The Perfect Recipe For Apple Season

Let us tell you something. We went shopping and we bought just apples for about $20. And we only shopped for about $30 so it was a ‘buy buy apple’ kind of day.

You guys, we bought 6 Honeycrisp apples for over $10. What? After checking our receipt and doing the math while we got back home, we almost said aloud, “Why are people so wicked?”

As in why would you sell one apple for almost $2?! Next time we are going to the apple orchard for a better bargain (and some apple picking!).

Am we the only one who scrutinizes grocery receipts after buying? We mean we get home, take out our receipt, and start to check one item after the other and the prices.

Maybe it’s the African blood in us but we always feel like the cashier is trying to/going to cheat us. Trust issues. Ha.

Best Apples For Apple Cake

Honeycrisp apples are ideal for a fresh apple cake recipe with chunks of apple because they hold their shape nicely when baked.

Our second choice is granny smith apples which are also worth making again in apple desserts like homemade apple pie or tarte tatin.

How it comes together

This Fresh Apple Cake Recipe is so easy! And you can see how easy that is when you watch us putting it together in the video.

Ingredients For Fresh Apple Cake

The ingredients for this old fashioned fresh apple cake are pretty simple:

Apples: Granny Smith or honey crisp apples would work.
Flour: You need all-purpose or plain flour for this recipe.
Butter: The butter should be softened at room temperature so it easily creams with the sugar.
Granulated sugar: Cane sugar would work as well.
Cinnamon powder: Essential for adding spice. Cinnamon and apples go well together.
Vanilla Extract: Check out our homemade vanilla extract recipe.
Lemon zest: Adds freshness.
Milk: Whole milk or evaporated milk would work. You could also substitute with buttermilk in a pinch.
Egg: Adds richness and binds the ingredients together.
Salt: Balances all the flavors.

Ingredients for old fashioned fresh apple cake.

For the full list of ingredients with measurements, check out the recipe card below.

How it comes together

Here are the simple steps involved in making apple cake from scratch!

1. The first thing to do is core, peel, and chop the apples. Then sprinkle two tablespoons of flour on top and toss to coat them.

2. Then cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. An electric beater makes the work easier.

3. Then add in the eggs one at a time and beat lightly. Adding the eggs one at a time allows you to carefully incorporate each egg. But do not overmix.

4. Then add in the liquid milk (check the full recipe below for quantity). Mix and add in thespices. Now we have to talk about the combo of vanilla extract, lemon zest, and cinnamon in this recipe. It is bombzilla – it gives the cake such a fresh fruity spicy taste.

5. Add some flour, salt, and baking powder to the dry ingredients and mix to form a batter. Do not overmix. Mix until just combined.

6. Once the batter is mixed, add in the chopped apples and gently fold in.

7. Now pour that batter into a greased cake pan, being sure to level the batter at the top.

8. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Hint: Our apple cake is usually a light brown color when it comes out of the oven. We love it this way because it remains nice and moist. If it stays too long in the oven, it becomes dry – not good.

9. Now sieve some icing sugar over the top of the cake to take it over the top and for a beautiful presentation.

10. Cut yourself a slice...

And enjoy the wonders of lovely chunks of apple in a cake. This right here is a trip to cake heaven.

Our girls, Mr. N and we are all in love with this cake. The girls had some for breakfast this morning with some hot cocoa on the side. They totally love this apple cake made with fresh apples.

Cook notes

If you dislike chunks of apples in your cake, shred the apples instead.
Once the cake is done, take it out of the oven. Any extra time in the oven will make the cake turn from moist to dry.
Do not over-beat the eggs.
Also, do not over-mix the batter. Once the ingredients are incorporated, you are good to go!
If you have any doubts, watch the apple cake video for clarification.

That’s it, folks. A satisfying old fashioned fresh apple cake waiting to be baked by you. Let us know how you like it!

Also, do you ever cook with apples in your life? What are your favorite apple recipes?

Yield: 8 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, 250g or 1/4 kg
2-3 apples, cored, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest, from one lemon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar, 150g
1/2 cup butter – softened, 113g
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup whole milk, 240ml
3 eggs
2 teaspoons icing sugar for dusting the top

Method

Oil a 9-inch baking pan and set aside. Then preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour to coat chopped apples and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time, beating each time you add an egg.
Add in milk, vanilla, lemon zest, cinnamon powder and stir to incorporate.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well to form a batter. Don’t overmix – stop mixing when all the flour is incorporated.
Add the chopped apples and gently fold in.
Pour batter into oiled pan and level the top.
Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.