This easy one-bowl cinnamon apple cake is the fall dessert to make with fresh apples. It's moist, packed with apple-cinnamon flavor, and topped with a cinnamon crumb. Serve it to a crowd for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond!
Just like apple butter cookies, this tender apple cake is a must-bake during apple season. Loaded with flavorful apples and cozy spices, this apple cinnamon cake is a cherished family recipe passed down for generations.
This recipe is so popular that I stopped asking what everyone wants for dessert because it's always apple cake!
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Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Apple Cake
- A dense and tender cake that's soft and moist like pumpkin and chocolate cake.
- Easy to make- one bowl, simple ingredients, and no stand mixer required!
- Perfectly spiced with the warm, cozy fall flavors you love in apple cider cake.
- Cinnamon apple cake is a delicious snack cake that can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Apples: No need to peel them; they can be grated with the peel on! You will need at least 3-5 apples; it will depend if they are large apples or small ones.
Oil: Helps guarantee a moist crumb without overpowering the flavor and weighing down the cake. I tested this recipe with butter instead of oil but it completely masks the fruity apple flavor!
Brown sugar: Dark brown sugar provides sweetness, and flavor, and also keeps desserts tender and chewy (like in pumpkin cookies).
Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!
Best Apples to Use
This cinnamon apple cake can be made with any of these apple varieties or a combination of apples!
- Gala
- Honeycrisp
- Jazz
- Fiji
- Envy
Recipe Instructions
Before you start, line a metal 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 325 F/160 C.
Step 1: Make the cinnamon topping. Combine the melted butter, all-purpose flour, white sugar, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until dense crumbs form. Chill in the fridge.
Step 2: Combine the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, eggs, shredded apples, apple juice, and vanilla extract.
Step 3: Mix in the dry ingredients. Fold in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mixing until just combined. Do not over-mix!
Step 4: Pour into the prepared cake pan. Evenly spread the apple cake batter into the baking pan.
Step 5: Bake! Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar crumble over the cake batter. Bake the apple cake, then let the pan cool on a wire rack before glazing.
Step 6: Drizzle with sweet milk glaze. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake.
This cinnamon apple cake is best served warm or cold with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Tips for the Best Apple Cinnamon Cake
Using a kitchen scale for baking is more accurate than cup measurements. To convert this recipe, click the "metric" button next to the ingredients title on the recipe card. If you don't have a scale, use a spoon to fluff the flour first, then spoon it into your measuring cup.
Use fresh apples. Fresher apples are easier to grate. Older ones turn to mush!
Separate the grated apples and juice. This ensures the cinnamon apple cake has just the right amount of moisture; apples can vary in how much juice they hold!
Don't skip the crumb topping. Like strawberry crumb cake or blueberry crumb cake, it's the best part! The cinnamon crumb gives just the right amount of texture variation and soaks up the delicious sweet frosting.
Use a metal pan. Glass or ceramic pans conduct heat differently so the recipe bake time will not be the same!
FAQs
I don't even bother to peel the apples; it's not necessary but you can if you want to.
While it's not required, it does make the cake last longer!
You can definitely skip it, but you'll be missing out! For an even quicker topping, combine ½ cup of white sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle it over the apple cake before baking.
Absolutely! I recommend wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and storing it in an airtight container.
This super moist apple cake stays that way for days (thank you apples)! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature for 4-5 days.
More Fall Dessert Recipes
If you tried this or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Also, please leave a star rating while you're there! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!
Recipe 📖
Cinnamon Apple Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Crumb Topping
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- ¾ cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Apple Cake
- 3-5 Gala apples
- 1 ½ cups canola oil
- 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar packed
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour *See notes for measuring*
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
For the Glaze
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 F/ 165 C. Line a metal 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until dense crumbs form. Chill in the fridge.6 tablespoon unsalted butter, ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoon light brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Use the large holes of a cheese grater to grate three red apples into a large bowl. Squeeze out all of the juice and place them into a separate bowl.3-5 Gala apples
- Measure 1 ½ packed cups (282 grams) of the grated apples. Then measure out ¾ cup (195 grams) of the apple juice from the bowl. Discard any extra juice and apples. If you are short, grate an extra apple (or two) until you have enough.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil and dark brown sugar. Then whisk in the eggs, vanilla, measured grated apples, and measured apple juice.1 ½ cups canola oil, 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar, 3 large eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Fold in the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until just combined.3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and evenly sprinkle the crumb mixture on top. Bake for 30-40 minutes. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean but slightly sticky, without any wet batter clinging to it. Allow the pan to cool on a wire rack while preparing the glaze.
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. For a thicker glaze, use more powdered sugar. Drizzle the glaze over the cinnamon apple cake then cut it into slices and enjoy!¾ cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoon whole milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The calorie information provided for the recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.
Bianca C. says
Hello! Are the apples peeled?
Cambrea Gordon says
You can peel them if you want, but I don't!
Leila says
This is the second recipe I’ve tried from Cambrea and this one turned out really good as well! My coworkers loved how moist and fluffy the cake was. I used 1-to-1 GF flour with no problems. It took 3 small gala apples to pack a cup for me. I got a bit impatient and put the glaze on the cake while it was still not one hundred percent cool so it mostly melted and wasn’t the pretty drizzle I was going for — I’ll do better with waiting next time and otherwise do nothing differently! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Cambrea Gordon says
Yay! So happy to hear that Leila! And I'm so glad to know that 1:1 GF flour works in this recipe. Thanks for the kind review! 🙂
Lauren B. says
This recipe came out great! I used 2 smaller glass pans since I didn’t have an 8X8 and just reduced the baking time a little and it came out perfect!
Persefoni says
This looks delicious and I will be making it soon!!! Just a little clarification though...the amount of apple juice and grated apples in grams doesn't change when I select 2x, to double the recipe. Is that right or is it mixed up? Thank you
Cambrea Gordon says
Yes! So sorry it doesn't change for a double recipe as it's not listed in the ingredient measurements, I would just make a note to times both numbers by 2 if you plan on doubling the recipe!
Persefoni says
Thank you very much for your reply 😊
Michael Paxton says
This sounds easy and delicious
Morena says
Okay so I made this recipe and it was SO SO SO good!!! The cake was fluffy and moist! And the sweetness is not to sweet just perfect. This recipe goes on repeat, thank you!!
Regina says
You have to make this cake!! It’s delicious,it has an amazing flavor and light and moist texture,definitely a keeper! Thank you for the recipe!
Zsofia Fulop says
Loved it! 😋
Cambrea Gordon says
Thanks so much for sharing with me on Instagram Zsofia!
Margo says
These are so yummy!! I made them almost exactly how it’s listed, I added a shake of nutmeg because I love those fall spices! I brought them to work and the first thing my coworkers said was, “They are so moist!” Thanks for the yummy recipes!
cambreabakes says
Hi Margo! Thank you SO much for taking the time to leave a review. I am so happy to hear it was enjoyed by both you and others, Best, Cambrea
Robert says
My family makes this every single year for Thanksgiving and it’s the one thing i look forward to the most!! Everyone always loves it and it’s always gone the same day it’s that good.
cambreabakes says
Hi Robert! I am so glad to hear that this recipe is being enjoyed by so many people! It's a family tradition in my family as well and I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review for it! Best, Cambrea