Recipes

Fresh Apple Cake Like Grandma use to Make

This apple cake recipe is adapted from one I found in my grandmother’s archives, and is a wonderful way to use apples during their prime season. Using oil instead of butter makes the cake super moist and tender. Add a tablespoon of fresh minced ginger if you like for added spice and flavor!

Photo and recipe by Maren Ellingboe!

Ingredients

1¼ c vegetable or canola oil
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 eggs
1½ c sugar
2½ c flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1½ tsp kosher salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
4 medium apples (such as Gala), peeled and cored
Powdered sugar, for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
Add oil, vanilla, and eggs to a large bowl. Whisk until blended. Add sugar and whisk well.
Mix flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to oil mixture, whisking until mostly mixed.
Cut 2 of the apples into ½-inch pieces and stir into the cake batter. Cut the remaining two apples into thin wedges, keeping the wedges together.
Spread the batter in prepared pan (it will be thick.) Arrange the wedges on top of the batter.
Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes.
Let cake cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge, then remove springform edge. Transfer cake to a serving platter and cool completely.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

Recipe Notes

Serve this with a scoop of ice cream for the perfect dessert or enjoy it with a cup of coffee as a morning treat!
If you enjoyed this apple cake recipe, and still have apples leftover try our apple cheesecake bars.

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Theresa B

4 years ago

A bit confused by the wording of Step 2. Does it mean that 2 of the apples get cut into small pieces and stirred into the batter and the other 2 apples get cut into wedges and arranged on top as in the photo? Thanks.

Imperfect

4 years ago

Reply to Theresa B

Apologies about the confusion! Cut two of the apples in 1/2 inch pieces and stir into the batter, and then cut the other two apples into wedges, and set the wedges aside. … Spread the batter into prepared pan, and then arrange the wedges on top of the batter ????????