Fresh apple cake is a delicious dessert made with apples as a primary ingredient. It’s a popular treat, especially during the fall when apples are in season. There are many variations of apple cake, but here’s a basic recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of peeled, cored, and chopped apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1/2 cup of chopped nuts (optional, such as walnuts or pecans)
For the topping:
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) square baking pan or a similarly sized round cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set this dry mixture aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 cup of sugar together until light and fluffy. This can be done with an electric mixer or by hand using a wooden spoon.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next one. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Gently fold in the chopped apples and nuts (if using). The batter will be thick.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
- In a small bowl, mix together the 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter in the pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the apple cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, you can optionally dust the top with powdered sugar or serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Enjoy your homemade fresh apple cake! It’s perfect for a cozy fall dessert or any time you’re craving a taste of sweet, spiced apples.
