A deliciously easy Cinnamon Apple Cake made from scratch. This soft and tender Apple Cake is packed with fresh apples and features a crunchy cinnamon topping and a drizzle of sweet frosting.

Apple-licious 🍎
Can we take a moment to talk about the match made in heaven that is apple and cinnamon? This terrifically tender Cinnamon Apple Cake is my new fave.
It’s soft, it’s sweet and it’s jam-packed with fresh, juicy apples. The final touch is a sprinkling of sugary cinnamon and a sweet milk glaze.

Can I just say that I never thought a Cinnamon Apple Cake could taste so good. I baked quite a few cakes to get this recipe JUST right and when I finally landed on the winning recipe, I was beyond excited.
One bite of this soft and fluffy masterpiece and I was fist-pumping the air. After many failed Apple Cinnamon Cakes, I instantly knew this one was the winner. Of course, I had to have a few more slices just to be oh-so-sure.

When I first attempted this cake, I started by using oil as the main fat. This is because oil tends to add moisture to baked goods, like in my Olive Oil Brownies or my Pistachio Cake. I love using oil in cakes.
The first cake was lovely and soft and the taste was on point. But the edges were a little dry for my liking. So I moved on to see if butter would work better, like in my Easy Peach Cake, while also slightly altering the amount of flour and sugar.

Let’s just say, it didn’t. The first butter version used melted butter and the cake was heavy, dense and not great. To add lightness and get back closer to the original version, I tried creaming the butter and sugar, like I do in my Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donut recipe. It was better, but still nothing rivalled the oil version.
So finally, I returned to oil, but used a little less flour and added yoghurt to ensure the cake was soft, moist and never dry. It was crowned the WINNER.
save this recipe

What you have here is a melt-in-your-mouth cake that’s studded with fresh apples. It boasts a sugar cinnamon crumble, that once baked, becomes crisp and flavourful.
The cinnamon topping blends perfectly with the juicy, chunks of apple. Then, just because we can, we drizzle the entire cake with a two ingredient sweet sugar glaze. It’s pure perfection.

Tips for making Apple Cake
- This Cinnamon Apple Cake is incredibly easy to make. You only need a bowl and spoon – no need for an electric mixer.
- You can use any kind of apple you like, I use red Royal Gala apples. You’ll need to peel and then chop your apple into roughly 1/2 inch squares – discarding the core.
- Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredient until combined – try not to over mix.
- The crumble is made using sugar and cinnamon. Mix together using melted butter until it clumps like sand. Sprinkle over the top of your cake batter – no need to be perfect here.
- Bake until golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- The final touch? Drizzle over the sweet sugar glaze and serve!

Watch how to make it
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hungry for more? Join me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more amazing recipe ideas.
Let’s Bake
Cinnamon Apple Cake
A tender Cinnamon Apple Cake drizzled with a milk glaze.
Ingredients
Apple cake
- 210 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 150 grams (3/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 cup (approximately 1 large) red apple, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) vegetable oil or flavourless oil
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) Greek yogurt
Cinnamon topping
- 50 grams (1/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Sugar glaze
- 30 grams (1/4 cup) icing sugar or powdered sugar, sifted
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Add chopped apple and stir briefly to combine.
- In a separate bowl, add eggs, vanilla, oil and yoghurt. Whisk briefly just to break up the egg yolks.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently mix with a wooden spoon until combined – but be careful not to over mix. Spoon batter into prepared tin.
- To make cinnamon topping, combine sugar, cinnamon and butter. Mix together until lumpy and wet. Sprinkle over cake batter.
- Bake cake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Transfer cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze, mix together sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk. Stir until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add an extra tablespoon of milk. Drizzle glaze all over the cake.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: Calories: 310 Sugar: 25 g Sodium: 143.8 mg Fat: 14.1 g Carbohydrates: 42.7 g Protein: 4.8 g Cholesterol: 42.2 mg







Kathi says
This is my husband’s favorite apple cake. Today I decided to change things out as my Belgian neighbor brought me (I’m in Italy and it is too hot to grow rhubarb where I live) a bunch of rhubarb. It is also strawberry season, so yep, I made strawberry rhubarb cake, instead of apple. It came out great.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Kathi, how special to hear from you all the way in Italy! I’m so pleased this cake worked well as a rhubarb and strawberry cake – honestly, that sounds incredible!
Alison says
Hi we absolutely love this cake I make it at least twice a week but every time I make it sinks in middle what am I doing wrong please
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Alison, I’m so glad you love this cake! Does it sink just slightly upon cooling? That can be quite common in fruit cakes like this one. Sometimes it might mean the cake isn’t completely cooked right in the centre, or that they fruit wasn’t evenly distributed. Does it seem slightly underdone in the middle?
Tiffany says
Is it okay to freeze this cake?
Jessica Holmes says
Absolutely!
Nadya says
What a great and easy recipe to make on a hot day, whip it up in a matter of minutes and never even heat up your kitchen on a hot summer day. Very simple recipe and very easy to follow. Have made it many times.
Jessica Holmes says
That’s so lovely to hear Nadya! So pleased you love it!
Isobel says
So easy to make and it’s delicious! I did find that I had to bake it longer than the recipe called for as it wasn’t done in the middle. I was nervous that part of the cake might be kindmof dry due to the extra baking time but it was lovely and moist.mill be making this again for sure!
Jessica Holmes says
I’m so pleased it worked out well for you Isobel! I’m glad it was lovely and moist!
Eleni says
Fantastic cake! And such an easy recipe to make wow!!! I grated the apple instead, came out deoicious! Thank you for sharing – do I store it in the fridge or is it ok at room temp?
Thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
I’m so glad you loved it Eleni! This one is fine to keep at room temperature.
MaryAnne says
Excellent cake, a favorite with my family. I omit the sugar glaze. I top the cake with warm home-made apple sauce and a dob of ice cream.
Yum yum!😋
I have made this cake many times! It is a keeper for sure. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Jessica Holmes says
That sounds just lovely MaryAnne!
Laura says
I just made this fabulous recipe.
I didn’t have yogurt so I used sour cream. I also substituted brown sugar for the top instead of white sugar (ran out) and swirled it through.
Visually pretty and then dusted it with powdered sugar! Delightful!
Thank you for sharing.
It’s a total keeper:)
Jessica Holmes says
That is so wonderful to hear Laura! So glad it worked so well for you.
Erin says
This recipe is so easy to follow and the outcome was a fluffy, moist, and not-too-sweet cake with a perfect crumbly sweet topping. This is one I’ll make again and again and I’m already thinking of making a tray for my parents to try.
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! I’m so excited you loved this one Erin!
Annie says
Easy and delicious.
Jessica Holmes says
Love that Annie!
Kathy says
Great recipe. Came out perfectly and absolutely delicious!
Thank you.
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! So glad Kathy!
Michael John Boyle says
Hi Jessica,
So many effusive comments received from friends with whom I shared this cake this evening. Congratulations on creating such a satisfying cake. It has a touch of magic that makes the cake great. Thank you.
PS I was too slow and after 10 minutes the cake was gone.
Michael
Jessica Holmes says
That is so lovely to hear Michael! I’m buzzing from this wonderful feedback!
Nieyma says
Hi Jessica, 10 stars if possible, you are absolutely amazing. I have made this cake so many times and it always comes out perfect. Whenever I want to make a cake I have to look for your recipe first before browsing others, you made baking so easy and enjoyable, my kids absolutely love home made goodies because of your recipes. Lots of love from my family.
Jessica Holmes says
What a lovely review Nieyma! Thank you so much. That’s my aim every time I write a recipe and when I was writing my cookbook, so it means the world to hear that feedback.
Lily says
I made this cake so many times over the years. I use yo plait vanilla kids yogurt,2 sachets, instead of Greek yoghurt + a dash of oil. I shared the recipe with family and friends. This cake never disappoints, and add to it whatever your heart desires. Such a great find.
Jessica Holmes says
That is so lovely to hear Lily! I’m so pleased you love this one as much as I do. It’s so loved, I had to include it in my new cookbook too!