Apple Cake Recipe

Celebrate fall in the best way with this sensational Apple Cake. It is perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Celebrate fall in the best way with this sensational one layer Apple Cake recipe with an irresistibly buttery crumble.  It is perfect for breakfast or dessert. 

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An apple cake served on a circular, white plate with a piece missing and a slice of the cake served on a square, white plate with a fork and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it along with three whole apples as decoration

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The Heart and Soul of this Apple Cake Recipe

  • Cuisine Inspiration: Classic American with a twist
  • Primary Cooking Method: Baking
  • Dietary Info: Vegetarian, with gluten and dairy
  • Key Flavor: Warm, cinnamon-spiced apple goodness
  • Skill Level: Easy, beginner-friendly

Sweet Highlights

  • Perk 1: Single-Layer Simplicity โ€“ No fancy tools needed, just mix, pour, and bake for a cake that’s as easy as pie (or, well, cake).
  • Perk 2: Crumbly Crumble Goodness โ€“ A buttery, cinnamon-laced crumble that turns golden and delightful in the oven, offering the perfect textural contrast.
  • Perk 3: Apple in Every Bite โ€“ Packed with fresh apple slices that soften into tender, juicy layers as they bake, infused with pure maple syrup for that extra oomph.
  • Perk 4: Breakfast or Dessert? Why Choose! โ€“ It’s the chameleon of the cake world; great with your morning coffee or as a sweet end to your day.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • Butter (unsalted and room temp) – It’s the smooth operator that gives your cake its soft texture.
  • Granulated Sugar – Sweetness coming right up! This is your cake’s best friend.
  • Egg (make sure it’s room temp!) – The binder that holds your dreams and cake together.
  • All-Purpose Flour – The foundation of your cake, it’s all about that base.
  • Salt – Just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
  • Baking Powder & Baking Soda – The dynamic duo that makes your cake rise to the occasion.
  • Buttermilk (also room temp!) – Bringing a subtle tang and moistness to your batter.
  • Pure Maple Syrup – Because we’re keeping it real with that rich, autumnal vibe.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract – A dash of elegance and a whole lotta flavor.
  • Apple Slices (peeled if you want) – The star of the show, adding bites of joy.

For the Crumble Topping:

  • Flour (All-Purpose again, y’all) – To create those crumbly little pebbles of joy.
  • Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar – A sweet little combo that’s twice as nice.
  • Salt & Ground Cinnamon – Spicing things up and keeping it interesting.
  • Butter (melted and cooled) – This is the glue for your crumble, so melt and cool with care.

How to Make Apple Cake

For the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and liberally spray 9 inch round pan (or 8ร—8 sized pan) with non-stick baking spray.
  • In the ceramic bowl of your stand mixer, beat together butter and sugar on high speed for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Add in egg and continue to mix until combined.
  • Change mixer to low speed and slowly add in flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until just combined then pour in buttermilk, 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and vanilla extract and mix until it all just comes together without over mixing. Turn off mixer.
  • Evenly spread cake batter in pan then top with sliced apples and drizzle with remaining 3 teaspoons of maple syrup.

For the Crumble Topping:

  • Whisk together flour, both sugars, salt, and cinnamon until mixed.
  • Drizzle butter over flour mixture, and using a fork, stir together until crumbs form.
  • Sprinkle crumbs over apples.
  • Bake cake for 30-38 minutes OR until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Allow cake to cool for at least 20 minutes then serve.
Close up of maple apple cake served on a circular, white plate with a piece missing and a slice of the cake served on a square, white plate with a fork and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it along with three whole apples as decoration

How to Serve

This cake is fantastic with a dollop of homemade whipped cream , some caramel sauce or even some homemade vanilla ice cream or apple pie ice cream for a wonderful mix of fall flavors. It tastes amazing warm with the ice cream dripping down the sies.

How to Store

To keep that apple cake tasting as fresh as a crisp autumn day, cool it completely before you tuck it away. Slide it into an airtight container or wrap it up snug in plastic wrap. You can keep it at room temperature for a couple of days, or if you’re playing the long game, stash it in the fridge. It’ll keep there for up to a week, just bring it back to room temp before serving for that just-baked magic.

Favorite Apple Recipes to Try

If you like this recipe, you might be interested in some of my other apple flavored recipes below!

Maple Apple Cake | Grandbaby Cakes

Apple Cake

Celebrate fall in the best way with this sensational Apple Cake. It is perfect for breakfast or dessert.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • โ…“ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ยฝ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon baking powder
  • ยผ teaspoon baking soda
  • ยฝ cup buttermilk room temperature
  • 5 teaspoons pure maple syrup separated
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups apple slices peeled

For the Crumble Topping:

  • ยพ cups all-purpose flour
  • ยผ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ยผ teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ยผ cup unsalted butter melted then cooled

Instructions

For the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and liberally spray 9 inch round pan (or 8×8 sized pan) with non-stick baking spray.
  • In the ceramic bowl of your stand mixer, beat together butter and sugar on high speed for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Add in egg and continue to mix until combined.
  • Change mixer to low speed and slowly add in flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until just combined then pour in buttermilk, 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and vanilla extract and mix until it all just comes together without over mixing. Turn off mixer.
  • Evenly spread cake batter in pan then top with sliced apples and drizzle with remaining 3 teaspoons of maple syrup.

For the Crumble Topping:

  • Whisk together flour, both sugars, salt, and cinnamon until mixed.
  • Drizzle butter over flour mixture, and using a fork, stir together until crumbs form.
  • Sprinkle crumbs over apples.
  • Bake cake for 30-38 minutes OR until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Allow cake to cool for at least 20 minutes then serve.

Notes

To keep that apple cake tasting as fresh as a crisp autumn day, cool it completely before you tuck it away. Slide it into an airtight container or wrap it up snug in plastic wrap. You can keep it at room temperature for a couple of days, or if you’re playing the long game, stash it in the fridge. It’ll keep there for up to a week, just bring it back to room temp before serving for that just-baked magic.

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 491IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg
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Filed Under:  Cake, Dessert and Baking, Fall Recipes, Oven, Thanksgiving

Comments

  1. I was looking for a dessert to make the other night, and came across this recipe I’d printed at some point, but never made. I had all the right ingredients — YAY! — so made this. It. Is. Phenomenal! I took the rest of it into work today & everyone loved it; I’m making another one tonight. Thanks!

    1. Thank you so much! I’m so so glad you enjoyed it. Would you mind leaving a star review as well for others to see?

  2. I have tears for the end of summer too! This apple cake is the perfect treat to transition to fall – which is the gateway to winter!

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