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
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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.
Marsha says
This is a very tasty cake. I used two small to medium gala apples and an 8” round pan. The toothpick came out clean at 30 minutes but as it cooled the centre sank and the centre was undercooked. I put it pback for another 15 minutes (it had already cooled a bit by the time I put it back in the oven). This worked and it came out fully cooked if a bit crispy around the edges (which I liked). I forgot to use the glaze but it really doesn’t need it as it is already sweet enough. I will make this again as it tasted so good but will try a 9” square pan, cook for 35 minutes, and test it more carefully next time. Would less apple also help?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Marsha, so glad you enjoyed it! Cooking times can vary so I would maybe check the cake in multiple spots next time. Also look for visual clues like if the middle still wobbles. The amount of apple in the recipe (unless you added more?) shouldn’t effect the cooking time.
Linda says
Delicious cake! I’m not much of a baker but this turned out amazing and my family loved it. I substituted the Greek yogurt for raspberry yogurt because that’s all I had. Also, I skipped the icing as I found it was sweet enough without it.
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that Linda!
Jacqueline says
My go to apple cake. Today am trying it with some flaked almonds in the batter and instead of the crumble have decorated with pecans. Always soft, moist and totally yummy….and so so easy!
Jessica Holmes says
Sounds delicious!
Jami says
Hi Jessica, I made this today with great results. I would love to add more apple to it, would I need to make any adjustments to the ingredients? I used Granny Smiths which aren’t particularly juicy.
Thank you for this recipe, I can’t believe how easy it was!
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Jami, you could add two chopped apples if you like – no changes needed! So glad you enjoyed it!
Aya says
I added an extra apple and put some maple syrup in the batter. The baking time went up a bit, but it was heavenly. My family had it with vanilla ice cream on top, and it was a huge hit. Thanks for the recipe!
Jessica Holmes says
That sounds amazing!!!
Monica says
Very easy to make and it’s amazing delicious!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Gauri says
Hi,
I must have made the cinnamon apple cake a couple of times and everytime I do, it’s simply loved.
Thanks for the amazing recipe. Looking forward to trying your lemon yogurt cake now.. hope it tastes as amazing !!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you like it! I hope you love the lemon cake too!
Elenor says
Hi Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil?
thanks.
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! Just use a mild tasting olive oil so the taste isn’t overpowering.
diane says
So addictive! Delicious!
Even though I forgot the yoghurt (added an apple and some raisins + brandy too).
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that!
Nina says
Ok to use sour cream instead of the yogurt?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes!
Angela Kaschalk says
I’ve made this recipe a few times and it is definitely a family favourite! Thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! Thanks Angela!
Jane says
Best cake I’ve ever made, easy to do and tastes wonderful, very light and fluffy, big success in our house
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! Love hearing that Jane!
Bru says
Although I only broke the eggs yolks into the oil and vanilla and never quite whisked it till creamy came out very nice. Very tasty will definitely bake again but will whisk eggs till creamy.
Thanks so much
Grant says
Honestly think this is the tastiest best cake I’ve ever made of eaten! Perfect recipe!!
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! Amazing!
Deidre Griffiths says
I make it often as my grandchildren love it. 🥰
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that!