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!
Made this Fresh Apple Cake in just a few minutes. Baked up to a fabulous cinnamon pecan apple bit of wonderfulness. Love it and will make often. Thanks Melissa.
I made this cake last night and it’s so yummy! I didn’t have eggs so I sub’d about 1/3 cup mayo. I also added about 1/4 cup sour cream and omitted the vanilla. I added a bit of water when I was mixing the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. My cake held together very well and it’s very moist and done all the way through. So happy I found this gem of a recipe. Will definitely make again.
Hi Jennifer,
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your substitution ideas and the 5 star rating.
~ Milisa
Made this today just as the recipe describes from hand picked apples from Capitol Reef national park. Delicious!!!
Hi Lisa,
That sounds amazing, I bet it is extra good with fresh picked apples!
~ Milisa