This simple apple cake is the perfect amount of sweet and spice, letting the apples shine. Topped with powdered sugar, this cake is subtle and delicate; perfect for a cup of coffee of tea.
Halloween may be over, but we’re still in peak apple season. With all the apple desserts floating around, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Apple tarts, apple galettes, apple crisps and crumbles, they are all delicious! At times, though, they can be overwhelming in either their sweetness, ingredients, or even instructions. However, this cake is straightforward in its flavor. The apples aren’t tossed with sugar, nor is the cake spiced with a myriad of ingredients.
Tips for making a Simple Apple Cake:
- Since the apples are the star of this cake, you will want to use a good baking apple like Honeycrisp. McIntosh, or Pink Lady. I would not suggest using granny smith, as they can be too tart.
- Speaking of apples, we’re looking for medium slices. Any bigger and the apples will sink in the batter rather than sit on top.
- The key to this cake, or any cake for that matter, is to not overmix it. You need to add the flour and milk to the batter in intervals, until it is just combined. I personally stop my mixer while there is still a small amount of flour clumps. Then, I gently fold by hand before adding it to the cake pan.
- I butter, flour, AND line the bottom of the pan. The number of cakes I’ve lost because I didn’t line the pan. 🙁
That’s it! This cake is fairly straightforward and easy to prepare. I hope you love this cake as much as we do! Enjoy! 🙂
Simple Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup butter at room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 medium Honeycrisp apples peeled and sliced
- 2 tsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk and vanilla.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light in color. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Working in batches, add ½ of the flour mixture and mix on low to combine. Next add half of the milk mixture, mixing again on low until combined. Repeat this process until all the flour and milk have been added. Mix until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly into one layer. Gently place the apples on top of the cake in one even layer. Bake the cake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once cool, dust the top of the cake with powder sugar.