This Apple Cake recipe is from a reader and is a gem of a find! The cake is really moist, perfectly spiced, and studded with tender pieces of fresh apple. The batter is incredibly fast to make with just a wooden spoon – no electric mixer required!
Dozer got in so much trouble over this Apple Cake.
This is how the usual routine goes down: He’s technically not allowed into the kitchen – albeit my house is open plan so strictly speaking, it’s hard to have a clear boundary that he needs to stay out of. But when I shoo him away, he is generally pretty good about taking himself off into the yard to chase rabbits, bark at birds or whatever other important contribution he’s making to make this world a better place.
But the minute whatever I’m making is ready and I take it to the area where I shoot my photos, he comes dashing inside.
“Dashing” is honestly the word. He doesn’t walk or lope. He dashes at a very fast paced trot, his heavy footed paws thudding through the house making the wooden floor shake (really, he does).
And that’s when he becomes a real nuisance. Because I’m concentrating on taking photos, I don’t always manage to catch him in the act of photo-bombing.
Case in point: Dozer photobombed EVERY SINGLE photo of this cake being dusted with icing sugar. 🙄
THAT CHEEKY BUGGER!!!
See look. Here he is AGAIN. And again. And again. GRRRRR!!!!!
So I apologise profusely to all those who find it a real turn off to see a DOG in food photos, but my bottom can’t afford for me to make this ridiculously delicious Apple Cake yet again just so I can get one single shot (I just wanted ONE!) of me dusting the Apple Cake without Dozer in the background.
OK, now I’m done stomping my foot over Dozer ruining my photos, a quick word on this Apple Cake recipe: It’s crazy easy and fast to make the batter, it’s made with FRESH apples (won’t work with canned, cake is not as moist), and it really is beautifully moist.
This easy Apple Cake recipe was given to me by the lovely Dorothy in Tennessee in the US. It was meant to be, because I had just shared an Apple Cake disaster on Instagram then a couple of days later, she shared this recipe with me (without having seen my epic failure!). I tried it once, twice, three times, then I decided I had to share it here because it is that good and that easy!
– Nagi x
More afternoon tea favourites
Cinnamon Swirl Bread – easy, no yeast!
Cheese, Herb and Garlic Loaf or Zucchini Cheese Loaf– quick bread, no yeast
Blueberry Lemon Loaf with Lemon Glaze or Blueberry Lemon Yoghurt Cake
Savoury Cheese Muffins or Cornbread Muffins (personal fave😇)
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Easiest Ever MOIST Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour , plain / all purpose (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carb soda) (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp EACH salt, cinnamon and ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (or 1/4 tsp freshly ground)
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar (Note 2)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs , large, at room temperature (55-60g/2oz each)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups apple , peeled, cored and cut into 8mm/ 1/3" cubes (~2 large, 3 small) (Note 3)
Optional Extra
- 1/2 cup flaked raw almonds
- Icing sugar . confectioners sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (all oven types).
- Grease and line a 21 cm / 9" springform cake pan. (Note 4)
- Place flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Whisk oil and sugar in a bowl, then whisk in eggs and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until JUST combined. Stir through apple (optional: add 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or other nuts).
- Pour into cake pan. Sprinkle over almonds.
- Bake for 50 minutes – 1 hr. Check at 50 minutes – it is cooked when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar if using, then serve. This cake doesn’t need cream or ice cream because it is so moist, but I wouldn’t turn it down!
Recipe Notes:
2 1/2 cups sugar (I reduced to 2 cups)
3 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp EACH baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves
3 cups peeled and chopped fresh apples
1 cups chopped nuts (I use walnuts) 5. Measures – Cups and teaspoons are slightly different in size between some countries. For most recipes on RecipeTin Eats, the difference is not large enough to matter or is relative throughout the recipe. For recipes where the difference does matter, different measures are provided for different countries, like in this Soft Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. For this Apple Cake, the measures per the recipe can be used no matter which country you are in except Japan. If you are in Japan, please do not use cups, use the weight measures provided. OVENS: I have a fan forced / convection oven but have made this in a standard / conventional oven too. I found that this recipe works better using the same temperature no matter which oven type you have. The only difference is the cook time – fan forced is ready at 50 minutes, standard oven is ready at 60 minutes. But no matter which oven you have, check your cake at 50 minutes. If your oven is weak, it may take over 1 hour for the skewer to come out clean. 6. Nutrition per serving, assuming 12 servings.
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Well! After telling you how naughty he was while I photographed this Apple Cake, I’m not sure he deserves to be featured in his own section on this post…..
But who am I kidding. I can never stay mad at him.
Here he is “minding” the Apple Cake as it cooled. Just minding it. No cheeky thoughts running through that furry head, I’m sure….
WOW — easy and Delicious! Fast enough for a weeknight but nice enough for company. !!Going to make this often!
Wow. Made this for Rosh Hashanah, and what a hit. Super moist and spicy heavy. I think it’ll taste even better tomorrow!!!! This is a keeper.
Great Recipe Nagi. It was super easy and yummiest apple cake to date that I have made.
You have brought up a very superb points , thanks for the post.
My family all loved this cake. Beautiful and moist lives up to its name. I just changed the spices to ginger and mixed spice though.
made into 12 muffins perfectly. my fav apple recipe so far – balance of sweet & spices.
Can you use canned apple pie filling instead of fresh apples
Absolutely delicious! The whole family loved the moist apple cake, thank you heaps.
The cake turned out just amazing . The taste and texture was great too and really so easy to make .
Thanks Nagi .. surely another keeper !
I’ve made this twice in the last month. So delicious! I used coarsely chopped salted Marcona almonds in the batter. The saltiness was a nice component of the taste. Both times a sugary liquid has seeped out of the bottom of my spring form pan. Anyone else have this happen? Ideas about why it happened? Thanks
I made this delicious moist apple cake. It has a slight crunch on the outside and moist tasty inside. I topped mine with walnuts. Served it with ice cream. Yummy
Could these be made into muffins? What adjustments need to be made?
I love most of your recipes but unfortunately this cake just did not work for me. The cake was too sweet and felt too oily. Xx
I agree .
Too sweet and very oily after taste.
Into the bin
Will this be OK in a 23cm square pan? Thanks
Make this many times, today used pears, even more yummy. Wonderful recipe, so many good ones.😘
Can’t wait to make this! Could I bake it and freeze whole??
Yes you can Nicola! N x
Perfect apple cake!!! Moist inside, perfect outside and perfect mix of spices and apples. Topped with icing sugar and served with pouring custard. So good!!! This one goes in the standard rotation. Thanks for sharing it Nagi!
I love Dozer! He is doing such a great job! I know he is a great helper.
The apple cake was great too!
He’s a great helper at cleaning up dropped food!!! I’m glad you liked it! N x
I get lovely compliments when I bake this apple cake. Lovely cake ❤️
Love your recipes Nagi.
Love Dozer too.
I can’t wait to make this. I don’t own a spring form pan. Can I bake it in a sort of deep glass 9/9 pan? My youngest Grand girl gave me this very pretty dish I enjoy using. Thanks
Hi Sandy – I do not think it will work in a glass pan – sorry! N x
After many cake disasters with an oven that won’t cooperate, I stumbled on your recipe and I have a winner at last. Thank you very much. We can’t forget the Ice Cream though.