On those crisp autumn days when you're craving something sweet, this apple cake really hits the spot! It's the perfect combination of crispy crust on the outside and soft, moist cake on the inside!
If you like apple cider, you'll love this apple cake! It's a delicious blend of apple and cinnamon flavors complemented by crunchy ground almonds.
This apple cake is so simple to make. You don't even need to cream butter and sugar! (Which I love, because I'm a bit of a lazy baker. )
Simply mix everything together into a cake batter, and then slice a large apple and arrange it on top, along with some sugar.
It couldn't be easier.
In fact, it's a great cake to make with kids. The steps are easy and it doesn't require a long attention span. Maybe great for husbands too. 😉
When it comes out of the oven, it'll be slightly crisp on the outside but softer on the inside. The tender apples make each bite deliciously rewarding.
If you want to experiment a bit, you can pick choose another fruit besides apples to top off your cake. The only thing you should keep in mind is that the heavier the fruit, the more likely it is that it will sink into the cake during baking.
Some great combinations to try are blueberry, pear, fig, peach and raspberry. You could try individual fruits or a combination. The choice is yours!
Where is Apple Cake From?
Traditionally, apple cake comes from England, where there are three traditional types: Dorset, Devon, and Somerset.
It's made with a plain cake topped with apples. Why apples though? The apples help the cake stay moist and delicious.
No one wants a brick-hard cake!
Traditionally, the cake uses crushed nuts. In this recipe, we use almonds, but feel free to branch out and try your own favorite nuts!
How Much Cinnamon is in Apple Cake
It may be a simple question, but it makes all the difference! Have you ever had an apple cake without the cinnamon? You'll just know it's missing something.
Cinnamon gives it that extra kick it needs to have a well rounded out flavor. It's not fall without apple and cinnamon after all.
This recipe only calls for one teaspoon. Because cinnamon is so strong, you don't need to add a lot of it to get the flavor you desire.
Healthy Apple Cake Substitute Ingredients
Cake, healthy? Can you get away with making a cake and calling it healthy? Maybe not, but there are things you can do to make your cake just a little healthier and make you feel just a little less guilty.
You may not have used demerara sugar before, but I highly recommend it! I'm always trying to branch out and find ways to make delicious desserts just a little bit healthier, and demerara sugar is one way to do that.
It's a little healthier than white sugar because it retains some of the vitamins and minerals that white sugar loses in its processing. It has calcium, iron, magnesium, and a couple B vitamins.
Don't go too crazy though! It's not that healthy. But if it helps you eat this cake guilt-free, all the better!
Instead of using eggs, you could use applesauce, mashed banana or even tofu! These healthier apple cake substitute ingredients may change the flavor or texture of the cake, so just be aware of that.
Applesauce is also a great substitute for butter! If you're vegan, you may want to try these butter substitutes: vegetable oil, avocado, pumpkin puree, coconut oil, or prune puree.
And if vegan baking is you're thing, make sure you grab a copy of this free vegan baking cheat sheet too!
How to Make Apple Cake
First, preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius).
Then, grab your 8" springform cake tin and prepare it with butter or lightly flour.
Set up your electric mixer with the paddle attachment. Add the flour, ground almonds, caster sugar, butter, eggs, buttermilk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to the bowl.
Let it mix until all the ingredients are combined, then pour the mixture into the springform tin.
Then lay out the sliced apples on top and sprinkle the sugar over the apples.
You can play around with different fruits and designs, but remember that the cake has cinnamon in it. While one teaspoon isn't much, it will still add that hint of cinnamon flavor.
Personally, I don't think cinnamon pairs with all fruits. So, you may just want to take the cinnamon into account when you decide what type of fruit to put on top of the cake.
Finally, bake the cake for 45 minutes or until it is cooked through.
This recipe is quick and easy and will leave your guests filled to the brim with fruity goodness!
Let me know what other types of fruit combinations you tried and how they turned out!
📖 Recipe
Equipment
- 8" springform pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-raising flour
, sifted - ½ cup ground almonds , (almond meal)
- ⅔ cup caster sugar
- 120 grams softened butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large apple, cored and sliced
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar, or demerara sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven for 160 degrees Celsius (325Â Fahrenheit) and prepare a 20cm springform cake tin.
- In a electric mixer, with a paddle attachment fitted, add all of the ingredients except the apple and demerara sugar and mix until just combined. Pour the mixture into the springform tin.
- Top with the sliced apple and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the cake is cooked through.
[email protected] says
what a lovely cake!
muppy says
This looks gorgeous. I love morning teas at work!
Prerna@IndianSimmer says
My family is a huge fab of this cake. I have tried it with just about any fruit I can get my hands on and it has never disappointed me! Thanks for sharing the recipe and reminding that it has been a while since I have made this. maybe I'll use some of those fresh berries I just got. My recent post Peach Gujiya - An Indian Empanada or Deep Fried Pie?
elle marie says
Seriously tres chic, I can see the steam rise from the tea cup, the photography is beautiful.
delicieux says
Thanks Elle 😀 I was hoping you could see the steam from the cup of tea, even if it is faint 😀
cc11 says
Yummy! I hope you win!
6bittersweets says
Lovely! Nothing beats the smell of baking apples in the kitchen IMO. Great job arranging the apples in such a pretty way =). My recent post The Only Soup I Need This Summer (Mango Crab Gazpacho)
purabi naha says
I am so happy to have stumbled upon your blog!! The apple cake is awesome. Loved your blog and your photography!! Do visit mine if you love Asian (especially Indian) food. Shall come back again very soon! My recent post Authentic Indian Chutneys and Some More Awards!
delicieux says
Thank you so much for your lovely comments Purabi. I look forward to you coming back soon 😀
Nicole@HeatOvenTo350 says
Just beautiful! I can see why your fiance would volunteer you to make it. I'm off to vote for it! My recent post Cornbread Pancakes - Two Ways
delicieux says
Thank you Nicole 😀
pearlsandprose says
We don't have morning teas, but wish we did! This is so beautifully presented and photographed--looks divine. I voted for all three. 🙂 Good luck! My recent post Cape May, Part II
delicieux says
Thank you so much Ms Pearl 😀
a spoonful of yumm says
this apple cake looks gorgeous !! feel good food 😀 easy to make too ! My recent post Dry Fruits Oatmeal Halwa
Sylvie@GITK says
What a delicious looking rustic cake, my grandmother made a similar one, it was one of my favorites.
Jessica says
Did you use a standard cake tin or one with a tube insert? I'd love to try this recipe.
Jennifer says
Hi Jessica,I used a springform pan 🙂 I hope that answers your question, however feel free to contact me if you have more.
Jessica says
Oh, from your photos it looks like the cake has a hole in the center & the original recipe on SmittenKitchen used a tube tin. But thanks for confirming that it works with a standard tin without a tube insert.
Linda says
Made this recipe - it was delicious! I couldn't quite make the all in one method you've suggested so I creamed the butter and sugar, beat in the eggs and folded in the flour. So gorgeous!
Jennifer says
Thanks Linda 😀 So glad you enjoyed it. If you like apple cake recipes you also might like this Apple Cider Cake https://www.deliciouseveryday.com/2012/10/31/apple-cider-cake/
Rita says
Looks delicious! Do you think it would work if I used only almond meal, so it would be gluten free? Thanks.
Jennifer says
I've not made the recipe with only almond meal so I can't say how it would go unfortunately. If you do decide to give it a try I'd love to hear how it goes. 😀