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Home Baking

Easiest Ever MOIST Apple Cake

By:Nagi
Published:30 Sep '16Updated:16 Dec '20
479 Comments
Recipe v Dozer v

This Apple Cake recipe is from a reader and is a gem of a find! The cake is really moist, perfectly spiced, and studded with tender pieces of fresh apple. The batter is incredibly fast to make with just a wooden spoon – no electric mixer required!

Hands down, the easiest and BEST Apple Cake recipe you will ever try! Made with fresh apples, no electric mixer required to make this beautiful moist cake. www.recipetineats.com

Dozer got in so much trouble over this Apple Cake.

This is how the usual routine goes down: He’s technically not allowed into the kitchen – albeit my house is open plan so strictly speaking, it’s hard to have a clear boundary that he needs to stay out of. But when I shoo him away, he is generally pretty good about taking himself off into the yard to chase rabbits, bark at birds or whatever other important contribution he’s making to make this world a better place.

But the minute whatever I’m making is ready and I take it to the area where I shoot my photos, he comes dashing inside.

“Dashing” is honestly the word. He doesn’t walk or lope. He dashes at a very fast paced trot, his heavy footed paws thudding through the house making the wooden floor shake (really, he does).

And that’s when he becomes a real nuisance. Because I’m concentrating on taking photos, I don’t always manage to catch him in the act of photo-bombing.

Case in point: Dozer photobombed EVERY SINGLE photo of this cake being dusted with icing sugar. 🙄

The BEST Apple Cake on the internet - very moist, perfectly spiced and so fast & easy to make. No mixer required, just a wooden spoon! Made with fresh apples. www.recipetineats.com

Hands down, the easiest and BEST Apple Cake recipe you will ever try! Made with fresh apples, no electric mixer required to make this beautiful moist cake. www.recipetineats.com

THAT CHEEKY BUGGER!!!

See look. Here he is AGAIN. And again. And again. GRRRRR!!!!!

Dozer photo bombing Apple Cake photos

So I apologise profusely to all those who find it a real turn off to see a DOG in food photos, but my bottom can’t afford for me to make this ridiculously delicious Apple Cake yet again just so I can get one single shot (I just wanted ONE!) of me dusting the Apple Cake without Dozer in the background.

OK, now I’m done stomping my foot over Dozer ruining my photos, a quick word on this Apple Cake recipe: It’s crazy easy and fast to make the batter, it’s made with FRESH apples (won’t work with canned, cake is not as moist), and it really is beautifully moist.

This easy Apple Cake recipe was given to me by the lovely Dorothy in Tennessee in the US. It was meant to be, because I had just shared an Apple Cake disaster on Instagram then a couple of days later, she shared this recipe with me (without having seen my epic failure!). I tried it once, twice, three times, then I decided I had to share it here because it is that good and that easy!

– Nagi x


More afternoon tea favourites

  • Classic Scones

  • Strawberry Cake – really easy cake recipe

  • Cinnamon Swirl Bread – easy, no yeast!

  • Cheese, Herb and Garlic Loaf or Zucchini Cheese Loaf– quick bread, no yeast

  • Apple Muffins and Apple Teacake

  • Raspberry Bars or Strawberry Bars

  • Blueberry Lemon Loaf with Lemon Glaze or Blueberry Lemon Yoghurt Cake

  • Savoury Cheese Muffins or Cornbread Muffins (personal fave😇)

  • Whole Orange Cake

Hands down, the easiest and BEST Apple Cake recipe you will ever try! Made with fresh apples, no electric mixer required to make this beautiful moist cake. www.recipetineats.com

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Apple cake on a white cake stand, ready to be served

Easiest Ever MOIST Apple Cake

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 50 minutes mins
Total: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Cake
4.91 from 142 votes
Servings12
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 397
A very moist, perfectly spiced Apple Cake! This is incredibly easy to make - no mixer required. This must be made with fresh apples, not canned. See note 5 for information about different measures in different countries & different oven types. Also, I do not recommend substituting butter for all or part of the oil - it does not come out as moist and you can't taste buttery flavour anyway because of the spice flavourings! FREEZES great!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour , plain / all purpose (Note 1)
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carb soda) (Note 1)
  • 3/4 tsp EACH salt, cinnamon and ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (or 1/4 tsp freshly ground)
  • 1 1/4 cups white sugar (Note 2)
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs , large, at room temperature (55-60g/2oz each)
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups apple , peeled, cored and cut into 8mm/ 1/3" cubes (~2 large, 3 small) (Note 3)

Optional Extra

  • 1/2 cup flaked raw almonds
  • Icing sugar . confectioners sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (all oven types).
  • Grease and line a 21 cm / 9" springform cake pan. (Note 4)
  • Place flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Whisk oil and sugar in a bowl, then whisk in eggs and vanilla.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until JUST combined. Stir through apple (optional: add 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or other nuts).
  • Pour into cake pan. Sprinkle over almonds.
  • Bake for 50 minutes - 1 hr. Check at 50 minutes - it is cooked when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  • Cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar if using, then serve. This cake doesn't need cream or ice cream because it is so moist, but I wouldn't turn it down!

Recipe Notes:

1. Flour - can use wholemeal/wholewheat but reduce by 2 tablespoons.
Self raising flour - can sub flour with self raising flour, but skip baking soda.
Baking powder - can sub bi carb with baking powder, use 4 tsp. If you do this, do NOT use self raising flour in place of flour (because self raising flour already has baking powder in it!)
2. Sugar - Use white or loosely packed brown or light brown sugar. Not dark brown sugar and not raw sugar.
3. Apples - Use Granny Smith or tart red apples, but not extremely sweet apples. Also, do not use canned apples for this because the juice in the can makes this cake less moist. Also do not be tempted to grate the apple instead of chopping it - I tried that and again, that too made the cake less moist.
4. My easy way of lining cake pans - see beginning of the Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake video.
5.  Recipe source - This is a reader recipe, from the lovely Dorothy in Tennessee, US. By popular demand, here is the original recipe! It is made for a bundt pan. Follow the directions of the recipe but use these quantities and make it in a bundt pan.
1 1/2 cups. vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups sugar (I reduced to 2 cups)
3 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp EACH baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves
3 cups peeled and chopped fresh apples
1 cups chopped nuts (I use walnuts)
5. Measures - Cups and teaspoons are slightly different in size between some countries. For most recipes on RecipeTin Eats, the difference is not large enough to matter or is relative throughout the recipe. For recipes where the difference does matter, different measures are provided for different countries, like in this Soft Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
For this Apple Cake, the measures per the recipe can be used no matter which country you are in except Japan. If you are in Japan, please do not use cups, use the weight measures provided.
OVENS: I have a fan forced / convection oven but have made this in a standard / conventional oven too. I found that this recipe works better using the same temperature no matter which oven type you have. The only difference is the cook time - fan forced is ready at 50 minutes, standard oven is ready at 60 minutes. But no matter which oven you have, check your cake at 50 minutes. If your oven is weak, it may take over 1 hour for the skewer to come out clean.
6. Nutrition per serving, assuming 12 servings. 

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 113gCalories: 403cal (20%)Carbohydrates: 49.9g (17%)Protein: 5.1g (10%)Fat: 21.2g (33%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 17.2gCholesterol: 27mg (9%)Sodium: 238mg (10%)Fiber: 2.1g (9%)Sugar: 24.4g (27%)
Keywords: apple cake
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

Well! After telling you how naughty he was while I photographed this Apple Cake, I’m not sure he deserves to be featured in his own section on this post…..

But who am I kidding. I can never stay mad at him.

Here he is “minding” the Apple Cake as it cooled. Just minding it. No cheeky thoughts running through that furry head, I’m sure….

apple-cake-1

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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479 Comments

  1. JC says

    November 20, 2023 at 11:14 am

    5 stars
    This is an amazingly easy and tasty cake. I used Avocado Oil, lessened the sugar to 200g, used Bi carb soda as per recipe, 1/2 tsp ground cloves and sweet apples (the ones left uneaten and getting soft and old in the fruit bowl)
    It came out perfect! it isn’t a tall cake, the batter was very thick but the taste was awesome. And it keeps well. We reheat in the oven and it tastes like its freshly cooked. Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  2. Jess says

    November 12, 2023 at 6:47 am

    5 stars
    A giant deer stole my first attempt and ate it all at our picnic, despite being yelled at, pots clanging etc, so I’m assuming it’s good!
    Attempt number 2 to be made tomorrow to assuage the disappointed ones!!

    Reply
  3. Kay says

    November 10, 2023 at 4:28 am

    Not interested in cakes with vegetable oil, sugar (!) and wheat.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      November 27, 2023 at 6:08 am

      Time may be better spent looking for cakes without oil, sugar(!) or wheat.

      Reply
  4. Marghi says

    October 30, 2023 at 7:13 am

    A few years ago I fell upon this recipe while living in Italy (with no recipe books) and it has been my go to since. Everybody loves the spiciness – adults and kids and i also love that the cake has an oil, not butter base. Thank you, Nagi

    Reply
  5. Eden says

    October 25, 2023 at 5:31 am

    5 stars
    Super delicious and took mabe ten minutes to whip up! Dense but not at all dry. Added a little glaze on top because why not. Will make again!

    Reply
  6. Susan says

    October 22, 2023 at 10:35 pm

    5 stars
    Easiest and most delicious cake to make. I’ve made it three times in the last month and everyone loves it. Served it once with whipped cream and strawberries for dessert. My go to cake recipe from now on

    Reply
  7. Carla says

    October 22, 2023 at 9:58 pm

    I always change recipes, and this one was a winner. I used 1\2 cup peanut oil, 1/2 cup white sugar, and SR flour. Scattered with flaked almonds. Ideal for an afternoon tea cake. Will make again.

    Reply
  8. Carol says

    September 23, 2023 at 6:28 am

    5 stars
    This cake is absolutely delicious and was very easy to make too. The spices were perfect. And I served it with vanilla ice cream too! And I loved the pictures of Dozer in the background.

    Reply
  9. Linda says

    September 23, 2023 at 3:19 am

    I dont like nutmeg. Can I use more cinnamon in its place?

    Reply
  10. Katherine Ng says

    August 17, 2023 at 2:51 pm

    Can this be made gluten free at all? (Sorry if this has been answered!)

    It’s my mum’s birthday on the weekend and she has an issue with butter, a nephew can’t have dairy and peanuts, and another nephew can’t have wheat. We normally bake a choc olive oil cake, or an orange olive oil cake… But my mum loves custard and I thought maybe to branch out and make an apple cake (with custard layer). There are recipes on the internet but I trust Nagi the most!!

    Reply
  11. Maryanne says

    August 6, 2023 at 10:58 am

    Made this yesterday evening and it is already half gone. Delicious, crumbly and likely to return soon. I cut the sugar to one cup and it was still sweet. Many thanks to Dorathy and her Aussie avatar, Nagi.

    Reply
  12. m says

    August 1, 2023 at 7:11 pm

    Recipes? You have recipes here?

    I come for the dog. xx

    Reply
  13. Em says

    July 27, 2023 at 12:19 am

    5 stars
    I made the bundt version today
    It was quick, easy & delicious.. Added my own touch coating the bottom of the bundt pan with a streusel mix of brown sugar, chopped walnuts & cinnamon.
    When turned out the streusel had set to a kind of toffee on top of the cake.
    I used less cloves as I find the flavour overwhelming.

    Reply
  14. Patricia says

    July 25, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    5 stars
    I made this cake for a family lunch on the weekend. It smelled delicious when it was cooking and was hugely popular. During the next two days the remaining cake softened and became more moist from the apples and possibly more delicious. A keeper!

    Reply
  15. Verena Joyce says

    July 21, 2023 at 5:55 pm

    5 stars
    Simple, quick and delicious. I used a scant cup of sugar and it is plenty sweet enough!

    Reply
  16. Rita M Nigro says

    July 15, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    Last weekend I made your cinnamon apple tea cake & it was yummo👌👍👏👏😋Today I’m going to try the apple cake which a reader sent you. It sounds delish too! And NO MIXER! Another plus👌

    Reply
  17. Thea Berrie says

    July 9, 2023 at 9:35 am

    Hi Nagi
    Can this delicious cake be put into a slice tin please instead of a cake tin please. Easier to cut up into portions for a picnic .Cheers
    Thea

    Reply
  18. Janelle Mains says

    June 16, 2023 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    OMG this cake did not disappoint. It was easy to make, it smells devine while it’s cooking, it looked fabulous when it was cooked and sprinkled with icing and it tasted amazing 🤩

    Reply
  19. Jano says

    June 10, 2023 at 8:24 pm

    I made this this evening and just had a piece after tea, still warm, and I can’t wait for tomorrow so I can have some more! 😋😁

    Reply
  20. Rachel says

    May 22, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    5 stars
    Lovely! Perfect with a cup of tea. Lots of “that was yum” comments from everyone. Cut down on the cloves as I am a little adverse to the taste of it. So easy to make and will be a regular from now on.

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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