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Cinnamon Apple Cake
Emily

Homemade Cinnamon Apple Cake

A soft and moist apple cake spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, loaded with fresh apples, and topped with a sweet cinnamon-sugar crust — perfect for fall baking or cozy desserts.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 340
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
  • 2 cups peeled and diced apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar (for topping)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)

Equipment

  • 9-inch cake pan
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Hand or stand mixer
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round or square cake pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the sour cream, starting and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
  5. Gently fold in the diced apples. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
  6. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter.
  7. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce. Try substituting pears for apples for a different twist, or add chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.