Apple Cake Recipes
These apple cake recipes bring together five classic, home-style bakes—from a quick cake-mix apple crumb cake to spiced applesauce cake and a traditional layered apple cake. Each one is simple, cozy, and built around warm spices and tender apples.
Use the jump links to pick a cake style, then follow the ingredients and steps below. Most are excellent served slightly warm with whipped topping or ice cream.
Recipes on this page
Use the links below to jump directly to each Apple Cake Recipe.
Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 2 tablespoons brown or white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 5 tart apples, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 lb butter or margarine, melted
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Toss sliced apples with sugar and cinnamon.
- Sprinkle about 1/4 of the dry cake mix over the apples and toss to coat.
- Pour mixture into a greased 8×8-inch pan and bake 30 minutes.
- Mix remaining cake mix with melted butter until large crumbs form; sprinkle evenly over the baked apple mixture.
- Bake 20 minutes more, or until browned. Serve with cream or whipped topping.
- Total cook time: about 50 minutes
- Equipment: 8×8-inch cake pan
Apple Blossom Cake
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cooking oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
- 1 1/2 cups chopped apples
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Combine oil, sugar, and egg; mix well. Stir in vanilla, peanuts, and apples.
- Sift flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg together; add to batter and blend well.
- Pour into a well-greased 8-inch square pan.
- Bake 40–50 minutes. Serve with whipped topping if desired.
- Total cook time: about 40–50 minutes
- Equipment: 8-inch square pan
Spiced Apple Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1 (8 oz) carton spiced apple yogurt
- 3 eggs
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Instructions
- Combine cake ingredients in a large bowl. Blend at low speed, then beat 3 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally.
- Pour batter into a well-greased and floured 9-cup mini bundt pan.
- Bake 60–65 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched.
- Cool 15 minutes, then remove from pan.
- Mix glaze ingredients until smooth and drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired.
- Total cook time: about 60–65 minutes
- Equipment: 9-cup mini bundt pan
- Servings: 10–12
Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 stick margarine
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3/4 cup applesauce
- 1 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Cream sugar and margarine. Add egg and mix well.
- Sift dry ingredients together; add to creamed mixture.
- Stir in applesauce and raisins.
- Bake about 1 hour in an 8×8-inch pan.
- Total cook time: about 1 hour
- Equipment: 8×8-inch pan
Apple Cake 2
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup oil
- 4 eggs
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 apples, peeled and thick-sliced
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Instructions
- Beat flour, oil, eggs, baking powder, sugar, orange juice, and vanilla until smooth (batter will be thick).
- Toss apples with sugar and cinnamon.
- In a prepared 9–10 inch angel food pan, add a layer of batter, then half the apple mixture. Repeat with batter and remaining apple mixture, finishing with batter.
- Bake about 1 hour. Serve with whipped cream if desired.
- Total cook time: about 1 hour
- Equipment: 9–10 inch angel food pan
- Servings: about 10
Apple Cake FAQ
What type of apples work best for apple cakes?
Tart apples like Granny Smith or firm baking apples work well because they hold their shape and balance the sweetness of the cake.
Do I need to peel the apples?
Most recipes work best with peeled apples for a softer texture, but leaving some peel on is fine if you prefer.
Can I substitute applesauce for fresh apples?
Some recipes use applesauce (especially spice cakes), but fresh apples add more texture and flavor in chunk-style or layered apple cakes.
How should apple cake be stored?
Store covered at room temperature for 1–2 days, refrigerate for longer freshness, or freeze tightly wrapped for up to 3 months.
Can these apple cakes be served warm?
Yes—many apple cakes are great slightly warm with whipped cream, ice cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar.