Easy Apple Cake Recipe
I don’t settle for recipes that just “work” - I refine them until they’re reliable! After adjusting the fat and moisture balance and testing apple size (tip: ¼-inch pieces give the best balance of texture and flavor) I created a cake that’s moist, fluffy, and structurally sound. This is the apple cake you can trust to deliver bakery-quality results at home.
Servings: 12 slices
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 ½ cups (420g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (213g) brown sugar
- ¾ cup (149g) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (255g) applesauce sweetened or unsweetened
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ½-3 cups (about 285-315g) diced apples cut into ¼-inch chunks
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4-5 cups (454-567g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper if you want to remove the whole cake from the pan.
- Peel and core the apples. Dice them into ¼ inch chunks, aiming for even pieces to ensure consistent baking throughout the cake. You’ll need about 2.5-3 cups total, which is roughly 285-315 grams. If you prefer larger apple chunks, cut them into ½ inch pieces.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.3 ½ cups (420g) all-purpose flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, 1 ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.1 cup (198g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (213g) brown sugar, ¾ cup (149g) vegetable oil, 1 cup (255g) applesauce, 3 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir just until combined.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients along with the diced apples and mix gently until everything is evenly incorporated.2 ½-3 cups (about 285-315g) diced apples
- Pour the batter into the prepared 9x13-inch pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs
- Allow the cake to cool completely before adding the frosting.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Place room temperature unsalted butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium and beat together for 1-2 minutes, until whipped and fluffy.8 oz (226g) cream cheese, ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- Add in the vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and cinnamon, beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated.1 tsp vanilla extract, 4-5 cups (454-567g) powdered sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- If the frosting is too thick, add a splash of milk or heavy cream, beat until creamy.
- Spread on top of the cooled cake.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 713kcal | Carbohydrates: 108g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 469mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 78g | Vitamin A: 571IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2mg