Name: The Best Apple Cake Recipe Ever
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 33 min
Total time: 1 min
Ingredients: 2¼ cups (270 g) all purpose flour - plain flour in the UK; ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch; 1½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; 2½ tsp ground cinnamon; 1½ tsp ground ginger - powdered not fresh; ½ tsp ground cloves; ½ tsp ground nutmeg; 2 cups (300 g) finely shredded apples - about two medium to large apples. Any red baking apple will work (Royal Gala, Jazz, Honey Crisp, etc.); 1½ cups (300 g) soft light brown sugar - firmly packed (see note 1); 3 large eggs - room temperature; 1 cup (210 g) unflavored vegetable oil - I use canola; ¼ cup (60 g) whole milk - room temperature; 2 tsp vanilla essence/extract; 1 cup (150 g) finely shredded apple - about 1 medium to large sized apple; ¼ cup (50 g) soft light brown sugar; 2 tbsp water; 2 tsps cornstarch; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; 3 tsps lemon juice - freshly squeezed; ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter; 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter - room temperature; 4½ cups (570 g) powdered sugar - also known as confectioners/icing sugar; 1½ cups (335 g) cream cheese - cold, firm type (see note 2); 1½ tsp vanilla extract/essence; 1½ tbsp lemon juice - freshly squeezed; ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Spiced Apple Cake Recipe: Moist, Flavorful, and Super Easy to Make!

Looking for a cozy fall dessert? This Spiced Apple Cake Recipe is exactly what you need! It’s packed with fresh apples and warm spices, giving you that perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The moist cake layers are soft, flavorful, and just melt in your mouth. Top it off with a creamy cinnamon cream cheese frosting, and you’ve got yourself the best apple cake ever!

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cake

If you’re on the hunt for the Best Apple Cake Recipe, look no further! This spiced apple cake is a game-changer. I mean, it’s next-level delicious! Packed with fresh apples and cozy spices, every bite is like a warm hug. Let me break down why you’re going to LOVE this apple cake! 🍏

Juicy apples in every bite.
Perfect for fall with its warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Super moist texture that stays soft for days.
The cinnamon cream cheese frosting adds the perfect touch of sweetness.

Flavor Explosion

This cake is loaded with flavor. The cake layers are full of warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Oh, and did I mention the fresh apples? Yep, we’ve got heaps of them. The tart apple filling has apples, lemon juice, and a hint of cinnamon—so dang good. And don’t get me started on the cinnamon cream cheese frosting—it’s based on my 5-star frosting recipe. You know it’s gonna be bomb!

Real Apples, Real Flavor

No fake stuff here. This cake is packed with real apples—the good stuff. We’re talking two whole cups of shredded apples in the cake layers and another cup in the filling. It’s all about that texture, baby! Red baking apples like Royal Gala, Jazz, or Honeycrisp work best for this one—they hold up perfectly.

Soft and Moist (For Days!)

You know I gotten talk about how moist this cake is, right? 😂 These cake layers are oil-based, which means they stay soft and moist for DAYS. No dry cake here, folks. You can make this ahead, and it’ll still taste fresh and amazing.

Want Something Simpler?

If you’re in the mood for something a little easier, check out my single-layer apple crumb cake—simple but just as delicious.

How to Make the Best Apple Cake Recipe

Ready to make the Easy apple cake recipe ever? 🙌 You can find the full list of ingredients down in the recipe card (just hit that handy ‘jump to recipe’ button up top for easy navigation). if you like zucchini cookies recipe Here’s a quick visual breakdown to get you started. Plus, there’s a recipe video down there to help you out!

Apple Cake Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Get that oven ready at 180°C (350°F) for conventional baking. If you’re using a convection oven with a fan, lower it to 160°C (320°F). Grease two 8×3 inch cake pans—I use my own homemade cake release, but you can line the bottoms with parchment paper if you like. Trust me, the cake release works wonders here!
Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, sift together:
- Flour
- Cornstarch
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Nutmeg

Grab a whisk and mix it all until it’s well combined. Set that bowl aside for now.

What’s the Secret to This Cake? 🤫

Okay, here’s the real magic behind this cake—fresh apples and warm spices. I’m talking about loads of shredded red apples packed right into the cake layers. It’s what keeps the cake super moist and flavorful. And let’s not forget the combo of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg—that’s what gives this cake its cozy, fall vibes. The oil-based batter is another secret weapon; it locks in moisture so the cake stays soft for days. No dry bites here!

Apple Cake Instructions (Continued)

Grate the Apples: Finely grate two apples (don’t forget to remove the core first—check out the video for my easy-peasy method). You want to measure out two cups (300g) of grated apple. Set that aside for now.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine:
- Light brown sugar
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- The shredded apple from the previous step
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour your dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold everything together until just combined. Pro tip: Don’t overmix the batter! We want that tender, soft cake texture.
Fill the Cake Pans: Distribute the batter evenly between the two 8-inch cake tins. Get that batter in there nice and smooth!
Bake Time: Pop those cakes in the oven and bake for 30-33 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Keep an eye on them they’re gonna smell amazing!
Cool the Cakes: Once baked, let the cakes cool in the pans for 20 minutes. This helps them firm up a bit, making it easier to handle. After 20 minutes, gently turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Prep While Cooling: While your cakes are cooling, it’s the perfect time to whip up the apple filling and cream cheese frosting. Trust me, the wait will be worth it!

Grab a whisk and mix everything together until it’s all well combined and smooth. You’re looking for a lovely, creamy texture here!

Apple Filling

Make the Apple Filling: In a saucepan, add all the ingredients for the apple filling. Place that baby over medium heat and cook until the butter and sugar are completely melted. Keep stirring continuously to avoid any sticking!
Thicken It Up: Cook for another few minutes until the filling gets nice and thick. Once it’s ready, transfer it to a bowl and let it cool down.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream the Butter: In a large bowl, add unsalted butter. Using an electric mixer, cream it for a few minutes on medium-high speed until it’s light and fluffy. This part is key for a dreamy frosting!
Add the Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar in three batches while mixing on low speed. Make sure each batch is well mixed into the butter before adding the next. This way, you’ll avoid a cloud of powdered sugar everywhere (we don’t want that!).

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting (Continued)

Add the Final Touches: Next, toss in the cold cream cheese, vanilla extract, fresh lemon juice, and cinnamon. Mix on medium speed just until the frosting is smooth. Pro tip: Avoid over-mixing! The more you mix, the softer the frosting gets, and we want it just right for spreading.

Assemble the Cake

Level the Cake Layers: Grab a serrated knife and level the tops of your cake layers so they’re nice and flat. This helps keep everything stable and looking pretty!
Start Layering: Place the first cake layer onto your cake stand. Spread a generous amount of that creamy cream cheese buttercream on top and smooth it out with an offset spatula. You want it to be nice and even!

Pipe the Dam: Using a 1M piping tip, pipe a dam of frosting around the edges of the cake layer. This will help keep the apple filling from spilling out!
Fill It Up: Now, fill the middle with your cooled apple filling. Make sure it’s not warm, or you’ll end up melting that beautiful frosting—nobody wants that!
Add the Next Layer: Place your next cake layer on top. Now, cover the top and sides with more of that delicious buttercream. I like to use a cake scraper to smooth out the sides for that polished look.

Decorate the Top: Using the same 1M piping tip, pipe some swirls on the top of the cake. Feel free to get creative with it! You can even use any extra frosting to add some fun designs. Go wild and make it your own! 😊

How to Store Apple Cake

You can keep this apple cake recipe out at room temp for a day, which is great if you’re serving it up right away. 🍏 But if you’re saving some for later, toss it in the fridge overnight because of that cream cheese frosting.

The fat and sugar in the frosting help keep it fresh for a bit, so no worries if it sits out for a while. Just remember, for the best taste, the fridge is where it should be after the party’s over!

FAQ

Do I need to peel the apples for apple cake?

Nope! You can leave the peel on if you like a bit of texture, but if you prefer a smoother cake, go ahead and peel them.

How long will apple cake last?

If stored in the fridge, your apple cake will last 3 to 4 days. Just make sure it’s in an airtight container so it stays fresh!

Can I freeze apple cake?

Yes, you can! Freeze the cake layers before frosting. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. They’ll keep for up to 2 months. Just thaw and frost when you’re ready to enjoy.