It’s definitely fall flavor time, and this Easy Cinnamon Apple Cake is exactly what the season ordered. With warm cinnamon, juicy apple chunks and a bit of crunch from chopped walnuts, it’s the kind of cozy, feel-good dessert you’ll want to make over and over.
Easy to make, and baked until golden perfection, it’s the perfect treat for cozy evenings, family gatherings or even a sweet breakfast. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar for a dessert that will wow, and taste, your guests!
Why You’ll Love It
Common Ingredients: Everything you need is probably already in your pantry and fridge.
How to Make It Fall Friendly: The comforting flavors of cinnamon and apples are a perfect embodiment of the season.
Texture Heaven: This moist cake, filled with tender apples and crunchy walnuts, is the perfect bite. Try our Amish Apple Fritter Bread next.
Versatile: Breakfast, dessert or anytime snack, this cake is great.
Crowd-Pleaser: Effortless to prepare but posh enough that you can serve it to company.
Key Ingredients:
Best Varieties: Tart, crisp apples — for the best flavor/texture combo, use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Braeburn.
Uniform size: You want to chop your apples into pieces that are all the same size so that they bake evenly.
Peel Tip: When you need to peel wheels in a hurry, do it with a vegetable peeler.
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds warmth and depths the apples’ innate sweetness.
Extra Spices: For added coziness, stir in a pinch of nutmeg or allspice.
Chopping Tip: After cutting walnuts, do so into large pieces so they retain some crunch. If you like this, you'll love our APPLE PECAN CAKE WITH CARAMEL GLAZE.
Substitutions: Use pecans instead of walnuts, or skip them altogether for a nut-free cake.
Dark Brown Sugar: Provides a pleasing, molasses-y richness and depth that plays nicely with the cinnamon and apples.
Light Brown Sugar: If you can’t find dark brown sugar, use this in a pinch.
Butter, Softened: This butter should be super-soft, to cream easily with the sugars. If the butter has remained cold, it won’t incorporate.
The amounts of ingredients and measurements are below on the recipe card.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Get Your Baking Pan Ready
Preheat the ovens: You’re looking for 350°F (175°C), which yields a well-browned crust with soft, fluffy insides.
Preparing the Pan: Grease a 9-inch round baking pan with non-stick spray or butter. This is to help prevent them sticking and to allow for easy removal of the cakes.
Step 2: Make the Batter
Cream the Butter and Sugars:
Beat in a large mixing bowl:
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the Eggs:
Add 2 large eggs, beating in 1 at a time.
Large bowl: Beat very well after each addition.
Stir in Vanilla Extract:
Stir in 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract until combined. This adds flavor to the cake.
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Combine the Dry Ingredients:
In another bowl, combine and beat:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
This gives you an even distribution of the leavening agents and spices.
Now to this add the dry ingredient mix slowly into the butter sugar paste. For another easy option, see our Salted Caramel Banana Bread.
Beat at low speed just until blended. Take care not to overmix, which would result in a dense cake.
Add the Apples and Walnuts:
Now we take that batter and improve it with an interesting texture and types of meat. Gently fold in 1½ cups peeled and chopped apple — this will keep the cake moist and add natural sweetness. To give you a little crunch in every bite, add ½ cup shelled walnuts. Be careful not to overmix; you want the apples and walnuts incorporated, but the batter to stay fluffy.
Step 3: Bake the Cake
When everything is mixed together, add the batter to your prepared baking pan. Scoop it in with a spatula, and add it evenly so that it bakes evenly. Now you’re almost done — time to get it in the oven!
Use a spatula to spread it evenly for the best and most even bake.
Bake:
Transfer the pan into the pre-heated oven and roast for 40-45 minutes.
Test for doneness by stabbing a toothpick into the middle. The cake is done if it comes out clean.
Cool the Cake:
Let it cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes.
Then move it to a wire rack to cool completely. Chilling helps firm the texture, for easier slicing.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Once the cake is a little bit cool, serve it by slicing into wedges, and begin digging in.
For a little something extra, serve each warm slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce — trust us, it’s worth it.
My favorite? The flavor of that perfect balance of soft apples, warming spices, and toasted walnuts that have a little bit of a kick. A true crowd-pleaser!
Serving Suggestions:
Classic Pairing: Dust with powdered sugar or serve with whipped cream for a simple yet elegant presentation.
Fall Feast: Give it a classic fall feel by serving with a warm drink — an apple cider, a chai tea or a pumpkin spice latte.
Have for Dessert: Drizzle with caramel or maple syrup and serve with vanilla, chocolate or any ice cream you can think of.
If you enjoy spiced apple cakes, Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake has a baked-in cream cheese filling and brown sugar praline frosting.
Storage and Meal Prep Tips:
Refrigeration: Cake leftovers will last 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You might also like our Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars.
Freezing: Wrap slices well in plastic and place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, or use the microwave; serve.
Reheated: Zap a slice for 15 to 20 seconds and it will still taste like it just came out of the oven.
Variations:
Nut-Free: Leave out the walnuts for a basic nut-free cake.
Gluten-Free: Their option: Swap in a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend for a cake everyone can eat.
Extra Spiced: If you want a more pronounced spiced flavor, add ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or cloves to the batter.
Caramel Apple Twist: Mix in caramel bits, or drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the batter before you bake it.
Vegan: Use plant based margarine in place of butter, replace eggs with flax-eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 2.5 tbsp water per egg), and ensure all ingredients are dairy-free.
Conclusion:
This Easy Cinnamon Apple Cake is a delightful dessert that captures the essence of fall. Its tender crumb, sweet apples, touch of cinnamon makes it a perfect accompaniment to the crispness of autumn days. Whether you’re hosting an intimate get-together or treating yourself to something special, it’s a cozy cake to embrace in each forkful. Try our Easy Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake next.
So put on your apron and let autumn come into your kitchen. Believe me—your house will smell wonderful, and everyone will be begging for seconds. Enjoy! If you like this, you'll love our Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Muffins.
Easy Cinnamon Apple Cake: A Cozy, Autumn-Inspired Treat
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped apples peeled, about 2 medium apples
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9-inch round baking pan with non-stick spray or lightly grease with butter to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Gently fold in chopped apples and walnuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Slice the cooled cake into wedges and serve. For a special touch, enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Nutrition values are estimates based on the listed ingredients and serving count. Actual values vary with brands, cuts and portion sizes.
