Fresh Apple Cake

Have you ever had the pleasure of tasting an Apple Cake? It is one of the most flavorful treats that you could have in the afternoon or evening. It actually makes quite a tasty breakfast, but don’t let my kids know that! As a mom, I have to try it out before I give permission, right? The cake is loaded with apples, chopped walnuts, and raisins, which give it some nutrients — and plenty of flavor.

This cake is very versatile, and you can add or eliminate the ingredients that your family does not like, making it very customizable.

The apple cake recipe below is excellent any time of the year. Don’t get me wrong, it has that perfect-for-a-fall morning written all over it. But I find myself making it throughout the year as a treat that the whole family can appreciate.

I like to switch up the added ingredients off and on. There are times that I add cranberries and pecans and leave out the raisins and walnuts. This cake is super moist and delicious.

You only need a few ingredients and a small amount of time.  You could make this cake for any special occasion, bring it to potlucks, or keep it for yourself and not let anyone know you made it.

Best apple cake ever! A must-try!

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

What type of Apple is best to use for this Apple Cake?

The most common types include Braeburn, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith. You could use any of those or Pink Lady. The choice is what you prefer when you eat apples.

The reason these apples work well for an old fashioned fresh apple cake recipe depends on the apple. Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, for instance, balance out the sweetness of the recipe well and hold up well during cooking.

Braeburn and Pink Lady are on the sweet side, but they still have a bite to them. They’re softer than the other two, but they still hold up decently as they’re baking.

All these aren’t overly juicy varieties of apples, either. That helps a bunch during the baking process because they won’t cause the cake to be overly moist.

What you’ll love about this recipe

• It’s relatively good for you with the apples, nuts, and raisins.
• It’s easy to make, and all the instructions are straightforward, no separating eggs or anything like that.
• The end result is a moist cake.
• The process to make it isn’t lengthy.

How should I serve this Apple Cake, if I decide to share?

You’ve made this homemade fresh apple cake dessert, and it looks quite tempting to just dig in. However, you can add a few finishing touches when you’re serving it.

While you can slice it up and place it on a dessert plate, it can also be eaten plain or with a dollop of whipped topping. My kids like it with vanilla ice cream.

Before you start baking fresh apple cake at home, you could make homemade cinnamon ice cream to go on the side.

If you’re enjoying the cake alone — without the kids, that is — there’s nothing that says you couldn’t pair it with a white sangria for a real treat.

Variations

If you’re looking to make this fresh apple cake recipe more of your own, you could add cranberries and pecans instead of, or in addition to, the raisins and walnuts. You’ll want to reduce how much you put of each if you use both so it’s not too overwhelmingly textured. You can make it healthier by using gluten-free or whole-wheat flour. You could also add vanilla flavoring or pumpkin pie spice to enhance it.

Though this recipe calls for raisins and walnuts, you could omit them completely if anyone in your family isn’t a fan of them.

And while this recipe tastes delicious without icing, there’s nothing that says it couldn’t be a fresh apple cake with frosting. Even a glaze could be something extra to add to the cake.

To mix up this recipe at times, you could also replace or mix the apples with pears. Keep in mind that this will change the texture a bit.

To alter the nutrients, you could also use zucchini. Here me out: it cooks up just like apples in recipes, and it keeps the taste about the same. You might want to add a tidbit more sugar, though, since you won’t have the sweetness of the apples in that case. 

Ingredients for Fresh Apple Cake:

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Ground cinnamon
• Kosher salt
• Sugar
• Egg
• Canola oil
• Apples
• Raisins
• Chopped walnuts

How to make Fresh Apple Cake:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and spray the bundt pan with a non-stick baking spray

Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until combined well. You want the baking soda to disperse throughout to help the cake rise.

Step 3: Using a large bowl, beat together the sugar, eggs, and oil until combined

Step 4: Beat the dry ingredients into the wet until combined

Step 5: Fold in the apples, raisins, and walnuts. Make sure you fold them in so they’re evenly dispersed throughout the cake.

Step 6: Scoop batter into the bundt pan and bake for 60 minutes

Step 7: Allow to cool before serving on a platter

SAVE this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

Tips for Success

First and foremost, chop the apples as evenly as you can. This will help them to cook up better throughout your cake. If not, you could have differences in texture in various spots.

Folding in the hard ingredients, i.e., the raisins and walnuts, is essential. You don’t want to overmix the batter because it may become dense or chewy.

When you’re baking a fresh apple cake at home, set the timer on the cake and don’t continuously open the oven door. You let some heat escape every time you open it, and this can affect the cake when it’s rising. You might end up with a final product that’s dense or chewy if you’re a bit impatient during the baking process.

Fold in the nuts and raisins evenly. You want to get a bite of them regularly, rather than have some pieces with way more than others.

How should I store the Apple Cake?

You can wrap the cake in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it at room temperature for 3 days. Keep in mind that if you leave it out for longer, mold can start to form on it. You won’t be able to see it at first, but it can be there. You could also wrap it tightly and place it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

If you like, you can heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so to give it that fresh-out-of-the-oven feel.

Can I freeze the Apple Cake?

This apple cake can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. You could use one or the other and place it in a freezer bag as well. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Though it’s safe to eat after that, the taste and texture may change a bit.

Can this Apple Cake be reheated?

Yes, the Apple Cake can be wrapped in aluminum foil and placed into a preheated 350* oven for 10 to 15 minutes. You could also reheat the Apple Cake by placing a slice in the microwave and heating it for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

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