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….
I cannot tell you enough how much I love this cake! The spices are amazing, and the rich taste is to die for!
perfect easy apple cake decadence. made it in 20cm tin and still perfect. added 3/4 c maple syrup candied walnuts.
Cake was delicious . Thank you! Loved Dozer’s photo bombing too. Our dogs have a real knack for turning up in any photos!!
Made with gluten free flour and it’s delicious.
Only tip I’d add is it leaks oil in oven as it cooks so put the loose bottomed tin on a baking sheet
Very sweet so when I made it again I used 3/4 cup of oil and 3/4 cup sugar and was still so moist and not super sweet
This cake smelled so delicious while baking! Thankyou, Nagi for the recipe’s simplicity; I’m tickled pink that I didn’t mess it up and that it tastes like I spent all day on it!
This is an amazingly easy and tasty cake. I used Avocado Oil, lessened the sugar to 200g, used Bi carb soda as per recipe, 1/2 tsp ground cloves and sweet apples (the ones left uneaten and getting soft and old in the fruit bowl)
It came out perfect! it isn’t a tall cake, the batter was very thick but the taste was awesome. And it keeps well. We reheat in the oven and it tastes like its freshly cooked. Definitely a keeper!
A giant deer stole my first attempt and ate it all at our picnic, despite being yelled at, pots clanging etc, so I’m assuming it’s good!
Attempt number 2 to be made tomorrow to assuage the disappointed ones!!
Not interested in cakes with vegetable oil, sugar (!) and wheat.
Maybe don’t look at the Baking section of Nagi’s recipes?
Pretty sure all 3 are in the definition of a cake.
Time may be better spent looking for cakes without oil, sugar(!) or wheat.
A few years ago I fell upon this recipe while living in Italy (with no recipe books) and it has been my go to since. Everybody loves the spiciness – adults and kids and i also love that the cake has an oil, not butter base. Thank you, Nagi
Super delicious and took mabe ten minutes to whip up! Dense but not at all dry. Added a little glaze on top because why not. Will make again!
Easiest and most delicious cake to make. I’ve made it three times in the last month and everyone loves it. Served it once with whipped cream and strawberries for dessert. My go to cake recipe from now on
I always change recipes, and this one was a winner. I used 1\2 cup peanut oil, 1/2 cup white sugar, and SR flour. Scattered with flaked almonds. Ideal for an afternoon tea cake. Will make again.
This cake is absolutely delicious and was very easy to make too. The spices were perfect. And I served it with vanilla ice cream too! And I loved the pictures of Dozer in the background.
I dont like nutmeg. Can I use more cinnamon in its place?
Can this be made gluten free at all? (Sorry if this has been answered!)
It’s my mum’s birthday on the weekend and she has an issue with butter, a nephew can’t have dairy and peanuts, and another nephew can’t have wheat. We normally bake a choc olive oil cake, or an orange olive oil cake… But my mum loves custard and I thought maybe to branch out and make an apple cake (with custard layer). There are recipes on the internet but I trust Nagi the most!!
Made this yesterday evening and it is already half gone. Delicious, crumbly and likely to return soon. I cut the sugar to one cup and it was still sweet. Many thanks to Dorathy and her Aussie avatar, Nagi.
Recipes? You have recipes here?
I come for the dog. xx
I made the bundt version today
It was quick, easy & delicious.. Added my own touch coating the bottom of the bundt pan with a streusel mix of brown sugar, chopped walnuts & cinnamon.
When turned out the streusel had set to a kind of toffee on top of the cake.
I used less cloves as I find the flavour overwhelming.
I made this cake for a family lunch on the weekend. It smelled delicious when it was cooking and was hugely popular. During the next two days the remaining cake softened and became more moist from the apples and possibly more delicious. A keeper!