This moist apple cake recipe comes straight from my childhood - it's the one my grandma used to make with apples from our orchard. With just 20 minutes of prep, it delivers that perfect balance of sweet apples and warm cinnamon in every bite.

🍏 Serves 12 | ⏱ 1 Hour Total | 🌿 Vegetarian | ✨ 10-Ingredient
If you love this recipe, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy my Apple Cake – packed with more apples than dough, my flourless yoghurt cake, or my lemon cake made with just one egg, which happens to be a favourite among readers.
Continuing with fruity cakes, check out this Morello Cherry Sponge Cake or the best Raspberry and Coconut Cake recipe. Looking for more crumble ideas? Try my Plum Crumble Recipe—it’s simple, delicious, and easy to make. For celebration-worthy cakes, don’t miss the Classic Italian Tiramisu Cake or my guide on How to Make Lemon Drizzle Cake with Cheese Frosting.
Jump to:
This is the apple cake my Romanian grandmother made weekly - moist, cinnamon-spiced, and packed with fresh fruit. Unlike fussy desserts, it comes together in one bowl while the apples cook themselves into a jammy filling. The secret? A unique two-layer bake that keeps every slice perfectly balanced.
💗 Why This Recipe Works
✅ No soggy bottom – The par-bake trick keeps layers perfect
✅ Self-sweetening – Apples caramelise while cooking
✅ Works with any apples – Tart or sweet varieties both shine
✅ One-bowl easy – No mixer needed
♻️ Substitutions & Variations
- Eggs → Applesauce or yogurt (¼ cup per egg)
- Sugar → Brown sugar or reduce by ⅓ for less sweetness
- Oil → Melted butter or any neutral vegetable oil
- Milk → Almond, oat, or soy milk
- Flour → 1:1 gluten-free blend
- No baking powder? → ¼ teaspoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon vinegar
Pro Tip: For apple filling, use 1 cup jam instead of fresh (reduce sugar).
Flavor Variations
- Upside-Down → Arrange apple slices at pan bottom before adding batter
- Caramel → Drizzle 2 tablespoon sauce between layers
- Spiced → Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Nutty → Fold in ⅓ cup toasted walnuts/pecans
- Vegan → Use flax eggs + plant-based milk
How To Make Apple Cake
Prep your ingredients ahead of time—measure dry ingredients, slice apples, and ensure eggs, milk, and flour are at room temperature. Having everything ready makes baking smoother and ensures a perfect cake!
Making the batter - Mix eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add oil and vanilla extract; mix well. Whisk flour and baking powder. Mix into the batter with milk until smooth. The dough should be runny but thicker than the pancake batter.
Bake half of the mixture: Cook apples with sugar and cinnamon until reduced, then cool. Grease and flour in a pan. Bake half of the batter for 10-12 minutes at 180°C. Spread apple filling over the baked batter.
Adding the remaining batter - Add the remaining batter over the apple layer and bake for 30 minutes until golden.
Serve - Dust with powdered sugar and slice when completely cool.
💡 Pro Tip
For extra flavour depth, brown your butter instead of using oil* – it adds a nutty richness that pairs perfectly with the apples. Just melt butter over medium heat until golden (about 3 mins), then cool slightly before using.
❓ FAQs
Absolutely! Popular choices are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Gala for a delightful flavour.
You can, but it's not necessary. The peels can add a rustic touch to your cake.
Walnuts or pecans make a fantastic addition.
Fresh apples are best, but in a pinch, canned apples can work.
If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Will Love These Too
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates
b says
Excellent apple cake.
I used a 9X9 pan and used apple butter that I had made last fall.
Yummy.
Criss says
My family loved this!
swathi says
Apple cake is delicious, my family enjoyed it, I am going to make it again.
Jacqueline says
I love all kinds of apple cake and desserts! This is one of my favourites because it's so easy to make and so tasty!
Elizabeth says
This apple cake is so delicious and perfect for Fall! My family loved it!
Nora says
These apple cakes reminded me of the ones my Granny used to make! So wonderful! Thank you!
Matt says
I had a bunch of fresh apples, so this recipe was perfect. I loved how moist and flavorful the cake turned out.
Razvan C says
This was the dessert of my childhood! So easy to make, but so delicious 🤤