This easy apple cake recipe has chunks of juicy apple in every bite, so it’s bursting with apple flavor. It’s perfectly spiced and topped with a buttery caramel glaze.
You can serve it just with the glaze, or top it with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream for an unforgettable fall dessert!
What does adding oil do to cake?
Because oil is liquid at room temperature, it helps baked cakes stay nice and moist, even after a few days. Because it doesn’t have the same rich flavor as butter, sometimes a bit of extra salt is added to the batter.
What kind of apples should I use?
The best apples for baking are granny smith, honeycrisp apples, braeburns, jonagolds, or any apple that has a firm texture. For this fresh apple cake recipe, I like to use tart apples, because they are a great balance to the sweet caramel glaze.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CAKE WITH OIL:
- PREP – Spray an 8″ square pan with nonstick spray. Peel and dice the apples. Preheat your oven to 325°.
- DRY INGREDIENTS – Whisk together the flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg; set aside.
- WET INGREDIENTS – Beat the oil, sugars, egg, yolk, and vanilla with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, then fold in the apples. Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- BAKE – Bake cake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs, but no batter.
- GLAZE – Combine all the ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Pour mixture evenly over the top of the hot cake.
- SERVE – There is no need to let the cake cool. You can just serve it warm with the caramel glaze, but we love it with ice cream!
Leftover cake can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days. You can either cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, or transfer it to an airtight container.
VARIATIONS:
- For a less sweet cake that can be enjoyed any time of day, sprinkle the top of the cake with powdered sugar instead of making the glaze.
- You can double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13-inch pan. It will bake a bit faster, so check it at 45 minutes.
MORE APPLE DESSERTS:
DELICIOUS CAKE RECIPES:
Yield: 9 servings
Apple Cake Recipe with Oil
Moist apple cake studded with fresh apples and topped with a sinfully delicious caramel glaze.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
55 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups peeled and chopped Granny Smith apples (or other tart apples)
Caramel Glaze:
- 2 Tbsp salted butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
- splash of vanilla extract
Instructions
- Spray an 8×8″ baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Wash, peel, core, and chop the apple into chunks (about 1/2″). Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the oil, sugars, egg, yolk, and vanilla until creamy.
- Stir in the dry ingredients, then fold in the chopped apples.
- Spread the cake batter evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean, or with moist crumbs.
- For glaze: Combine the butter, brown sugar, and cream in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook just until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the glaze over the hot cake, making sure to spread it to the edges.
- Serve the cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
-You will need 2-3 apples, depending on size.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 354Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 233mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 3g
If you are a fan of fruity moist cake, you are going to love this delicious apple cake! It’s one of the best ways to enjoy the flavors of fall!