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Imagine sinking your fork into a slice of Apple Cake, topped with a golden brown sugar cinnamon crust, with the most deliciously moist centre, perfectly sweetened by apple slices. If you are looking for an Apple Cake recipe to savour with a cup of coffee or tea, then stick around because I’m sharing all of the details to whip this up.
After my Nonna passed away, my Grandpa started playing around in the kitchen. He tired to re-create some of her old recipes: pizza, pasta, bread, and a variety of baked goods. This Apple Cake recipe stood out to the family, and we all asked him to make it over and over because the result was a moist, flavourful cake that captured the essence of fall. Every bite truly brings a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of my grandpa’s love for his family and sharing his recipes with us. If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my Caramel Apple Crisp.
Apple Cake ingredients & substitutions
Here is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make my Apple Cake. For the exact detailed measurements and ingredients, scroll to the bottom of this page to review my recipe card.
- 10 x 14 baking pan: alternatively you can use two 9 inch round baking pans or something similar. Baking times may vary due to slightly different depths of batter in various pan combinations.
- Apples: use whatever variety you like: we typically use a mix of red gala and green Granny Smith.
- Butter: you can also use margarine as a substitute.
- Eggs
- White sugar
- Brown sugar
- Milk: 1% or 2% work great.
- Vanilla
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
What are the best variety of apples to use in apple cake?
Firm apples are ideal for baking and my preference is always to mix a few varieties (2 Granny Smith and 4 red gala apples). I find that by mixing sweet and tart apples adds a beautiful depth of flavour.
Looking for more dessert recipes?
Take a look at a few of my personal favourite desserts down below:
- Classic Tiramisu
- Chocolate Zucchini Bread
- Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares
- Thumbprint Cookies
- No-Bake Biscoff Cheesecake
- Caramel Apple Crisp
- Lemon Ricotta Cookies
- Morning Glory Muffins
How to freeze Apple Cake
Looking to freeze this recipe?
Prepare the cake according to the recipe instructions. Allow to cool for at least an hour before covering the cake tightly. Add to your freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before slicing and serving.
Did you like this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving me a 5 star rating and review, it means so much to me!
Apple Cake
Equipment
- 1 10 x 14 baking dish or two 9 inch round baking pans (see notes below)
- 1 stand mixer or hand blender
Ingredients
- 6 apples (I use 2 granny smith & 4 red gala), peeled, sliced, and cores removed
- 1 cup butter, salted, room temperature
- 4 eggs
- 2½ cups white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, (to sprinkle on top)
- 2 cups milk , 2%
- 2 tbsp vanilla
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon, (to sprinkle on top)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 °F and grease a 10×14 baking pan. *This is a larger cake recipe so using a large baking pan is crucial. *Be sure to leave at least 1½ inches on the top (before baking) to allow the cake to rise.*If you have some batter leftover, discard. Alternatively, you can use two 9 inch round baking pans or something similar in size.*Baking times may vary due to slightly different depths of batter in various pan combinations.
- Begin by preparing the apples. Peel the skins, remove the core, slice thinly and set aside until ready to use.
- To a large bowl or stand mixer, begin by creaming together the butter and white sugar until smooth.
- Slowly add in one egg at a time until well incorporated.
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, and mix on low until just combined.
- Slowly add in the milk, 1 cup at a time.
- Slowly add in the flour and mix until smooth.
- To a large 10 x 14 greased baking pan (I generously spray with coconut oil or PAM), add half of the batter, followed by all of the sliced apples, and top with the remaining batter.
- In a small box mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and gently dust over the entire cake.
- Bake for 45-65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the centre of the cake.Sammy's tip: if the edges appear to be burning at the 35/45 minute mark, you can loosely cover the cake with tin foil and continue to bake.
- Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Let’s stay connected!
Keep in touch with me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest! Also, if you do make this recipe (or any recipe of mine for that matter) be sure to tag #sammymontgoms so I can see your re-creations!
I’ve been looking for Apple cake and this one looks amazing I’ll surely will try it. Just one question the mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon I didn’t see the measurements
Hi Rachel – it’s in the ingredient list:) It’s 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 2 tsp of cinnamon! Hope this helps – sammy xo
Has anyone tried it with gluten free flour?
I have made it twice now with Bob’s 1:1 Gluten free flour and it comes about amazing!!
Thank you for this comment!
Hi! Saw your cake on Instagram– and just read the recipe- seems like a large batter- wondering if it could go into a Tube Pan (hole in middle) ? That pan is great for a thicker batter.
Going to try soon! Thanks
Hi Connie! Yes, this is a larger cake. You can likely use a 9×13 baking pan, two 9 inch round baking pans, or a large bundt pan.I use a 10×14. As long as you have about an inch at the top to allow the cake to rise – it should work! Hope this helps. -Sammy
Hi! If I make this cake today, how should I reheat it 2 days from now ? Is it better at room temperature or warm?
Thank you!!
Hi Melissa! I leave mine on the counter for up to 4 days, but it’s usually gone within 2 days lol. If you are looking to re-heat it, you can microwave for 30-45 seconds or serve at room temperature. My favourite is to eat this cake at room temperature! Hope this helps. -Sammy
Hi there – can the recipe be made into metric measurements please? Thank you. Wyn
Not good for diabetes.To much sugar
Hi Bert – that’s probably true. -Sammy
Hello. Just made the cake and its in the oven decided to put the 9×13 pan on a cookie sheet and glad I did the cake is overflowing. What did I do wrong?
Thank you
Hi Gilberte, the recipe calls for a 10×13 baking pan. If you used a 9×13 you needed to leave at least 1.5 inches on the top, or use 2, 9 inch rough cake pans.
i baked the cake for 45 mins then ch3ckec every 5 mins for 15 more mins
cake was delicious but the ceter was raw
Hi Susan, what size baking pan did you use?
You may need to cook it longer than 45 minutes, depending on your oven.
Lovely and warm straight out of the oven.
Hi Anna! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. If you could leave me a star rating I would appreciate it! – warmest, Sammy
Hi,all the way from Australia
Going to make next week,good to here the comments.
Ok so I haven’t tried the baked cake yet because it’s in the oven and I’m still licking the bowl and beaters but I made a little boo boo. Totally my misread but I saw: ‘cream butter and sugarS until smooth’ so I added both the white AND brown sugar to the butter. Wondered for a minute why it wasn’t creaming together but carried on. I thought the batter would be super sweet but I can attest, that after licking the bowl and mixers clean, it is PERFECT! Cannot wait to eat this cake 😋
Hi Sandie! This is amazing! I hope you ate every last bit! If you don’t mind, please leave the recipe a star rating. All the best! – Sammy
Apple Cake is definitely delicious ,instructions easy to follow 🍀🍀🍀
Hi Brenda! Thank you for this comment! If you could leave me a star rating that would be amazing! All the best – Sammy
I only have unsalted butter. How much salt should I add to the recipe? Thank you!
I would say about 1/4 tsp should do the trick!
The apple cake looks absolutely delicious.
Can I freeze it?
You sure can!
Yummy! Next time would use less sugar
Good size apple cake!
Great recipe, this has become one of my fall favorites. It will be in the rotation, and yes its a large recipe all the better for sharing and leftovers, Thank you
Hi Karen – so happy you enjoyed this one! It’s one of my favs 🙂 – Sammy
This cake is so good that I am trying not to sit down with a fork and eat it straight from the baking pan. HIGHLY RECOMMEND MAKING THIS!
HI Courtney! I LOVE IT! Thanks for the awesome review! – Sammy
I really want to make this recipe but I’m having such a hard time finding a 10×14 baking pan. Where did you buy yours? Or can I use a 13×9?
Hi Paulina! Mine is old for my Nonna, but they have tons of Amazon. Just type in 10×14 baking dish and lots will come up. You can certainly use a 13×9 just make sure you leave about an inch of room on the top to allow the cake to rise. Also, put the baking dish on a baking sheet in case any spills over. Hope this helps!
This was so delicious!!! I have to stop myself from eating it all.. gonna serve warm with vanilla ice cream… wondering Sam if you have tried to replace apples with peaches?
Hi Suvarna! Thank you for this review. I haven’t done peaches, but you totally can! My grandpa would make this exact recipe with pears too (which was so good) – so there is no reason you couldn’t use peaches. Hope this helps. -Sammy
Hi can you please give the recipe in grams?
1cup og butter will be?
Thanks
1 cup of butter is about 227 grams. Hope this helps – Sammy
Sammy was right, this only last 48 hours!
So easy, so good, a lot of cake batter but pure deliciousness!!
Hiiiii Christina! Ohhhh yes, only 48 hours sounds about right LOL! So happy you enjoyed! Thanks for leaving a review, I so appreciate it! – Sammy
I made this today for my family and they all loved it!!
Hi Melissa! YAY! That makes me SO happy!! Thanks for sharing! – Sammy
Very light and surprisingly not too sweet! Delicious right out of the oven this morning.
OMG, 😲 this cake was absolutely delicious, it was so moist and tasted divine!!! 😋 🍎🍏
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe……..I’ll definitely be making another one soon! 🤗
Thank you so much for this review. I am SO happy you enjoyed it! All the best, -Sammy