This Apple Cake recipe is from a reader and is a gem of a find! The cake is really moist, perfectly spiced, and studded with tender pieces of fresh apple. The batter is incredibly fast to make with just a wooden spoon – no electric mixer required!
Dozer got in so much trouble over this Apple Cake.
This is how the usual routine goes down: He’s technically not allowed into the kitchen – albeit my house is open plan so strictly speaking, it’s hard to have a clear boundary that he needs to stay out of. But when I shoo him away, he is generally pretty good about taking himself off into the yard to chase rabbits, bark at birds or whatever other important contribution he’s making to make this world a better place.
But the minute whatever I’m making is ready and I take it to the area where I shoot my photos, he comes dashing inside.
“Dashing” is honestly the word. He doesn’t walk or lope. He dashes at a very fast paced trot, his heavy footed paws thudding through the house making the wooden floor shake (really, he does).
And that’s when he becomes a real nuisance. Because I’m concentrating on taking photos, I don’t always manage to catch him in the act of photo-bombing.
Case in point: Dozer photobombed EVERY SINGLE photo of this cake being dusted with icing sugar. 🙄
THAT CHEEKY BUGGER!!!
See look. Here he is AGAIN. And again. And again. GRRRRR!!!!!
So I apologise profusely to all those who find it a real turn off to see a DOG in food photos, but my bottom can’t afford for me to make this ridiculously delicious Apple Cake yet again just so I can get one single shot (I just wanted ONE!) of me dusting the Apple Cake without Dozer in the background.
OK, now I’m done stomping my foot over Dozer ruining my photos, a quick word on this Apple Cake recipe: It’s crazy easy and fast to make the batter, it’s made with FRESH apples (won’t work with canned, cake is not as moist), and it really is beautifully moist.
This easy Apple Cake recipe was given to me by the lovely Dorothy in Tennessee in the US. It was meant to be, because I had just shared an Apple Cake disaster on Instagram then a couple of days later, she shared this recipe with me (without having seen my epic failure!). I tried it once, twice, three times, then I decided I had to share it here because it is that good and that easy!
– Nagi x
More afternoon tea favourites
-
Cinnamon Swirl Bread – easy, no yeast!
-
Cheese, Herb and Garlic Loaf or Zucchini Cheese Loaf– quick bread, no yeast
-
Blueberry Lemon Loaf with Lemon Glaze or Blueberry Lemon Yoghurt Cake
-
Savoury Cheese Muffins or Cornbread Muffins (personal fave😇)
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Easiest Ever MOIST Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour , plain / all purpose (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carb soda) (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp EACH salt, cinnamon and ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (or 1/4 tsp freshly ground)
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar (Note 2)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs , large, at room temperature (55-60g/2oz each)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups apple , peeled, cored and cut into 8mm/ 1/3" cubes (~2 large, 3 small) (Note 3)
Optional Extra
- 1/2 cup flaked raw almonds
- Icing sugar . confectioners sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (all oven types).
- Grease and line a 21 cm / 9" springform cake pan. (Note 4)
- Place flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Whisk oil and sugar in a bowl, then whisk in eggs and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until JUST combined. Stir through apple (optional: add 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or other nuts).
- Pour into cake pan. Sprinkle over almonds.
- Bake for 50 minutes - 1 hr. Check at 50 minutes - it is cooked when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar if using, then serve. This cake doesn't need cream or ice cream because it is so moist, but I wouldn't turn it down!
Recipe Notes:
2 1/2 cups sugar (I reduced to 2 cups)
3 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp EACH baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves
3 cups peeled and chopped fresh apples
1 cups chopped nuts (I use walnuts) 5. Measures - Cups and teaspoons are slightly different in size between some countries. For most recipes on RecipeTin Eats, the difference is not large enough to matter or is relative throughout the recipe. For recipes where the difference does matter, different measures are provided for different countries, like in this Soft Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. For this Apple Cake, the measures per the recipe can be used no matter which country you are in except Japan. If you are in Japan, please do not use cups, use the weight measures provided. OVENS: I have a fan forced / convection oven but have made this in a standard / conventional oven too. I found that this recipe works better using the same temperature no matter which oven type you have. The only difference is the cook time - fan forced is ready at 50 minutes, standard oven is ready at 60 minutes. But no matter which oven you have, check your cake at 50 minutes. If your oven is weak, it may take over 1 hour for the skewer to come out clean. 6. Nutrition per serving, assuming 12 servings.
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Well! After telling you how naughty he was while I photographed this Apple Cake, I’m not sure he deserves to be featured in his own section on this post…..
But who am I kidding. I can never stay mad at him.
Here he is “minding” the Apple Cake as it cooled. Just minding it. No cheeky thoughts running through that furry head, I’m sure….
2nd time making this recipe. Its absolutely delicious! This time I made into muffins instead for the kids. Worked out perfectly.
Mix of spices raise cake to another level. Two thumbs ups.
I have just made this cake and have it in the oven. The mix was really dry and thick and I’ve read a couple of other peoples reviews that have found this happened too. I reread the recipe and realised I’ve added the sugar to the dry rather than wet ingredients and then iced them together. I hope it works out but I have a feeling this is why others may have had a dry cake.
This was so easy to make, was bit worried that mixture was too wet,so added some pieces if ginger instead of nuts.
It’s really nice,bit crusty on top and lovely moist cake.
Reckon I could use pears instead? got some to use up
Hi Kellie, I haven’t tried to be honest – not sure about the water content in pears affecting the batter but would love to know if you give it a go! N x
Hi Nagi
I made your moist apple cake and it is the most delicious recipe.
Great heated up for dessert with cream or yoghurt.
Thank you for sharing
YUM!!! Sounds like you nailed it Trish! N x
hi Nagi I made your apple cake today mine came out very dry even going into tin it looked dry I used canola oil as I didn’t have vegetable oil just wondering if I did something wrong should it have had milk
Hi Susan, it definitely shouldn’t be dry, and you added the whole cup of oil – this keeps it super moist! N x
Superb! Just made this with homegrown yellow peaches, in a bundt tin. Thanks Nagi!
This is now my favourite easy Apple Cake! Beautifully spiced, definitely moist….we LOVED it!
Ooops… me again. I added a cup of raisins, just because I love raisins!
I whipped this up this morning to take to my French class. It was so easy and delicious, and was declared “parfait”! Thanks for a great recipe
This cake is amazing. I’ve made it at least a dozen times using gf flour. To make it a bit ‘fancier’ for special occasions I just add a cream cheese buttercream and some apple chips for decoration. Perfection!
This is the lightest apple cake I have ever made, it is more like a sponge. It is moist and tasty. I made it in a 20cm round cake tin and it took a bit longer to cook . I also substituted mixed spice for the cinnamon and nutmeg. Excellent cake.
So good,so easy.Did it in my Bundt tin taste great and looks great with a sprinkling of sifted icing sugar.Second time added a few twists of ground pepper,what a revelation the sweet with the warm christmas spices and the occasinal hit of pepper heat is sensational.
Great recipe! I’ve never baked with apples before so was a bit nervous but it turned out great! I used 3 cups of apples just because I wanted to use up what I had, final result was fab.
I love this recipe – so easy! I have shared this recipe with so many friends! It still works if you play around with it too! I reduce the sugar by 1 cup as the apples are so sweet and add in raisins, sometimes a grated carrot, or even extra apples! I also make little muffins and cook for 20 mins and they are delightful! Thank you!
This cake is dangerous! It’s so tasty and pretty easy to make.
This is a fantastic recipe. The cake is so good we could eat it all in one go if we are not careful!