Apple Cake

This apple cake recipe is moist and flavorful, filled with warm spices and tender apples. Easy to make in one bowl, it's a perfect treat for a fall day.

Jeanine
Donofrio

Phoebe
Moore

Updated: Sep 2, 2026

This apple cake recipe is such an easy way to turn fresh apples into a delicious dessert. It has a moist and tender crumb, with juicy apples and crunchy walnuts studded throughout. Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla fill it with warm, cozy flavor. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dusting of powdered sugar, it’s the ultimate treat for a fall day.

I love how simple this apple cake recipe is. The batter is easy to mix up in one bowl and calls for basic ingredients that you likely have in your kitchen right now.

The recipe comes from Yossy Arefi’s cookbook Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings, a gorgeous collection of 50 snacking cake recipes that are easy to make and acceptable to eat at any time of day. I’ve made this one every year since the book came out—it’s become a tradition after going apple picking in the fall. I hope it becomes a staple in your kitchen too!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this apple cake recipe:

• Apples, of course! They fill this cake with autumn flavor, and they make it nice and moist.
• Dark brown sugar – I’m usually not particular about using light or dark brown sugar in baking recipes, but I highly recommend using dark brown sugar here. It gives the cake an extra-rich, molasses-y flavor.
• Eggs – They make the apple cake wonderfully light and puffy.
• Oil – For moisture and richness. For the best results, use a neutral oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.
• Vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg – They add warm, spiced flavor to this fresh apple cake.
• Salt – Don’t skip it! It really makes the sweet, spiced flavors pop.
• All-purpose flour – This cake is all about the apples, so you don’t need much flour—just 1 cup. Spoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup. If you’d like to make this cake gluten-free, replace the regular flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
• Baking powder and baking soda – For lift.
• Walnuts – For crunch! You’ll stir some into the cake batter and sprinkle more on top.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Apple Cake

This apple cake recipe is easy to make in one bowl:

Start by peeling and dicing the apples. The pieces will vary in size a little based on the natural shape of the apples, but do your best to keep them to a similar size so that they bake evenly. Aim for 1/4- to 1/2-inch chunks.

Next, whisk together the batter. In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar and eggs until they’re pale and foamy, about 1 minute. Then, whisk in the oil, spices, vanilla, and salt.

Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda to the wet ingredients, and whisk again until well-combined and smooth.

Use a whisk or spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to make sure your batter is evenly mixed and there aren’t any pockets of dry ingredients hiding around the edges.

Then, add the apples and half the walnuts. Use a rubber spatula to fold them into the batter.

Pour the batter into a prepared baking pan. Use an offset spatula to gently smooth the top. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the cake.

Finally, bake in a 350°F oven until puffed and golden or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

So easy!

How to Serve Fresh Apple Cake

I’m always happy eating a slice of this cinnamon apple cake plain, with or without a cup of coffee or tea to go with it. However, if you’re craving something a little more decadent, don’t hesitate to dress it up.

It’s fantastic with a dollop of coconut whipped cream or traditional whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar. You could even slather cream cheese frosting on top!

Apple Cake Recipe Variations

• Use another fruit. Pears and peaches are delicious alternatives to the apples. They’re juicier than apples are, so the cake won’t last as long. Make sure to finish it within a day.
• Swap the nuts. Pecans and hazelnuts would be excellent instead of the walnuts. If you’d like to make this cake nut-free, feel free to omit the nuts entirely.
• Make a square cake. This recipe works just as well in an 8×8-inch square pan. The bake time is the same, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Make a loaf cake. Another pan option! If you choose to make a loaf cake, the baking time will be longer, 45 to 55 minutes.

Let me know what variations you try!

More Fall Baking Recipes

If you love this cinnamon apple cake recipe, try one of these cozy fall treats next:

• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Cake
• Apple Crisp
• Apple Pie
• Perfect Oatmeal Cookies

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Apple Cake

rate this recipe:

4.94 from 145 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Serves 8

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This easy apple cake recipe is the perfect fall treat! It's moist, warmly spiced, and jam-packed with soft and tender apples.

If you don't have a 9-inch round baking pan, you can bake this cake in an 8-inch square pan or a 9x5-inch loaf pan. See the post above for baking times. Recipe reprinted from Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings by Yossy Arefi with permission from the publisher.

Ingredients

• ▢ ¾ cup dark brown sugar
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ ⅓ cup vegetable oil, or other neutral oil
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 2 small apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
• ▢ ½ cup toasted walnuts, chopped

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Instructions

• Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter or coat a 9-inch round baking pan with nonstick spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar and eggs until pale and foamy, about 1 minute. Add the oil, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk until smooth and emulsified.
• Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda and whisk until well-combined and smooth.
• Use a rubber spatula to fold in the apples and ¼ cup of the walnuts.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to gently smooth the top, making sure the apples are well dispersed and go all the way to the edges of the pan. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release any air bubbles. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup nuts over the cake.
• Bake until puffed and golden, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. There may be a bit of moisture on the tester from the apples. Set the pan on a rack to cool for about 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edge and carefully turn the cake out onto a cooling rack. Then invert it again so that it's puffy side up and allow to cool completely.

Notes

How to store: Store the cake, wrapped tightly or in an airtight container, at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to two days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before serving.

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Nutrition Facts

Apple Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 305 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 9g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 41mg14%

Sodium 289mg13%

Potassium 142mg4%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 25g28%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 86IU2%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 68mg7%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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