Easy Apple Cake

This old fashioned, easy apple cake is the only apple cake recipe you will need this autumn! Beautifully simple, with dense and moist crumb, golden and buttery crust, thick layer of apple slices and delightfully crunchy topping of demerara sugar.

Apple cake makes a perfect treat for the afternoon tea, and will also serve very well as an everyday cake or an after dinner dessert. Add a dusting of icing sugar and a dollop of cream for the ultimate, super-cozy and delicious bake!

Simple method and very basic ingredients are what I love most about this cake (other than it's incredible taste). This is what makes it a perfect bake for any novice or less experienced bakers.

I saw this recipe in the recent Waitrose magazine, and I had to try it. When I did, I instantly knew this recipe needs a spot on the blog! It is similar to my Plum and Almond Cake , which I know lots of you made and enjoyed over the years.

The original recipe is by Orlando Murrin, and it honestly is one of the most delicious apple cakes you will make! It has the perfect ratio of apples to the cake, and it's texture falls somewhere between an apple crumble and apple pie.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Storage
• Top tip
• 📖 Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

This easy apple cake is made with very simple cake batter and apple filling. Here are the ingredients that you will need to make it:

• For the cake batter - you will need butter (also some extra for greasing the tin), golden caster sugar (or granulated sugar), an egg, self-raising flour (see recipe notes for the alternative), demerara sugar (aka raw cane sugar), and optional icing/ powdered sugar for dusting.
• For the apple layer - fresh apples (I used Braeburn apples, but Bramley or Granny Smith will also work very well), ground cinnamon, soft brown sugar or demerara sugar and apricot jam.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full list of the ingredients and the method.

Instructions

To make this cake recipe, start by preparing your apples. Peel, core and cut them into roughly 1 cm slices. Toss them with cinnamon and sugar, making sure they get evenly covered in the mixture and set them aside.

Next, preheat the oven and grease your cake pan with generous amount of butter. Don't be stingy here. You want a good layer of butter for the tin, because it will ensure that the crust turns out buttery and golden.

To make the cake batter, beat the softened butter and sugar, followed by egg and flour. The mixture will be thick and sticky, and that is how it is meant to be. Spoon out some of the batter and spread it over the base of the cake tin.

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Now, it's time to place the apples on top. Arrange them in any way you would like, and be sure to use all of the apples. Dot the apricot jam over the apples, and spread the remaining cake batter on top. No need to be perfect here, just try to get it covered more or less.

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Finish it off by sprinkling a tablespoon of demerara sugar on top for that light and sweet crunch, then bake.

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Substitutions

• To make this cake gluten free, use a good quality, gluten free self raising flour. I haven't tested this recipe with gluten free flour, but it should work just fine. Alternatively, use plain gluten free flour (same amount), but combine it with a teaspoon of baking powder (make sure it is gluten free) and a teaspoon of baking soda (which is naturally gluten free).
• Make it dairy free - replace butter with dairy free alternative (like Stork, if you are in the UK), and replace the egg with yoghurt alternative (about 50 g) or applesauce.

Variations

My favourite way to serve this cake is with a dollop of whipped cream or clotted cream. But it is also delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and/ or a drizzle of caramel sauce. Check out my Apple Pie recipe for homemade caramel sauce.

As recommended by Orlando himself, you can also try few other variations of this cake:

• Try it with different spices- swap the cinnamon for mixed spice, nutmeg or ginger and toss them together with apples and sugar. Or make it plain, without any spices at all!
• Swap the apricot jam for blackcurrant jam, honey or a mixture of both. You can also try it with marmalade.
• Add some lightly crushed flaked almonds along with demerara sugar at the end.

Storage

This easy apple cake will taste best when it's fresh, on the day it is made. However, any leftovers can be stored in the airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.

You can also freeze the whole cake or individual slices for up to 3 months. Wrap it in a double layer of clingfilm or reusable kitchen wrap and place in freezer friendly bag or container. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.

Top tip

Make sure to use loose-bottom or springform baking tin. This will ensure easy removal and release of the cake after baking.

To prevent the cake from sticking to the tin, use generous amount of butter and butter the cake tin really well.

If you tried this Easy Apple Cake recipe or any other of my recipes, feel free to leave me a comment and a rating below. I love hearing from you!

To pin this recipe and save it for later, use the button on the recipe card or on any of the photos above.

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