Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
If you’re looking for the best Fresh Apple Cake recipe, you’ve found it. Made with juicy fresh apples, warm cinnamon and simple pantry ingredients, this incredibly moist cake comes together in one bowl with just a wooden spoon. It’s the perfect dessert for apple season, and once the smell of cinnamon and baked apples fills your kitchen, you’ll want to make it again and again.
Looking for a wonderful fall dessert? There’s nothing better than fresh apple cake. My mom gave me this recipe and I think it has been in her family for many, many years. If you are looking for a shortcut apple dessert, apple dump cake is always a favorite.
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What You’ll Love About this Recipe
- No Electric Mixer Required – just stir together and pop it in the oven!
- Few Ingredients – Pantry staples and fresh apples are all you need for a homemade apple cake.
- Moist Crumb – This easy recipe has the best apple flavor with warm spices.
Ingredients Needed for Easy Apple Cake Recipe
- apples (Gala apples, Honeycrisp apples or Granny Smith apples will all work)
- granulated sugar
- vegetable oil
- pecans or walnuts – skip them if preferred
- large eggs
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- ground cinnamon
- kosher salt
- baking soda
- non-stick cooking spray
How to Make a Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
- Peel Apples.
- Core and dice apples.
- Mix chopped apples, pecans, sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl.
- Add all purpose flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda to another bowl (or add all at once to mixing bowl).
- Fold the mixture together using a wooden spoon.
- Pour into a greased 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
- Bake for one hour. Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.
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Serving Suggestions for Apple Cake
Warm cake can be topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce or served plain at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Store Apple Cake
Cover and store at room temperature up to one day or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Can you freeze apple cake?
- My mom says that this cake freezes well, but I have never made it to the freezer with one. To freeze, cool cake completely. Wrap in two layers of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil or place in a zip top freezer bag.
- Apple Cake will stay fresh for 12 months and can be thawed and served at room temperature.
Best Apples for Apple Cake
I have used all types of apples: gala apples and honey crisp apples for this cake. Granny smith apples are also great but will be a bit more tart.
Do You Have to Peel the Apples?
It does take a little time but I recommend peeling the apples for the best texture. I use a vegetable peeler and it is really easy to do.
If you enjoy apple picking, this apple cake is the best dessert to make with fresh apples and can just be stirred together with minimal effort and a few ingredients. The taste is beyond delicious and it’s a great option for a bake sale or to share with your neighbors.
Everyone loves this apple cake and it is wonderful ending to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. This cake is loaded with chunks of sweet apples and rich cinnamon flavor which all together creates a wonderfully moist cake. If you only make one apple dessert this fall, this has to be the one!
If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a star rating below, and tag me on social media, I love seeing your creations.
Fresh Apple Cake
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients:
- 3 cups diced apples gala, honey crisp, granny smith
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts chopped
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Peel, core and dice apples.
- Add apples to a large bowl with sugar, vegetable oil, pecans, eggs and vanilla.
- Mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- In a separate large bowl, add flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Whisk together.
- Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir until well combined.
- Spray a 13" x 9" or 10" springform cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour in cake batter and bake for fifty minutes to one hour. A toothpick inserted should come out clean when it's done.
- Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool.
- Garnish with powdered sugar if desired. Great warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Apple Desserts to Try
- I love apple desserts and this Apple Upside Down Cake with walnuts is an easy from scratch dessert. An easy Apple Fritter Cake is perfect to whip up any night of the week.
- My Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Shooters are popular all year long and did you see the video for the Easy Apple Cobbler? It’s just like grandma would bake!
- If you have an abundance of apples, this easy Apple Crumb Pie is always a hit. You’ll have to check out my secret ingredient for the most flavorful apple pie ever!
- I’m adding this Slow Cooker Apple Butter to my list this fall and if you need something really simple, this Easy Apple Crisp is a true delight topped with vanilla ice cream!
- See all of my favorite Easy Apple Recipes that includes the best apple desserts, breakfasts and drinks for any fall occasion.
- If you love spice cakes, this Butter Pecan Spice Cake is always a hit. It’s from my husband’s grandma and it’s something special!
Hi Milisa. I made this today and it is really a fast great recipe. I also through in a handful of raisins and cut the sugar back to one cup. When I saw the baking soda, I also added 1/4 cup of malt vinegar. Turned out great and thanks for sharing a great family recipe.
What does the malt vinegar do?
This is review of the cake not a reply to a specific review. What a great and EASY cake! Made it with my 4 yr old and he was so excited to help. Also, my husband who usually doesn’t like cakes of any kind LOVED it! Quick question: do you think it will work if I substitute the 1 cup oil with melted butter?
Thanks!
Can I substitute apple sauce for the oil
Hi Karen,
That will work! I hope you give this recipe a try.
~ Milisa
I have made this cake twice & my family loves it. Thank you for this great recipe. Pat Pollard dachsi@charter.net
Hi Pat,
I am so glad you are enjoying it! It’s my favorite apple cake.
~ Milisa
I used to make this exact recipe years ago when my son was young and he loved it. He asked me to make it for Thanksgiving for his family. I couldn’t find my recipe and am so happy that I found yours. It is exactly the same. Thank you!
Hi Kim,
I am so glad that you came across it. You have made my day, I’m so glad you stopped by to share your story!
~ Milisa
Thank you for sharing this delicious apple cake. I made some adjustments: I reduced the sugar to 1 C and the oil to ½ C, used 4 apples+3 eggs+ ¾C of milk, 1C GF all-purpose flour, 1C of quinoa flour, added 1 tsp of baking powder. The cake was moist and tender
Why can I see the measurements for ingredients?
Hi Jeannette,
The recipe card is at the bottom of the post, just above where you comment. Use the Jump to Recipe button at the top if you need to.
~ Milisa
What type of apples are best to be used?
Do you peel the apples ?
Hi Ro,
It is best to peel the apples. I have used Granny smith or gala apples for this recipe.
~ Milisa
Peeled apples seem to work best in this recipe, although I have made it with the peels still intact. Definitely take the few moments to peel. You will enjoy the flavor much more.
I never peel the apples and it comes out great! Our family loves this recipe👍👍😊
Hi Shelly,
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and 5 star review!
~ Milisa
This fresh apple cake was “luscious!” Quick, simple, very easy, I made for company tonite, they loved it!!! 5 ***** recipe as far as I’m concerned!! THANKS!!!! I did add alittle allspice & cloves besides the cinnamon
Hi Robinn,
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Love the idea of allspice and cloves.
~ Milisa
Absolutely delicious thank you for this recipe. I added in sultanas & a few other spices including ground cardamom, substituted the sugar for 1/2 cup xylitol & it came out perfectly divine.
Excellent. Reminds me of my childhood.
Altered slightly.
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice.
Excellent
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your feedback, sounds delicious!
~ Milisa
Are the skins left on the apples? It’s never clarified. Look everywhere
Hi Jennifer,
I peel my apples.
~ Milisa
I made .used walnuts and some papitas. Also added some cloves as others did.
Hi Heather,
Those are great additions, thanks for sharing.
~ Milisa
A fabulous and easy recipe ! Everyone I make it for raves about it. I have shared your web site/ recipe with all of my friends 🍁
Thanks Nancy! That makes my day!
~ Milisa
Can you use red dilicous apples?
Hi Sheri,
You can use an apple that you have on hand. Red delicious apples will be a bit more mushy but they will work if that is what you have on hand.
~ Milisa
what kind of apples? Can I use Granny Smiths?
Hi Ruby,
I generally use Gala apples but Granny Smith will work too.
~ Milisa
I made this cake today and it is delicious. However, I substituted Coconut flour for all purpose and monk fruit for sugar. Like I said it is very flavorful and I could have cut back the sugar as it is very sweet but the problem I had was that trying to take it out of pan it just fell apart all over. Anyone know what I should have done different? My cake looks exactly like this one.
Maybe use a combination of almond and coconut flour, also try adding some Zantac gum.
I’m a gluten free baker and you need to use a half tsp of xanthan gum ( not Zantac gum ). Also is you cut the flour back by 1/8 a cup and add that amount of potato flour you’ll get a more stable product.
Hi Johannah,
Thanks for stopping by with your expertise! Greatly appreciated.
~ Milisa
You serve it from the pan, this cake is not the type that you remove from a pan. However, if you feel you must use a lined spring-form pan.
I used a similar recipe, I also used coconut and almond flour without the xanthan gum. My cake didn’t fall apart but the dough had a “sandy” feel in the mouth. When I used coconut flour+ Bob Redmill’s GF1-for -1 flour together, the cake was very good, it’s texture was similar to the one using regular all-purpose flour
I am comparing this to a recipe from my Grandmother- very similar but I haven’t made it in years and years. Do I need to peel the apples?
Hi Rebecca,
I like it better with the apples peeled. I hope you enjoy it!
~ Milisa
I love apples with only cinnamon. Anything else just takes away from the apples.
I make a quick apple crisp in microware with one apple and cranberries and cinnamon and sugar and crumble an oatmeal cookie on top. It is fast and good.for only 1 person.
Hi Verna,
That sounds so good!
~ Milisa
I would love to know more on how to make that for one/ or two
Hi Denise,
I have not tried to cut the recipe down but this cake freezes really well. I would recommend baking the whole cake and freezing it in slices or possibly thirds to enjoy later. Wrap the cooled cake in a couple of layers of plastic wrap plus a layer of aluminum foil or place in a freezer baggie. I hope that helps.
~ Milisa
I would love to have your recipe if you don’t mind sharing.
Thank You,
Janie
Hi can I use walnuts instead?
Baking soda not baking powder right?
Thank you
Hi Loretta,
Walnuts are great in this apple cake and it is baking soda. I hope you get the chance to try it.
~ Milisa
can u use canola oil instead of veg oil
can i use canola oil instead of veg oil
Hi Robin,
That will work!
~ Milisa
Can you use frozen apples?
I made the fresh apple cake 2 weeks ago and had a small piece, my daughter took the cake home with her and she loved it. I will bake another one this week. Thanks for the recipe
Hi Mary,
I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it. My family can’t get enough of it.
~ Milisa
I made this because we are remodeling and I don’t have access to my mixer. Oh my goodness! My neighbors and our contractor went crazy over it , accused me of using marijuana butter or something addictive. I used 1/2 butter and 1/2 canola and added a 1/2 tsp of nutmeg and a big handful of craisens. So Good!!! 😻
I know you said you use Gala apples, but I was wondering if using Red Delicious would be ok,or would they not hold their shape?
Hi Melody,
They will work but might be a little softer than the gala apples. I hope you enjoy it!
~ Milisa
I tried to make this apple cake. Followed directions exactly. My cake came out heavy and gooey. What happened?
Hi, Ann. Perhaps your baking soda was expired. Try again! Mine turned out awesome.
I tried to make this apple cake. I followed the directions exactly as printed. My cake came out heavy and gooey. What happened?
Hi Ann,
I have made this cake many, many times and never had an issue with it. It’s possible that your oven temperature is off? I recently put a thermometer in my oven and was shocked at how off the thermostat is. I am sorry it didn’t turn out for you.
~ Milisa