Our incredible cinnamon apple cake recipe offers a sweet and special appetizer that works well just about any day! Our readers have shared this dessert with their friends and family so many times that it’s becoming very well known across the web.
That’s because this recipe is very easy to prepare! In fact, anyone can make it, and it’s ready in no time, giving you a delicious dessert any time of the year. It goes best in the summer but is a great option for those long winter days, too.
It’s also easy to store and popular with kids, meaning that even the toughest taste buds should be happy trying it out. It’s the kind of dessert that we strongly encourage you to try yourself; you won’t regret it!
So, stay with us to learn this fantastic recipe and keep it on hand any time you want to prepare it. Print out our ingredients or bookmark this page so you can double-check the ingredients and produce consistent results.
And, if you like this dessert, check out our Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake! It has a similar prep method and a well-blended texture that we think just about anyone will love. It’s the kind of dessert we know you’ll share with everyone you love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet taste that doesn’t overwhelm the senses
- Fairly quick and easy to bake (well under an hour)
- Simple to scale if you want to make more
- Typically includes ingredients you already have in your pantry
- Doesn’t cost a lot of money to make
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Box Spice Cake Mix: Buying a box of spiced cake mix will save you a lot of time and energy. Otherwise, you’ll have to mix flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and spice together to make it from scratch.
Eggs: No cakes are complete without eggs, as they help offer moisture and lift to your desserts. That said, applesauce can work in a pinch if you’re trying to cut out eggs.
White Sugar: A little white sugar offers a nice sweetness to this recipe that makes it a great option for many people. If you’re diabetic or trying to cut back on white sugar, stevia offers a decent alternative.
Ground Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon offers your pie a little sweetness without being too overpowering. If you don’t like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or ginger can work (though cinnamon is the best for this recipe).
Sweet Butter: Add some sweet butter to offer texture and depth to your pie. Try out apple sauce or even pureed squash if you want a healthier alternative (mashed bananas can also do the trick).
Tips for Success
- Keep all your ingredients at room temperature for the best results
- Don’t be afraid to try multiple apple types to get a diverse taste profile
- Avoid opening the oven door while it bakes to avoid settling issues
- Bake uncovered to avoid trapping excessive moisture in the cake
- Serve warm to give your family and friends the best results
Storage & Reheating
You can easily store this apple coffee cake at room temperature for a week in an airtight container. There’s no need to refrigerate! In fact, putting it in the fridge isn’t a great idea because it can impact the cake’s overall quality.
That said, you can wrap it up in plastic foil in the freezer for up to six months. Honestly, it’s probably best to take it out before six months pass, as it’s likely to be a little freezer-burned at that point.
Serving Suggestions
- Try serving this as a breakfast (it works surprisingly well)
- Cut it up into smaller servings to serve as an occasional snack
- Pair with a hot cup of coffee or tea to make it even tastier
- Add some vanilla ice cream to the cake to make it better
- Caramel sauce on the top adds a little sweetness
Notes
I first made this dish while in college and have made it at least once or twice a year ever since. There’s just something special about it that always makes my family happy. My kids dig into it every time I make it and basically eat it all in a few days.
Thankfully, it lasts so long and pairs with so many main dishes that it’s easy to recommend for just about any occasion. I strongly suggest that you try it out as soon as possible to see what it has to offer.
You’ll Love This Spiced Apple Coffee Cake From Cheeky Kitchen
Ingredients
- 175 g Unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 175 g Dark soft brown sugar plus an extra tablespoon for sprinkling
- 3 Medium eggs room temperature
- 175 g Self-raising flour
- 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon or 2 tsp. if you prefer a sharper spice profile
- 2 tbsp. Whole milk
- 1 Large cooking apple such as a Bramley or Granny Smith
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C or 160°C for a fan-assisted oven). Lightly grease an 8-inch (20cm) round cake tin and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper to ensure a clean release.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and dark soft brown sugar. Using a wooden spoon or an electric hand mixer, beat the mixture vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes until it turns pale, light, and fluffy.
- Add the room-temperature eggs to the butter mixture one at a time. Beat thoroughly after each addition until the egg is completely integrated before dropping in the next to keep the emulsion from splitting.
- Add the self-raising flour and ground cinnamon straight into the wet base. Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to carefully fold the dry ingredients into the batter just until the flour disappears. Stop immediately to avoid over-activating the gluten grids, which can make the cake tough.
- Add the 2 tablespoons of whole milk and stir in very gently to loosen the batter consistency slightly.
- Prepare your apple: peel it completely and cut it away from the core. Slice half of the apple into thin, uniform wedges for the topping. Chop the other half into small pieces roughly ¼-inch wide.
- Drop the small, chopped apple pieces directly into your cake batter and fold gently with a spatula to distribute them evenly through the matrix.
- Tip the thick cake batter straight into your prepared tin, using the back of a spoon or spatula to smooth the surface flat and push it into the corners.
- Arrange the reserved apple slices decoratively across the top of the batter. Take the extra tablespoon of dark brown sugar and sprinkle it uniformly over the apple slices to guarantee a crisp, sweet crust.
- Place the tin on the middle oven rack and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes. The cake is finished when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the exact center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool down flat inside the tin for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife along the inside edge to loosen the sides, remove the cake from the pan, and transfer it to a wire cooling rack. Serve warm alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a pour of warm custard.
