If you’re looking for a Fall time dessert to impress someone then this is it. Not only is it one of the best apple desserts that I’ve ever had, it’s also one of the prettiest!
This cake is loaded with apples (duh, it’s called apple cake). I guess what I mean to say is that you definitely know that you’re eating apple cake because every bite is loaded with pieces of apple. Some apple cakes only sort of taste like apples or the spices that would go in an apple pie. This one is actually loaded with real live apples.
Didn’t I say this cake was gorgeous!?
This dessert is like a combination of a regular cake, a cheese cake, and an apple pie.
Remember those apple bits I mentioned? They’re coated in a sugar and spice mix like you would do for pie filling. My mother-in-law always adds both cinnamon and nutmeg in her apple pie and since her apple pie is the bomb digity I had to mirror those warm spices here. Now my apple cake is also the bomb digity. My husband points out that this must be the transitive property of bomb digity-ness. I had to Google it, but he’s definitely got a point. A nerdy point, but a point none the less.
This cake is super duper moist, beyond any of the moistest cakes I’ve had before. It’s kind of a wanna be cheesecake in the sense that it’s too moist to be a cake (if that makes sense). It’s definitely not a cheesecake consistency though (just to be clear). Perhaps it’s a hybrid, if you will. Oh, it’s just darn delicous so you’ll have to trust me on this.
Don’t feel obligated to make a template using leaf cookie cutters to make pretty patterns on top with powdered sugar. I have been known to go a liiiiiiitle overboard when it comes to these kinds of details. (And also perhaps with the powdered sugar.) 😉 In fact there are lots of choices here. You don’t even technically need the powdered sugar at all. Or, if you do use the powdered sugar, there is no requirement that it be an artistic application. Although I think you should use it on pretty much everything. Whatever your preference, I also recommend a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side because everything apple deserves that.
Guys, I’m seriously obsessed with this cake. If you could only make one apple dessert this season, this is it! My husband says that if you could only make one apple desert this season it should be this and a pie. 😉
Apple Cake Recipe
(About 8 servings)
Ingredients:
- 3 cups chopped apples
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 and 3/4 cups whit sugar (divided per the directions)
- 6 ounces cream cheese (I used Neufchatel cheese but regular cream cheese will also work)
- 1/2 cup butter (equivalent to 1 stick)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- powdered sugar (for dusting on top of the cake, optional, but not really)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line the bottom of an 8 inch round springform pan with parchment paper. Grease the entire pan and set it aside.
- Peal and chop the apples.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/4 cup of white sugar. Set it aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together the remaining 1 and 1/2 cups of white sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract.
- Mix in the eggs, one at a time. Set the wet ingredients aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Gently fold in the chopped apple mixture.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean.
- If you plan to use the powdered sugar as a topping do not apply it until the cake is completely cooled.
Adapted from: Wanna Come With
Here are some other awesome apple goodies.
Tiny Apple Pies {2 ingredients}
Yarm! This would be just the thing on a crisp chilly night maybe even served warm. Like the cream cheese addition too.
I like the way you think, my friend. 🙂
I love how moist this cake looks and love your leaf design on top. We have new neighbours that just moved in across the hall. I think this would be a perfect welcome gift.
Bam, that’s so sweet of you to welcome your new neighbors with a baked goodie. 🙂
I’m loving this hybrid apple cake/cheesecake/pie, Tina! It’s a little of this and a little of that, but when the this and that are all DELICIOUS and seasonal, it’s a win-win (whatever it’s called). 🙂 Love the powdered sugar design on top, too!
Thank you! 🙂
Stoppppp. I’m drooling! I absolutely LOVE spice cake. And apples?! Count me in!!
Do you need a napkin? 😉
This is beautiful! The powdered sugar and leaves on top look great!
Thanks so much. 🙂
I love those powdered sugar shapes on top! So pretty! And I love the sound of this …. apples are just the best! And in cake … even better! 🙂 haha
Oh yeah! 🙂
I love a good apple cake! Love how simple and classic this looks, Tina! My kinda fall dessert. 🙂
Thanks Sarah! 🙂
This is probably the best looking apple cake I have ever seen. It look so moist, delicious and full of yummy flavour. Even though it is not Fall (or apple season) here in Australia, I definitely will be making the recipe. Pinned!
Thank you so so much! I’m a huge fan of you…I love your blog, so your lovely comments mean the world to me!! I appreciate you stopping by and pinning. 🙂
A combination between cheese cake and apple cake?! Sounds like the most perfect thing in the world. I’m already in love 😉
And it is so gorgeous. I totally believe you when you day it is incredibly moist. Definitely looks like it! Yum
I do think it’s one of the most perfect cakes ever! 🙂
I have a strong feeling that this is a beautiful cake both inside and out!!
It’s got everything going for it really, hasn’t it? It would be fab to serve to guests, but I can just as well imagine having a nice thick slice with a cup of tea on a cold dark Fall afternoon. Love this one, Tina!
Whether it be to impress guests or to whip up quick for yourself…it’s a sure winner. 🙂 Thanks, my friend!
This cake is gorgeous! Love apples this time of year, bookmarking the recipe to try out!
Awesome! Thank you. 🙂
Great minds think alike – I made apple cake at the weekend too. It’s such a nice comforting dessert, isn’t it.
Oh too funny! It’s so ideal this time of the year…definitely good comfort eats. 🙂
Okay I am in love with this cake! You are right – it is soo pretty! I love love love the pretty fall patterns on top and that it is filled with 3 whole cups of apples!! I can only imagine the house smells when this is in the oven! Pinned and need to try very soon 🙂
Thank you, thank you! I told my husband that I wanted to bottle up the wonderful aromas from baking this beauty …hehe.
I love apple cake! This one looks so fresh and tasty. Definitely saving the recipe!
Awesome! Thank you so much and I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
It’s indeed beautiful!! But I just like the texture and the spices and all the apples 😉
Thanks!
Haha, the powdered sugar is optional, but not really. This reminds me that my family used to make a traditional Russian apple cake when I was little, but they haven’t made it in a while! Your recipe looks really good, maybe I’ll try to combine it with my mom’s recipe and see if I can make something delicious from the two 🙂
How lovely! Let me know how you make out if you end up trying your combo. 🙂
First visit, Tina. Your apple cake caught my eye and am thinking I’ll have to give it a go, since this is the seasonal cake to impress! I just picked a bunch of apples too… perfect timing! Lovely photography! So glad you stopped by V&B so I could find you! Thank you for this lovely reicpe… I think there is a transitive bomb digity-ness happening, for sure!
Hehe…welcome and thank you for stopping by! I made this cake maybe 3 weeks ago or so and my husband and I still can’t stop talking about it. He was just saying how we need to make it again (he’s right 😉 ). I can’t remember how I stumbled on to your blog but I’m glad I did…you have so many great recipes. I will definitely be checking your blog again. 🙂
Nothing can beat the flavor of an apple cinnamon cake! Your cake sounds so delcious Tina!
I agree! Thanks so much! I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
This is simply delicious. Everyone asked me for the recipe! It will be appearing on a few Thanksgiving tables, including mine. Thanks for sharing.
Oh I’m so excited to hear that! It is one of my favorite cakes of all time. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing!!
OMG, this is one of the very best cakes I’ve made!! I make a lot of bakery and this is one of the best. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
This is one of my favorite cakes that I’ve made and I’m so glad that you agree! Thank you for stopping by and letting me know. 🙂
Make this cake!! Totally delicious!! I’ve made this several times and it’s a winner each time.
This cake is WONDERFUL !! Made it for dinner with friends all everyone raves about it. I make lots of cakes but right now this one tops the list!
Susan, wow, thank you for your kind words! I’ve made this cake several times for guests and they never object to taking some home. 🙂 I don’t make cake often because I’m horrible at frosting cakes so this one is perfect for me.