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A quick and easy homemade fresh apple cake that’s moist, sweet, and delicious! Top it with whipped cream or homemade frosting.

We’ve been eating this fresh apple cake for a long time. In fact, the recipe actually belongs to Kim’s grandmother.

She used to make this apple dessert every season using the apples from her own trees.

Johnnie Sue would then make multiple cakes and freeze them so we could enjoy the treat year-round.

A serving of fresh apple cake on a plate. — This cake does not need a frosting. It’s sweet enough as-is.

Now, we’re sharing this cinnamon apple recipe with you. Before we get started, there are a few things I want to go over.

Do you peel apples for apple cake?

Yes, you always wash and peel the apples before dicing them for the cake. Otherwise, they’ll come loose during baking and give your cake a weird texture.

Does fresh apple cake need to be refrigerated?

Once baked, our recipe does not need to be stored in the fridge. It can be stored on your counter top, in a sealed container, for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze apple cake?

After it has been baked and cooled, you can wrap it in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil and store it in your freezer. It will last up to 6-months in the freezer when properly stored. To thaw it, simply transfer it to your fridge for 24-36 hours.

Fresh baked apple cake in a pan. — The cake takes about 30 minutes to cool.

How to make fresh apple cake from scratch?

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan.

Afterward, grab a large mixing bowl and add the granulated sugar, oil, and cracked eggs. Combine the ingredients.

Oil, sugar, and other ingredients in a mixing bowl. — Use a whisk to combine the wet ingredients.

Next, add in the all-purpose flour, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.

At this point, you’ll need a wooden spoon. Use the spoon to combine the ingredients into a thick, paste-like batter.

Flour and other dry ingredients added to the bowl. — Mixing this batter takes a hefty spoon because it is thick!

Then, fold in the peeled and diced apples. Again, I recommend using a wooden spoon.

Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and place it into the oven.

Fresh chopped apples added to the batter. — Be sure to peel the apples before dicing them.

The cake will need to bake, uncovered, for about 50 minutes or until it can pass the toothpick test.

Keep an eye on the cake while it cooks. If it starts to brown too quickly, cover it with a foil tent and finish the baking process.

The cake batter transferred to a cake pan. — You will need a 9×13-inch cake pan for this recipe.

Last, once it’s done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for 30-minutes before cutting and serving.

That’s it, your fresh apple cake recipe is done! Kim and I hope you enjoy it and wish you all the best 🙂

A close-up view of the baked cake in the pan. — The apples bake up soft and tender.

Recipe Tips:

The batter will be extremely thick. One time, Kim actually broke a rubber spatula trying to stir it. So, I definitely recommend a heavy duty wooden spoon.
I do NOT recommend using apple pie filling for this recipe. It will add too much moisture to the batter and create a gummy cake.
Honestly, the cake is sweet enough to enjoy without any sort of frosting. However, if you feel inclined to create one, consider a using a maple whipped cream. It’s a Fall flavor that works perfectly with apples.

An up-close view of the cake on a plate. — You can also serve this apple cake with vanilla ice cream.

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Yield: 9 by 13-inch Cake

Fresh Apple Cake

A quick and easy homemade fresh apple cake that's moist, sweet, and delicious! Top it with whipped cream or homemade frosting.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1 ¼ Cups Canola or Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
3 Cups Fresh Apples, peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and grease a 9 x 13-inch cake pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, and eggs.

Add the flour, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Use a sturdy spoon or spatula to stir. The batter will be very thick like a paste.

Fold in the apples, and press the batter into the prepared cake pan. Baked for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool until just barely warm. Serve with plain or with vanilla ice cream.

Store covered at room temperature for 3 days.

Notes

The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1-piece of the fresh apple cake. Actual calories will vary.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 379Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 235mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 3g

*The calories are an estimate and are based on the ingredients and serving size listed. The calories can vary depending on the brand of product purchased.