I remember my Grandma making this delicious cinnamon apple cake recipe when I was a little girl. The combination of cinnamon, apple, and walnuts is perfection. This is an old fashioned cake recipe that is loved by everyone and very easy to make.
Recipe For Apple Cake
This cake is so moist and forms a crumb topping with it’s wonderful cinnamon flavor. We chop up our apples pretty well so there are not huge apple chunks, but you can adjust to your liking. The classic combo of sweetness, spice and everything nice!
Watch The Recipe Video!
Ingredients You Will Need:
- Butter – make sure the unsalted butter is softened.
- Sugars – you will need granulated sugar and dark brown sugar
- Eggs – 2 room temperature eggs.
- Vanilla extract – this adds a nice flavor to the apple cake.
- Flour – all-purpose flour
- Baking soda – this is added for the cake to rise.
- Cinnamon – ground cinnamon is a key ingredient in this apple cake recipe.
- Apples – you will need 2 medium apples. Whatever apples you prefer will work for this recipe
- Nuts – we prefer to use walnuts, but feel free to use any nuts that you like.
What You’ll Love This Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe:
This apple cinnamon cake is great for dessert or even breakfast. We make this a lot for the company and it always gets raves reviews with everyone wanting the recipe. This is also the perfect “snack cake” for my boys when they come home from school wanting a sweet treat. I love how easy this is to whip up with only a 20 minute prep time.
Cake is a classic easy dessert, whether it’s a chocolate or vanilla cake or even something with a bit of spice and fruit like this Cinnamon Apple Cake recipe.
Cakes that include the addition of fruit or veggies (like Carrot Cheesecake Cake or Cranberry Christmas Cake) tend to be super moist and delicious, and this apple cake is the perfect example of that!
How To Make Apple Cake
- Heat oven to 350°F and prepare cake pan.
- Beat the butter and sugars, then add in the eggs. Add in vanilla, and dry ingredients. Fold in the chopped apples and walnuts. Spoon the batter into cake pan.
- Bake 40 to 45 minutes and cool. Cut the warm cake into slices and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (if desired).
Tips
- The best baking apples are slightly tart, hold their shape during the cooking process and aren’t too juicy. Our favorites are Granny Smith, Jonathan or Janagold , Cortland, Braeburn and Honeycrisp apples.
- You can also shred the apples if you do not prefer that larger apple bite. Sometimes kids that get weird about food texture like it better like this and also eliminating the nuts.
- Another idea is a dusting of confectioners’ sugar on the cooled cake or drizzle with a glaze or caramel sauce.
- Serving this warm with ice cream is our favorite. You could also tip with whipped cream.
Other Apple Cake Recipes:
- Apple Upside-Down Cake
- Apple Butter Cake
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Apple Cider Donut Cake
- Apple Pie Layered Cake
Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped and peeled apples (about 2 medium apples)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray.
- In large bowl, beat softened butter and sugars with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in the chopped apples and walnuts. Spoon into your greased pan.
- Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool about 10-15 minutes. Cut the warm cake into slices and serve with ice cream.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Leave a Review!
We LOVE hearing from you! Submit your question or comment here.
Your email address will not be published.
159 comments on “Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe”
Easy to make with ingredients I already had at home.
Not too sweet. We topped with whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Delicious. Thank you
Thanks Marion!
Excellent…added 1/2 c raisins too…will be a regular for sure
Sound great Roxanne!
This is the best cinnamon apple cake ever! I’m baking it for the second time. My family loves it I wanted it to be part of our thanksgiving dessert. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks Gloria!
If I wanted to bake this in a loaf pan, what size would be best?
Hi Tina. A 9×5 loaf would best to convert from the round pan.
Can this recipe be doubled with no changes? I made it in a bundt pan and it didn’t have much height. If doubled, would it end up denser or would it rise higher than the single recipe?
Hi Dennis. Yes this recipe can be doubled with no changes. Depending on the size of the Bundt pan it may work better when doubled, however the bread itself won’t necessarily be denser.
Excellent! Crisp on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Fantastic with some good vanilla ice cream.
Absolutely delicious! I left out the walnuts, cut down a little on the white sugar and added about a 1/4 applesauce. Made twice already and a big win each time
Thanks Hannah!
Can you use a bundt pan instead of a round cake pan?
Hi Jeanne. Yes, you can use a Bundt pan with this recipe as well.
Have you tried this recipe or a similar apple cake recipe using apple sauce for additional apple flavor?
Hi Kathleen. I haven’t tried that in this recipe, but I have replaced oil in some baking recipes with apple sauce with good results. I would think you could add applesauce to this cake as well.
Looks awesome. Simple to make. Taste yummy. Added raisins. Made a great breakfast muffin.
Easy recipe made it and it is a five star.
Simple and amazing! I sub’d 1/2 butter w/coconut oil. My flours were a blend of rice flour, almond flour, and guar gum. It came out so moist. I couldn’t stop eating this. If you need a special breakfast treat this is it!
Made this over the weekend exactly as written. I did shred the apples (Granny Smith) instead of dicing them. Turned out well, but for my taste it needs more cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves. I used an 8″ square pan and it didn’t rise as much as I thought it would, but I will definitely make this again and add more spices.
Followed instructions minus the nuts. I had high hopes and for some reason my cake is way overcooked. I can’t figure it out. 350 degrees set timer for 40min but
set my alarm to check at 30min and I had to pull it out! So upset, I’ll make again since everyone else had success, I just can’t figure out what I did!! Ps the batter was delicious lol
I would check the temp in your oven with oven thermometer, it may be off. I also forgot to mention i. My comments ablut recipe, i also sub’d walnuts for pecans. . Also, what do you grease your pan with? I do a thin layer of Avocado oil. I don’t use butter for things like this. Another thought if they cook so quickly, lower temp maybe and do in muffin cups.
Very good and easy to make
My first time making a cake like this.
Making this weekend for a fall festival cake walk with Jonathan apples, using gf flour, no nuts, and may sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top as one comment suggested. Yum yum!
Delicious, nice light cake
I really liked this, but made a few changes. First used 50% butter and 50% Brummel and Brown yogurt spread (reduces calories and fat), used heaping cups of apple (thin slices which I then cut into 1-inch pieces), increased the baking soda to 3 tsp (I doubled the recipe), then I used a generous amount of cinnamon and sugar and covered the top of the cake batter in the pan before baking . . . I also used a regular cake pan 9 1/2 x 13 with the double recipe — baked for 45 minutes. It was moist and very tasty and got a big thumbs up by my family. Served warm with frozen whipped topping (as then it doesn’t melt so fast and has a an ice cream-type consistency).
So good and easy. Send more.
Made it with half apples and half pears, turned out amazing!
I made this apple cake today. I substituted apple sauce for the white sugar. I added a few pecans. Everyone raved about how good it was. Great recipe!!!! I will make again…for sure!!
did you use the apple sauce plus the two apples for cake? sounds healthy.will try this thank you
Absolutely wonderful….thank you for recipe
Would You please consider writing in Kilo, Gram and Celcius? Please? I Love your recipes!
Thanks Rikke. I will look into what we can do for that!
There is a recipe measurement calculator that is easy to use.
thecalculatorsite.com
Easy to make, excellent results. Very flavorful and moist. Will definitely make again.
I need to make this cake the day ahead, how should I reheat to serve warm or is it good to serve cooled?
Hi Anita. This cake really does well serving either warm or cool. You can’t go wrong with either. If I was serving the next day I would probably serve at room temperature.
Would I need to double the recipe to make this as a bundt cake?
Hi Jennifer. Depending on the Bundt pan size I think you would fine using the same recipe. If anything I would possibly go up to 1 1/2 times on the recipe but double may be too much.
Just made it, it really looks good and smells like heaven.
Looks yummy. I need to try this.
Do you think this cake would be ok baked in a 9” silicone spring form pan?
Hi Marge. I haven’t tried that, but I think it would work fine.
Friends just gave us some apples and I would love try this recipe. Just have to substitute cashews or pecans for the walnuts because of allergies. What changes would I have to do to make muffins from the recipe?
Can this cake be frozen?
Hi Jill. Yes, this cake will freeze well. You can use an airtight container or wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil.
3 people have asked if light brown sugar can be substituted and you are not replying ! Yes or No?
Yes, you can substitute light brown sugar for the dark brown sugar and have similar results with this recipe.
It is always ok to substitute different brown sugars. Good grief, why be so aggressive in your question?
Made this recipe today and used pecans instead and put in 8×8 pan worked out great and very delicious.
I’ve made this many times, tis’delish….I like to drizzle a cinnamon glaze on mine
I’ve made this cake 3 times in the past 2 weeks, and love it! The first time I made the recipe with just cinnamon, and the other times with half cinnamon, half pumpkin spice. Both delicious! I also substituted raisins for the walnuts, as I love raisins. This cake is so good, and one I will make over and over. I fact, I have 2 cakes cooling right now. Thanks for this great recipe! 🙂
Thanks Allison!
Just made this. Whole kitchen smells great.
planning to make the cake tomorrow , do I have to use powdered sugar ? or could I use the granulated one ?
Hi Anita. You will want to use granulated sugar for this recipe.
The best cinnamon apple cake! Delicious!
Absolutely divine!
I used gf flour, coconut oil instead of butter, half cup honey instead of the sugar and added more nuts and threw in some raisins
Just made the cinnamon apple cake smells delicious waiting for it to cool so I can have a cup of coffee with it… I’ll let you know when I eat it, I know it will be delicious
If not including the nuts (due to allergy) do I need to increase any ingredients? TY
Hi Kathy. You should be fine just omitting the nuts and not increasing anything else.
Best cake ever
Can you bake this in a 13×9 dish? If so how long bake time?
Hi Alicia. This really works best for a 9″ round or and 8″x 8″ square baking dish. A 9″ x 13″ may work well if you doubled the recipe.
I doubled everything and it worked perfect in a 9×13in pan….I added a homemade buttermilk glaze…IT WAS DEVINE!!!
absolutely wonderful, can this be done in loaf pans and if so what size. so I can give it as gifts for the holidays
how would you adjust this recipe for high altitude ? 8000 ft
Hi Suzanne. While I’m not too familiar with high altitude baking but King Arthur Baking has a good guide on that. I would try adding an extra egg, and an extra 1/4 cup flour, use a 1/4 teaspoon baking soda instead of 1 teaspoon, decrease the sugar by 1 tablespoon and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes. Hope this helps.
Have made this twice in the last week or so using Granny Smith apples and pecans instead of walnuts. Very popular – all the family loved it. A favourite and so easy to make (I used my Thermomix).
Made this gluten free using King Arthur GF flour. Absolutely perfect and delicious.
Loved it!
I just finished making it I’ll let you know how it goes going to a pool party. Can I add icing sugar on top?
Hi Gabriela. Yes you can definitely add icing. Sounds delicious!
Made this today, it was marvelous to say the least. I will make this many more times. I doubled the recipe and baked it in a Bundt pan. Yummy!
How long did doubling the recipe and putting it in a Bundt pan take to bake?
Omg k I love love this recipe I think I know it like the back of my hand ✋
I’ve been getting so many Apple’s and this recipe is the bomb
So far I’ve made it several times and I am about to make at least four more today for friends xo ❤️
Thank you xo
Thanks Zandra!
Can this be made gluten free?
Hi Donovan. Yes, you could use a gluten-free flour with this recipe and have great results.
This is a delicious recipe. It’s my favorite. I use pecans and put them on a cookie sheet with pats of butter on top, baked at 350 deg f for 10 minutes. I really like making this for someone that hasn’t had it before and watching their reaction when they bite into it.
One of the most delicious and moist cakes ever! I make it frequently and everyone loves it.
yummy and delicious
Looks so good – I love anything apples
Just finished making this cake….had a piece for dessert….really enjoyed it….I also added drizzled melted butter then sugar and cinnamon (mixed together)on top of batter ….
So easy to make very delicious with or without cream or ice cream a little dusting of icing sugar, I used chopped almonds, no walnuts. I’ve made this before yummy.
My husband has me make this at least twice a month. I love it, I add chocolate bits, and extra cinnamon. Makes 2 loaf pans also.
This was awesome. Brought it to a family dinner night and everyone loved it.
It’s on my “to make again” list!
This is the best cake EVER!
I looked at a few recipes on line but decided on this one, I’m trying it in the morning. sounds the best
Made this for my daughter-in-law’s birthday and she loved along with all the rest of us. Easy to make & delicious!!
Could you double this and make it in a bundt pan?
First time I tried it very good I added just a little bit of everything extra I think I had a little bit too big for my pie pan but it turned out good had to cook a little longer made homemade icing
This Apple Cake is Fantastic!!
Salted or unsalted butter?
I have made this several times now, and even my friends who “don’t like sweets” LOVE this – everyone reaches for a second piece.
Could you use apple pie filling instead of apples?
Yes, you could do that.
Will the cake turn out OK if I leave out the walnuts?
Thank you.
Hi Ruth. You won’t have any issues omitting the walnuts. Let us know how it turns out!
This turned out well. Baked in 45 minutes in a Bundt pan. Gave the apples a medium-fine chop (Granny Smith). Sugared the pan after spraying for a crust, but not sure I’d do that again. Used light brown sugar.
Delicious!! very moist and added another apple for extra flavour!! Made this 3 times in a month!!
Also good with a. 3/4 cup if reg. Or Golden raisians
Delicious! Substituted with:
Used 1/2 c coconut oil
1 1/4 c of almond flour
1/2 c Monk Fruit sweetener
Did you replace both the sugar and brown sugar with monk fruit sugar? If so did you use 1/2 c for each for a total of 1 cup?
Deliciously moist apple cake! I topped it with a vanilla glaze. This is a recipe I’ll be using again.
I made this for the first time today and it did not disappoint.
I used Splenda for both sugars as hubby is counting calories.
After I sprayed the pan with cooking spray, I sprinkled more brown sugar and cinnamon in the pan before pouring cake batter.
Just a little more crunch on the top.
I will making this for my Thanksgiving give away to friends and family.
OMGoodness!!!!
I have been making apple cake for many years. This recipe is 1000 times better. LOVE IT!!!
This cake is delicious and so easy to make! Will definitely make again!
It says round pan is this referring to a tube pan?
Karen, no just a round cake pan.
What are the best apples to use in this recipe?
Sherrie, we usually use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
i only have light brown sugar can i sue that
Judith, yes you can use that.
Just made this for the first time, and it’s still in the oven, so I will have to update after we have tasted it. My question is: can this be frozen?
Joanne, yes you can freeze. Wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil.
Ove this cake, moist & not overly sweet. I served this cake with Carmel sauce on the side, I like it without the sauce but others might want the sauce.
I just made this in my bread machine. Other than adding the apples and walnuts at the ADD signal, it was totally hands-off and it is DEE-LISH-US! I’m calling it bread and having some with breakfast!!
Linda, that’s a brilliant idea! I’m gonna steal it!
Have not tried yet, but can this be frozen?
Stephanie, yes it can be frozen. Wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil.
Can this be baked in a Bundt pan?
I have not tried it in a Bundt pan but it should work as well. Let me know how it turns out!
Can you substitute light brown sugar for dark?
I have made this cake twice it melts in your mouth. My family loves it.
Just made this for the first time WOW this is so delicious I used an 8″ round pan since that’s all I had, and it took and extra 10 min to cook but it’s so moist
I baked this today. I have baked it before but this time I used two small spring form pans and increased the recipe by 1.5 times and used more apples and nuts. It took a little longer to bake but came out delicious just like the first time.
Thanks for the recipe!!!
Delicious! Just the right amount of sweet and very moist
What kind of apples?
This is the best apple cinnamon cake ever. I serve it anytime of the day. Everyone loves it. Thank you for such a great recipe.
I sprinkle some cinnamon sugar mix in the bottom of the greased pan, put in a layer of thinly sliced apples and them pour your cake batter on top. Bake as directed. I also add at least 3 apples to the cake batter. This is always a winner. Especially when the grands are here. It is gone within hours. Thanks for such a great recipe.
Delicious cake! Thanks.
Haven’t made it yet. It looks yummy
Best breakfast cake! I have made this cake a million times! Well, almost.
Does it have to be dark brown sugar to make this cake cuz I only like light brown sugar I just didn’t know if it would taste the same could u let me know if it’s ok to use light brown sugar instead?
Great recipe. Love this cake
To save time I peel and shred my apples with a box grater…blends really easy into the batter…
Just put this in my oven. I can’t wait to try it !! Very quick to put together.
This cake is delicious. I wonder if it will freeze well. Have you tried it?
I love this recipe and used to make it often, but now that I have moved to a higher elevation (5000′), it doesn’t turn out right. Can anyone tell me how to adapt this recipe for baking at higher elevation? I don’t really want to use an entirely different recipe, because I really like this one. Thanks.
Pinterest has many sites for high altitude baking. Most just use less liquid and more flour.
Good luck!
I baked this for a late morning breakfast treat and it was delicious! The suggestion of serving a scoop of ice cream with the warm apple cake – fabulous!! Definitely a keeper!!
I’ve made this,delicious.I made a glaze of cinnamon,brown sugar and poured over top.delicious.
Looks yummy g making this today
Thanks for those delicious looking recipes!!
Yummm
Loved this cake. Made it to have as a dessert with Icecream but didn’t last until dinner. Going to make two tomorrow. Thank you for sharing.
Your measurements get weird when you increase the servings.
Black walnuts are good too. They compliment the apples. This is such a good recipe!
So, this was super easy. My issue was I was out of cinnamon AND vanilla. Can you believe it? So, I used a little ginger, cloves and nutmeg, then I used almond extract. Since I was totally remaking the recipe I added golden raisins to the apples.
It turned out FABULOUS! Even with all of the mistakes. I want to try it with cinnamon because frankly I love cinnamon and was bummed that I didn’t have any but wasn’t going to hit the store after I’d just got back.
I’ve been baking for awhile so while I don’t recommend substituting ~everything~ it’s a pretty forgiving recipe. I’m keeping it!
This is excellent. Quick, easy to put together very moist and flavorful. Thank you for sharring..
Sounds like a very tasty treat. Thank you.
This is a great recipe! I made cupcakes from this recipe so people could easily grab n’ go at our campout. They were delicious. I decreased baking time to 18 min and they turned out perfect. Thank you!
How many cupcakes did the recipe make?
Can’t wait to make this
Delicious!! Everyone loved it
Best cake ever and so quick and easy. Next time I’m going to double the recipe so I will have 2 pans. One pan disappeared in minutes. Everybody loved it!!
Thanks for sharing. Love that cake.