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.
Maggie Jones says
Absolutely beautiful cake. Could not fault it. I used olive oil as I did not have vegie oil and it was perfect. It took only minutes to make. Thankyou.
Jessica Holmes says
Fabulous!
Donna says
Hi can I use a square pan for the apple tea cake?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes Donna! I recommend using an 8-inch square pan for best results.
Alicia says
I made it tonight using gluten free flour. Everyone loved it. Tured out perfect.
Jessica Holmes says
That’s wonderful to hear!
Sandra says
I have tried this recipe before and I loved. However, I was wondering if I can use sour cream as alternative of the yoghurt or even peach yoghurt?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, yes to both!
Sandra says
Thank you
Ezra says
Made it for my guests and it was a huge hit. Totally recommend, it came out perfect.
Jessica Holmes says
Hooray! Love that!
Carol-Anne says
Fantastic. I was very sceptical when I started on this recipe. I was really amazed. It is easy to make and very delicious. I tried it with yogurt and without yogurt. My favroute and that of my family and friends is the one with the yogurt. I keep having to make this all the time.
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you love it as much as I do!
Justin says
My mother loves apple-cinnamon goods, but has recently discovered the need to go gluten free because of an allergy! I’m wondering if this would work with gluten free flour, and if there’s any adjustments I should make to it in that case?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Justin, I’m sorry but I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten free flour. But I think a few readers have! If you can get hold of a good gluten free flour that says it can be subbed 1:1 for regular flour, you should be able to substitute it. Let me know if you do get a chance to try it.
Judy Mason says
I used granny Smith apples. I had to use some regular yogurt along with Greek yogurt. The cake was absolutely great.
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that Judy!
Stanley says
That was so easy and it turned out great!! Moist and fluffy. Thank you!!
Jessica Holmes says
Hooray! Glad you liked it Stanley.
Carol-Anne says
I tried this without the yogurt and with it. The one with the yogurt is a winner!! This is a fantastic cake and I just love making it!! I have tried other apple cakes and pies in the past and did not like the taste. This one is a winner!!!
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! So glad you agree Carol-Anne.
Anne says
WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Too sweet.. followed recipe exactly. regretted it because of the sweetness!! and i like sweets. I guess I should’ve guessed it by the website name
Jessica Holmes says
Sorry you didn’t enjoy it Anne.
Theresa says
What size pan should I use?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Theresa, I recommend using an 8-inch round cake pan for this one (see step 1 of the method).
Kate says
Delicious, even tho‘ I underbaked it a bit because I ran out of time & had to take it to a meeting warm… Forgot to take a picture, but it looked like yours.
Jessica Holmes says
So happy to hear that Kate! It’s quite a nice cake to serve warm 🥰
Maneesha says
Hi Jessica,
I made the cake yesterday in a 9 inch square pan, and it worked out great. It’s a delicious cake! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Just wondering if you’ve also tried with a higher quantity of apples, and whether that would be okay. Love the bites that have apple chunks!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad to hear that! Yes you can definitely add more apples! You can even double the amount of apple, but it may take a little longer to bake.
Lysandra Anderson says
Turned out amazing. My husband asks for 2 whenever the recipe comes out
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that!