a cake for someone is a wonderful way to show them that they are special to you and that you cared enough to create them something delicious. Food is definitely my love language and this classic apple cake is a simple, delicious way to say I love you in dessert form.

Let’s get started…

Start by peeling and chopping 4 large apples into 1/2″ pieces. We are going to simmer the apples for a few minutes before adding them into the cake to both soften them and to bring out their very best flavor.

Full disclosure, grandmas original apple cake recipe does not call for cooking the apples before adding them to the cake, but I really prefer this version. The cake ends up being sweeter and more moist when you begin by cooking the apples for a few minutes, so I really feel that it is worth the extra time.

Once the apples are peeled and chopped, place a large skillet over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter, 1/2 cup of brown sugar and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Once the butter has melted, add the apples and give everything a good stir to ensure that each little piece of apple is coated in the brown sugar and cinnamon.

Cook the apples over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring them occasionally and as soon as they are slightly tender, remove the skillet from the heat and let the apples relax while we make the cake batter…

In a large bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of melted butter with 1/2 cup of apple sauce, 3 large eggs, 3/4 cup of whole milk, 3/4 cup of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract until smooth and completely combined.

Add 2 3/4 cups of all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon of cloves and mix until the dry ingredients are just combined.

Add most of the cooked apples along with some of the juice and mix until the apples are evenly distributed throughout the batter. I like to reserve about 1/2 cup or so of the apples to add on top of the cake, but this is an optional step. If you prefer to add all the apples in at once, go for it!

Pour the batter into a greased and parchment lined deep baking dish. This cake can be baked in any 2 1/2 quart baking dish. I am using my favorite 11″x7″ Staub baking dish, but any 9″x9″ square baking dish or a deep dish 9″ pie dish would work too. You could use a 9″x13″, but this cake will be thinner and you will need to adjust the baking time.

Note: I like to sprinkle some course ground sugar over the cake right before I put it into the oven, but this is completely optional. The cake is perfectly sweet on its own, but I am just in love with the little crunch that turbinado or course cane sugar adds to the top of many cakes and muffins.

Add the remaining apples and juice over the top of the cake and place it into a preheated 350 degree oven.

Bake the cake uncovered for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick will come out mostly clean from the center of the cake. This cake is full of tender apples, so the toothpick may have a few little crumbs on it when the cake is ready to come out of the oven. As long as the cake feels set in the middle to a light touch, transfer the baking dish onto a cooling rack.

So at this point, the cake is pretty darn perfect, but if you want to add a simple vanilla glaze over it to give it that pastry shop vibes then whisk 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of whole milk into about a cup of confectioners sugar and drizzle the glaze over the entire cake.

This apple cake is one of those simple desserts that is perfect for any occasion or no occasion at all.

It is moist, tender and warmly spiced. I can’t imagine someone not enjoying this cake and even if you did not have an adorable little great grandmother that used to bake apple cakes as a child, this cake may just transport you back to that warm, cozy feeling of a grandmas hug.

Enjoy, my friends…

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