This Apple Cinnamon Cake Recipe is soft, fluffy, and infused with an incredible cinnamon sugar swirl and chunks of apples. It’s finished with a sweet cinnamon sugar glaze that’s SO good! One of our favorite fall treats, this cake is perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. Plus, with just 30 minutes of prep, it’s easy to make and the best served warm with a hot cup of coffee. We love this easy apple cake and know you will, too!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cinnamon Cake Recipe
- Simple + Easy – All you have to do is sauté the apples, combine the batter, layer, and bake. With 30 minutes of prep time, the oven does all the hard work. So, you can sit back and sip on an Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso while you wait!
- Bakery-Worthy Appearance – With layers of cinnamon-infused batter, sautéed apples, cinnamon swirl, and powdered sugar glaze, this cake looks like it came straight out of a fancy bakery but is secretly easy to make.
- Flavorful Without Being Overly Sweet – The sour cream helps balance the sweetness of the cake. You will love that this cinnamon apple cake is the right sweetness level for anything from brunch to dessert.
- Great for a Crowd – As written, this recipe makes 8-10 slices, which is plenty when hosting brunch. It also makes for a fun gift to wrap up and give to friends. Plus, the steps are so simple, you can easily make two or three loaves at once, so you never run out.
RELATED: Easy Coffee Cake Recipe
Ingredients
As long as you pick up a few fresh apples, this cinnamon apple coffee cake comes together with pantry staples you probably already have on hand. Here’s what to gather:
Apple Ingredients
- Apples – We prefer the sweet flavor of Honeycrisp apples, but any red apples will work. Or, create a slightly sharper taste by using green Granny Smith apples instead.
- Unsalted Butter – Adds flavor and helps soften the apples as they cook.
- Brown Sugar – Enhances the natural sweetness of the apples and creates a cohesive flavor with the rest of the layers.
Brown-Sugar Cinnamon Layer
- Brown Sugar – Creates a sweet ribbon in the cake. Either light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Cinnamon – Adds cozy spice and lots of warmth.
Cake Ingredients
- Flour – All-purpose flour is ideal for this recipe. You can easily make it gluten-free by swapping it for equal parts of a 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour.
- Sugar – White or granulated sugar sweetens the cake batter.
- Salt – Don’t skip this! It enhances the rest of the ingredients. Without it, the flavor of your cake will fall a little flat.
- Baking Powder – A type of leavener, this helps the cake rise, becoming tall and fluffy. Make sure it’s fresh for the best results.
- Cinnamon – Infuses the cake batter with warmth and enhances the sweetness.
- Eggs – Use large eggs and ensure that they are fully incorporated into the batter when you stir it up.
- Vanilla – Adds a delicious vanilla flavor and extra depth.
- Sour Cream – The acidity adds a subtle tangy taste that balances the sweetness nicely and helps keep the cake moist. We find that full-fat sour cream works best, but you can substitute plain Greek yogurt in equal amounts if needed.
- Canola Oil – A neutral oil, this keeps the cake nice and moist and rich without impacting the taste. You can substitute any neutral oil you have on hand, such as vegetable oil or avocado oil.
Glaze
- Confectioner’s Sugar – Also known as powdered sugar, this forms the sweet base of the glaze, melting into a smooth consistency. Don’t substitute any other type of sugar, or it will be grainy!
- Milk – We prefer whole milk for a stronger taste, but any dairy or non-dairy milk will work.
- Cinnamon – Ties everything together!
How to Make an Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake Recipe
This recipe does take a little while to make, but don’t worry! The steps are super easy, with most of the time just baking, and the results are SO worth the wait. Before you begin, make sure to have a 9×5 loaf pan, a non-stick skillet, and three mixing bowls. Here’s how to make the BEST apple cinnamon cake:
- Sauté the apples – Sauté the apples, butter, and brown sugar in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until the apples begin to soften. Then, set aside to cool.
- Whisk the brown sugar cinnamon layer – While the apples cook, whisk the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl, and set the mixture aside.
- Combine the cake batter – Whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, add the wet ingredients, stirring until a thick batter forms before folding in the sautéed apples.
- Layer – Pour half of the cake batter into a greased loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the brown sugar cinnamon mixture on top, followed by the remaining batter.
- Bake – Transfer the cake to the oven, and bake until it’s tall, lightly browned, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool – Let the cake cool in the pan slightly. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Glaze and serve – While the cake cools, whisk the glaze ingredients in a bowl. Then, drizzle the mixture over the cake, slice, and enjoy on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
TIP: Enjoy this recipe with a warm Maple Pecan Latte!
Tips
- Create a Parchment Paper Sling – When lining your loaf pan, let the parchment paper hang over both ends. This makes it easy to lift and remove the cake from the pan, preventing it from sticking or falling apart.
- Measure Carefully – For the best results, we recommend using a kitchen scale to measure all the ingredients. If that’s not an option, use the spoon and level method to measure the dry ingredients, particularly the flour.
- Avoid Overmixing – Be careful to stir the cake batter just until well combined. Continuing to mix will overwork the gluten in the batter, creating a dense, tough cake, which we definitely don’t want!
- Adjust the Baking Time – Every oven is different. So, keep a close eye on your cake, and remove it from the oven as soon as a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Don’t Rush Cooling – We know it’s tempting to start slicing immediately, but trust us! If you add the glaze while the cake is hot, it will slide right off. Also, if you slice the cake while it’s still warm, it’s likely to crumble and fall apart.
- Serve Warm – This apple cinnamon coffee cake is delicious either way, but we find it’s best when still slightly warm.
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Variations
Apple-Pear Twist – Swap half the apples with pears for a softer, slightly floral flavor.
Nutty Crunch – Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter, or sprinkle them on top before baking for a nutty taste and extra crunch.
Caramel Drizzle – Replace the powdered sugar glaze with a drizzle of caramel sauce for a caramel apple-inspired dessert.
Cream Cheese Glaze – Mix softened cream cheese into the glaze for a slight twist.
Spice – Add a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom to the cinnamon sugar layer for a deeper, warmer taste.
Mini Loaves or Muffins – Use mini loaf pans, or spoon the batter into a greased muffin pan for single-serving portions. Just be sure to adjust the baking time as needed.
How to Store
Store – Once cool, cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil, or transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep fresh at room temperature for up to 2 days. However, we find it keeps freshest when stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freeze – For longer-lasting storage, transfer the cake to a freezer-safe container. Or, wrap individual slices with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Serve – Thaw frozen apple cinnamon cake at room temperature. Then, enjoy cold or warm individual portions for a few seconds in the microwave.
More Easy Cake Recipes You’ll Love
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- Honeybun Cake
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Apple Cinnamon Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Wire Rack
Ingredients
Apples
- 1 pound Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples peeled and cut into ½” cubes (approx. 3 medium apples)
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Layer
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup canola oil
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven 350°F and grease 9”x5” loaf pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Place apples, butter and brown sugar in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Saute for 10 minutes until the apples begin to soften. Set aside to cool slightly.
- While apples are cooking, whisk together the Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Layer.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, sour cream and oil. Fold until a thick batter forms.
- Fold the cooked apples into the batter.
- Pour half of the batter into the pan. Sprinkle with the Brown Sugar-Cinnamon mixture and top with the remaining batter.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let cool for 15 minutes before lifting out the cake using the parchment paper overhang. Set onto a wire rack to cool.
- Whisk together the Glaze ingredients & drizzle over the mostly cooled cake.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- This cake is delicious served warm (maybe 30-40 minutes after it comes out of the oven) or even cold/room temperature.
- Leftovers store best in the fridge to keep the cake fresh!
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