Old-Fashioned Apple Cake

Embark on a cozy baking journey with this Old-Fashioned Apple Cake

a tender crumb packed with cinnamon-spiced apples and toasted nuts. It tastes like crisp afternoons, warm kitchens, and family chatter around the table.

Whether it’s a simple Sunday bake or a holiday gathering, this classic cake brings orchard-fresh comfort to every slice. It’s unfussy, wonderfully fragrant, and utterly satisfying from first bite to last. If you enjoy timeless apple bakes, you might also love Easy Italian Apple Cake (Torta di Mele).

Moist and Cozy: Your New Go-To Old-Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

This Old-Fashioned Apple Cake delivers soft, juicy apple pockets and a rich, buttery crumb that stays tender for days. Because the batter is quick to mix, you can focus on the aroma filling your kitchen as it bakes.

Moreover, the creamy frosting adds a tangy lift that balances sweetness and spice. As a result, every slice feels nostalgic yet fresh. For another apple-forward treat with maple notes, try these Maple-Glazed Apple Blondies.

Here’s how you can achieve that just-right texture, with professional tips to ensure your cake turns out beautifully every time.

Pro Tips for the Perfect Old-Fashioned Apple Cake

1. Choose firm, tart apples: Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold shape while baking, so the cake stays balanced and not mushy.
2. Measure with care: Level your flour and powdered sugar; precise measuring keeps the crumb tender, not dense.
3. Avoid overmixing: Stir just until the flour disappears; consequently, gluten won’t toughen the cake.
4. Mind the bake: Begin checking at 50 minutes; pans, ovens, and apple juiciness vary. Pull when crumbs cling to a tester.
5. Cool completely before frosting: Because warmth melts frosting, patience pays off with smooth swooshes and clean layers. For cute apple-pie-style bites to serve alongside, bake a tray of Apple Pie Cookies.

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe:

• Preparation time: 20 minutes
• Cooking time: 55–60 minutes
• Servings: 12
• Equipment: Mixing bowls, whisk, rubber spatula, hand or stand mixer, parchment, wire rack, 3 (6-inch) or 2 (8-inch) cake pans

With this Old-Fashioned Apple Cake, your kitchen will bloom with cinnamon and butter, and your table will feel instantly welcoming. Craving a pie-style slice too? Sneak a look at this cozy Apple Slab Pie.

Ingredients:

Apple Cake Recipe

• 2 cups granulated sugar 400g
• 1 cup vegetable or canola oil 225g
• 3 large eggs, room temperature 168g
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 250g
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 8g
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 6g
• ½ teaspoon fine salt 2g
• 1 cup chopped walnuts 125g
• 4-5 granny smith or honeycrisp apples, peeled and cut into 1 cm cubes 585g

Cream Cheese Frosting

• ½ cup cream cheese, room temperature 113g
• ½ cup salted butter, room temperature 113g
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 4g
• 2 cups powdered sugar 250g

Directions:

1. Preheat and prep pans: Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C, and line and grease 3, 6-inch or 2 8-inch cake pans.
2. Whisk wet base: Add 2 cups of granulated sugar and 1 cup vegetable oil into a large bowl. Whisk together until incorporated.
3. Add eggs: Next, mix in 3 eggs until combined.
4. Combine dry mix: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt.
5. First blend with nuts: Add half of the dry ingredients and 1 cup of chopped walnuts into the wet ingredients. Mix together with a rubber spatula.
6. Finish batter: Mix in the remaining half of the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
7. Fold in apples: Fold in the cubed apples into the batter with a rubber spatula.
8. Bake: Pour into the prepared cake pans and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
9. Cool: Place the pans on a wire rack to cool fully.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. Beat together ½ cup of room temperature cream cheese and ½ cup of butter with a hand mixer or whisk attachment of a stand mixer.
2. Add in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and mix on a low speed.
3. Mix in 2 cups powdered sugar on a low speed until combined. Cover and set aside.

Assembling This Old-Fashioned Apple Cake:

1. Once the cake layers are fully cooled, assemble this old-fashioned apple cake by frosting and stacking the cake layers with the cream cheese frosting.
2. Cover the outside of the cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
3. If desired, use a spoon to make some swooshes around the cake.

Ready to Relish!

Slice generously, share happily, and savor the warm cinnamon finish in every bite. Because classics never fade, this Old-Fashioned Apple Cake will become your reliable go-to for potlucks, picnics, and holidays. And if you want a fun, shareable spin, try this playful Apple Crisp Pizza. For even more apple comfort, these diner-style Skillet Fried Apples make a perfect side for brunch.

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