Here’s a delightful cake for afternoon tea – Cinnamon Apple Teacake! Apples take centerstage here – you’ll find them inside AND on top, mingling with buttery cinnamon flavours.
While it’s sheer perfection fresh out of the oven, this is one of those rare cakes that is still truly great 3, 4, 5 days later!
Cinnamon Apple Teacake
I call this a teacake because it just seems like the perfect cake to serve at a quaint afternoon tea with friends. Filtered sunlight streaming in, a rustic table laden with baked goods (scones essential), freshly brewed tea served in teacups, sitting around with my friends, chatting and laughing gently.
The reality of gatherings with my friends is quite the opposite. We screech, we ROAR with laughter. We’ll debate economic policy, but you’re more likely to walk into an animated discussion about Real Housewives, cheeky jokes about Magic Mike (& XXL😈), or dissecting Survivor.
This from a group of highly educated women – lawyers, finance executives, journalists.
And a food blogger. 😂
All jokes aside though, I do have some semblance of logic for why I call this a teacake – because it’s a single layer, not very tall, simple cake. Exactly the sort of cake you’d whip up for an impromptu afternoon tea with friends – as opposed to a dramatic two layer Red Velvet Cake or Carrot Cake piled high with fluffy frosting.
(In case you’re interested – other quick ‘n easy cakes I make for impromptu gatherings include this Strawberry Cake, Blueberry Cake and a chopped Apple Cake.)
LOTS of apples in this teacake recipe!
I say this is a simple teacake recipe, and the cake batter itself IS simple to make. But it does take time to chop the apples because I use quite a generous amount.
600g/1.2lb, to be exact. Because if we’re going to make an apple cake, I want to make sure we can TASTE the apple in it – rather than just a few token bits of apple littered throughout the cake!
Here’s what you need:
-
Apples – use any type of apples you want. My personal favourite is Granny Smith – I just adore the slight tartness to offset the sweetness of cakes;
-
Butter for flavour, oil for moisture – a winning combination I use frequently. We all love butter, but it does nothing to hold moisture in cakes;
-
Flour and baking powder – these can be switched with self raising flour;
-
Cinnamon – because apple + cinnamon is a match made in heaven.
How I chop apples for cake
Here’s how I peel, core and chop apples for this cake. I find this method yields the least waste / is speedy.
But use whatever means works for you – if you don’t have a scooper like you see in Step 2 below, just quarter it then cut out the core using a knife.
Peeling is optional for the slices used for the topping, but recommended for the chopped pieces mixed into the batter (biting into skin in a tender cake isn’t ideal).
How to make Cinnamon Apple Teacake
After you get past chopping the apples, the cake batter itself is dead easy: whisk wet, whisk dry, mix them together. Top with apples, bake.
The one thing I do very deliberately is to only use cinnamon to coat the apple. I feel like you get more bang for your buck to get good cinnamon flavour in the cake – you need a fair amount to make the crumb itself really taste of cinnamon.
Also I like having a pale cake crumb – it looks nicer with the contrast to the deep golden apple topping!
Glazing the cake
Brushing the cake with warmed jam is entirely optional – it’s just to give it a lovely shiny finish.
It’s best to use apricot jam because it glazes on clear. Other flavour jams (strawberry, raspberry etc) work just fine but there is a slight tinge of colour – though not really noticeable in this teacake because the apples are golden!
No photo – not even the recipe video – can capture how beautifully moist the crumb of this cake is. And the smell when it’s baking…. ugh! Cinnamon! Apple! Butter! Cake!
There are not enough exclamation marks in this world!
So, I guess you’re just going to have to make it so you can experience it for yourself. 😇 – Nagi x
PS BIG UPSIDE – this is one of those rare cakes that actually really truly holds up perfectly for days and days. Yes it is spectacular fresh out of the oven. But it is near perfect for 3 to 4 days, and will keep for 5 to 6 days in the fridge, weeks, months in the freezer!
Watch how to make it
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Cinnamon Apple Teacake
Ingredients
Cinnamon Apples:
- 600g/ 1.2 lb Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored (or any other - red, green, golden) (4 large, 5 small/medium, Note 1)
- 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 50g/ 3 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
- 2 tbsp white sugar
Dry:
- 1 1/2 cups flour , plain/all purpose
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet:
- 4 tbsp/ 60g unsalted butter , melted
- 1/2 cup oil (canola, vegetable)
- 2 large eggs , at room temperature (~55g/1.95 oz each) (Note 2)
- 3/4 cup white sugar , caster / superfine best (but not essential)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze (optional):
- 1 1/2 tbsp apricot jam (or other flavour)
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (all oven types).
- Grease a 20cm / 8" springform pan with butter, then line with baking paper (parchment paper).
Apples:
- Chop half the apples into 1.25 cm / 1/2" pieces.
- Slice the other half into 3mm / 1/8" thick slices.
- Place into separate bowls. Sprinkle/drizzle each bowl with half the butter, sugar and cinnamon. Toss to coat, set aside.
Batter:
- Whisk Dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour Wet ingredients in a separate bowl in the order listed. Whisk well to combine.
- Pour Wet into the Dry ingredients bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until flour is incorporated.
- Add chopped apple. Gently mix through until JUST dispersed (to keep cinnamon on apple, not dispersed through batter).
- Scrape into cake pan, smooth surface.
- Top with sliced apples - fan them out in a circle, overlapping each other by 1/4 (fiddle away to use up all the apple / make it even!).
- Bake 50 minutes, or until skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (Note 3). Cover loosely with foil if you have to bake beyond 50 min (to stop apples burning).
- Place on cooling rack, release sides of springform pan.
Glaze & Serve:
- Heat Glaze: Place jam and water in a small bowl, microwave 20 seconds to warm, then mix.
- Glaze: Brush apples on surface with glaze.
- Cool: Allow to cool at least 30 minutes before cutting with sharp knife. It is sheer perfection when it's still slightly warm in the middle.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More apple recipes
I am very fond of apple desserts!
Life of Dozer
Compost in action!
Just so I understand, the sugar/butter/cinnamon measurements for the apples. We split the full measurements into each bowl or just the butter but it’s the full sugar and cinnamon measurements for each bowl? Thx!
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
50g/ 3 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
2 tbsp white sugar
Hi Sofiane, half of each of these ingredients goes into each bowl of apples 🙂
How is this recipe using gluten free flour
I haven’t tried Jane but would love to know if it works!
Bit wet up here in the tropics Nagi, so a nice slice of warm cake and a cuppa is the go…stay safe my friend
Thanks so much Tony! N x
Nagi you did it again thank you. My husband said I should only use your recipes because every one I have tried is a winner and I think he is right, and added bonus there is Dozer!!
Wahoo, that’s awesome to hear Linda! Thanks so much! N x
I had some apples laying around looking sad and lonely (Granny Smith and gala) so I decided to give this a whirl. I did not have an 8” spring foam pan, but I did have a larger one. 9” I believe. It turned out great. Do not be tempted to cook this any longer because the cake is very moist, it makes you think it is not done when it is. When to stick comes out clean take it out. It will settle whilst cooling. I made this mistake, so mine was a little over baked, but it is still exceptionally tasty! Another great recipe Nagi, thanks for the email suggesting it! Wish I could share a picture as it is so pretty, you almost do not want to eat it! Almost…
I’m so glad you loved it Whitney!! N x
Said I was going to make it today and I did! It’s not only delicious it looks like a Big Beautiful Apple Tart! I didn’t glaze but I will try that next time. I used pink lady apples, cause that’s what I had, thought maybe would be too sweet but turned out great.
Thats great to hear Leslie!! N x
I’m going to make this cake instead of the traditional birthday cake for my sister. She’s apple/cinnamon anything crazy! This should do it.
Love your composter, Dozer makes my day no matter what…LOVE that dog!
I hope she loved it Leah!! N x
That photo of you and Dozer in the hair salon got me to thinking:
Wherever there’s Dozer Nagi’s loomin’
A romance for years that’s been bloomin’
In foul or fair weather
they’re always together
Cause Nagi’s the puppy’s support human
Don I absolutely love your poems!! They brighten my day ❤️
My thoughts exactly. I’m not a very happy person; however, every time I find Nagi’s recipes and notes about what’s ongoing on with her daily life a huge flash of sunshine enters my environment. Also, I can hardly wait to see what Dozer is up to. I live in Ontario, Canada. It’s very difficult to get a canine partner here nowadays. I’m a widow living alone in a very isolated area but I’ve been desperately trying unsuccessfully to adapt a dog for months. Dozer absolutely makes my day; I love him. Nagi, you and Dozer are both blessed! Please give him a hug and kiss from me. xo
This recipe is right up my alley. Going to make it today! Lucky you with you haircut! Love your composter! And, you and your friends sound fantastic. All around, a feel good post! Thank you Nagi
I hope you love it Leslie! N x
I just made this cake and it was AMAZING!!!! I used coconut oil instead of canola/vegetable oil and it worked perfectly. It was also super easy and I made it with my two young kids and they loved it! A lovely way to take the head away from a boring lockdown in the UK. Thank you!!!
Perfect Norella! N x
Nagi could I make this without the apples – my kids are so picky but cinnamon teacake sounds so good!
Hi Sarah – this cake is all about the apples sorry! Try this one instead: https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-cinnamon-swirl-quick-bread/ N x
you are the best! Thank you!
Monkey bread recipe is a perfect choice for you and your family. Search the internet .
Can I make this without butter, and just increase the oil? My son has a severe dairy allergy. The cake looks so good.
Hi Patricia, no sorry – try nuttelex instead though! N x
I have a lot of apple and cinnamon cake recipe, because we are very fond of it at home. But the discovery of this magnificent cake, it is fabulous, all that we love !!!
I start this afternoon to do this wonder … Many thanks for this recipe, hello from France
You’re so welcome Bozu! N x
Lovely recipe. Is the weight For the apples peeled or unpeeled weight? Is that the same for your other recipes too ie do you write the peeled or unpeeled weight, Good to know fort future recipes, big thanks.
Would love to make this but I don’t have an 8” springform pan. What could be used as a substitute? I have regular 8” pans but would the sides be high enough? It looks so delicious 😋.
Hi Catherine, if you use a standard cake tin it’s just harder to get out as you can’t tip the cake upside down to get it out (not sure how you’d manage to get it out without ruining the apple top)! N x
Maybe before you line the tin with baking paper you could cut a longer strip of foil (a couple of inches wide) and lay it across the bottom and up over the sides. An easy handle. ☺
I also want to make this delectable cake but do not have springform pan. What can I use as a substitute? BTW, I LOVE that Dozer!
Fantastic recipe, i made it today and it tastes amazing! I didnt use a springform pan, just a standard cake tin but it does have slightly higher sides. With baking paper lining it came out perfectly, no probs.
Maybe just go buy a 8″ springform pan? – they’re cheap as chips!
Hmm ! Your friends and my friends might be a generation apart but we would get along like the proverbial house on fire !!! As I don’t usually bake I don’t know about that rather moreish cake except I have been given rather a lot of Granny Smiths . . . Shall advise 🙂 ! Off topic – you did not watch MasterChef last night, did you ? A totally unexpected 15-minute challenge to ‘pimp up’ instant noodles . . . thought of your university days . . . . thought of the changes of this year to the show . . . thought perhaps I could actually live with those . . . am going to copy a few anyways . . . after your apple cake that is . . . best . .
Hi Nagi
Even if I don’t always read your recipies I always check out life with Dozer xx
Hi Nagi, thanks for the fabulous recipe. Could I omit the butter and use a rapeseed oil (UK) or half the butter and use more oil, if so how much oil would I sub with the butter. I want to lower the saturated fat in the cake. I love the video of Dozer with the apple peel,,, made my day, thanks you