This delectable Apple Cake has a slightly crunchy crust and a soft, tender center loaded with chunks of sweet apple and pecans. It is perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg and lightly drizzled with an easy four-ingredient caramel sauce. This cake is perfect for bake sales, potlucks, and family and friend get-togethers.
Learn how to make a delicious apple cake in just a few easy steps with this simple recipe. Perfect for any occasion and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. What is not to love about crisp, sweet apples nestled in a cake with all the yummy fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves?
My family loves a good fall apple dessert. I mean, honestly, who the heck doesn’t? If you like this recipe, try apple strudel, apple butter, and apple crisp.
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Spices: cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg or a little ground ginger or allspice
- Vegetable oil: canola or safflower oil
- Brown sugar: if you prefer, you can do half brown sugar and half granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract: the pure stuff, please
- Apples: My go-to apples for this recipe are crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith. Other good choices are Braeburn, Pink Lady (also known as Cripps Pink), Fuji, or Gala Apples.
- Nuts: pecans, almonds, or walnuts
- Butter: salted or unsalted
- Vanilla extract: the pure stuff, please
How to make Apple Cake
This is the summary version. Please see the recipe card below for the complete ingredient list and instructions.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Whisk together the vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in a separate large bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in several intervals, stirring until combined. Fold the apples and pecans into the batter, stirring just until combined. Spoon the batter into a well-greased and lightly floured Bundt pan. Bake for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before inverting. Meanwhile, add the butter, brown sugar, and cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil while stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Drizzle over the warm cake.
Preparation Tips
- Peel, core, and cut your apples into bite-size chunks for great flavor and texture after baking.
- Grease and flour your bundt pan well. I like to use Baker’s Joy, but flour and butter work well too.
- Because of the chunks of apple in this delicious cake, intricate bundt pans do not work well, but a standard bundt pan works like a dream.
- This cake is one of those recipes that tastes even better when made a day in advance. Let it cool completely before covering it and storing it in a cool section of the kitchen.
Storage and Freezer Recommendations
You can store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To freeze this cake, cool it completely, then wrap it in two layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use ground ginger or ground allspice.
This delicious cake recipe also works well with peaches and pears.
You can substitute chopped almonds or walnuts for the chopped pecans. You can also omit the nuts if you prefer or if someone has a nut allergy.
More Apple Recipes
Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Cake
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large Honeycrisp apples peeled cored and chunked
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Caramel Drizzle
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients in 3 intervals stirring just until combined. Add the apples and pecans, stirring just until mixed. Spoon the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before inverting.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, brown sugar, and cream. Bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Drizzle over the warm cake.
Notes
- Peel, core, and cut your apples into chunks for bite-size pieces of apple with just a little bit of that great apple texture left after baking.
- Grease and flour your bundt pan well. I like to use Baker’s Joy, but flour and butter work well too.
- Because of the chunks of apple in this delicious cake, intricate bundt pans do not work very well, but a standard bundt pan works like a dream.
- This cake is one of those recipes that tastes even better when made a day in advance. Let it cool completely before covering it and storing it in a cool section of the kitchen.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Joyce aden
Could you put this in a 9×13 pan?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. You will have to adjust your baking time.
Mahy
I love the texture – it is just perfect to my liking. I guess it’s time to make an apple cake! 😉
Jess
Apples and pecans! MMMboy my favorite combo!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
Apple cake is such an amazing all season cake and the crumb on this looks SOOOO moist! Cannot wait to try
Michelle
Made this since I had a bag of Honeycrisp apples, and it was so delicious! Can’t wait to make it again soon!
Sisley White - Sew White
This is a beautiful cake. You really can’t beat a classic apple cake.
Melissa
Wow – AMAZING! Im already planning on making it again! Great recipe
Laura Reese
These cake was so delicious and flavorful!
Katie
Looks so delicious! I know my family would go crazy for this.
Betsy
Incredible. So moist and delicious. A perfect autumn dessert…a perfect Thanksgiving dessert!
Maria Valente
Hi Betsy, the recipe I have is very similar to yours very delicious also, it called for semi-sweet chocolate chips
and it really comes out delicious. You might want to try it sometime.
Matt Taylor
Yummy! This apple cake looks absolutely amazing! So easy to make too.
Elle
For the caramel drizzle, is it best to pour over in advance or right before serving? Thanks!
Beth Pierce
I like to pour it over in advance but honestly you could do either one.
Carol
When else would you pour the drizzle other than in advance or right before?
Vikki
Amazing cake, perfect for fall! I love moist and gooey cakes 😀
Jacque Hastert
This dessert has me so ready for fall! I can’t wait to bake this up and ring in the next season! This looks absolutely delicious!
Kevin
Love this cake! Apple season is about to be in overload at my house!
Erin
This Apple Cake looks incredibly delicious!