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, 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.
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
- 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 cinnamon, sugar 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.
Rebecca Roberts says
Having read all the reviews, I decided to give this a go. We have just finished supper and eating it…’keeper’ recipe for our house! Used 3 small cooking apples and a tablespoon or two of stewed apple left over from pork Sunday lunch! Half the fat and used melted butter, extra yoghurt to compensate and doubled the cinnamon. What that basically says is that this is a VERY forgiving and VERY wonderful recipe!! Thankyou!
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that Rebecca!
Jocelyn says
Just made it, looks great! I used 2 cups of apples, a blend of cassava flour and coconut flour, and a blend of olive oil and grape seed oil. Can’t wait to taste! Thank you!
Lizzie Joselyn says
An absolutely gorgeous cake, first time round I made with half plane half self raising and didn’t used 1/2 the baking powder.. I also used coconut oil instead, I also didn’t use the using as I’m not to keen on very sweets things.. it was lush!! However it took an hour to cook at 160 fan instead of 35 mins… was that because of the changes I made?
I am making another one today as it’s all gone aleady! The only CJ angle this time is the coconut oil and icing xx
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Lizzie, it’s hard to comment on the baking time as those changes would make what is essentially a different cake batter to what I tested. Every oven is different though, so you could find your oven is a bit cold – get hold of an oven thermometer to double check.
Rekha says
The cake turned out just Perfect!!
Simply yummmmmmm…..
Thank you so much Jessica. 😍
Kim says
This cake was SOOOOOOO delicious. Moist, not too sweet. I have to admit I tweeted the topping a bit and made more of a crump topping by adding flour to the butter, sugar and butter . Then I dusted with powdered sugar when cooled. I am definitely making this again
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it Kim!
Julia Kellett says
Such a delicious recipe and perfect for autumn here in the UK! Moist but still cooked through, I used a Bramley cooking apple for an extra bit of sharpness, love the crumbly crunch topping too.
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it Julia!
Ruth says
Easy to make, tastes delicious
Noorjehaan Safodien says
Easy, effortless and super delicious. It’s soft and fluffy.
Stephanie T Proulx says
Jess,can I make this gluten free for my Daughter?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Stephanie, I’m sorry but I haven’t tested the cake with gluten free flour. If you do try it, let me know how it goes!
Rajavi Agarwal says
absolutely delicious
However I wanted to know does this cake taste as good if made with an egg. replacer as I have some vegan mouths to feed 😕 if yes what’s the ratio
Jessica Holmes says
Glad you enjoyed it! I haven’t tested the cake without eggs I’m sorry.
Rosalyn says
Thank you 😊 for may delicious 😋 cake
Melanie James says
Can you freeze this cake?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Melanie, yes you can.
diane satterthwaite says
I want to make apple cake. I only have quick mixing flour. Can I use this
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Diane, I’m not sure I’m sorry – I’ve never used quick mixing flour.
Char Hensel says
I’ve made this twice. Love! Love! Love!
Berlin says
I would like to thank you for this great recipe. I made it today after we picked up apples from an orchard. My husband wanted an apple cake and found your recipe. It is outstanding!! Both my husband and I loved it. I also added walnuts because we both love it with apples. I took a picture of my cake to post here but I couldnt find a way to do it so please take my word for it. This is the best apple cinnamon cake I have ever made and tasted. Thanks a bunch!!
Jessica Holmes says
So happy to hear that Berlin! Adding walnuts sounds delicious! If you’re on Instagram, you can post a picture and tag #sweetestmenu so I can see!
Jess says
Can you use cooking apples instead of eating apples?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes!
jack firkenwowl says
Thanks miss