book cover

INTRODUCING

ORDER NOW

Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

This post may contain Affiliate Links. Please read our privacy policy here.

Fall is in the air, which means one thing – apple season! This old-fashioned fresh apple cake recipe is the perfect way to celebrate. It’s made with real apples, oil, and buttermilk for a delicious buttery flavor. The sweet apple cider butter glaze is poured over the top, making it super moist and irresistible.

Apple cake on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

We go apple picking every year because it’s a fun family tradition. We come home with many apples, and I make many apple recipes to use them all up! 

From homemade apple juice cocktails to the best apple pie, my easy apple crisp, and my favorite recipe—this old-fashioned apple cake—it’s delicious and warms the house with its spices. 

I love to enjoy this cake with a warm cup of coffee and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s one of my favorite homemade cake recipes!

Serve this cake at a Halloween party, Fall Harvest Party, Thanksgiving dinner, or Christmas potluck. It’s also a great after-school snack or dessert for kids! Top it with homemade caramel sauce for an extra treat.

5 Things I Love About This Cake

  • This is a tried and true old-fashioned apple cake recipe. It uses real apples, too!
  • The buttermilk and oil make this a super moist apple cake recipe. The butter topping was also poured over the top.
  • It’s easy to make and doesn’t require a mixing bowl.
  • It can be topped with any frosting you like or eaten without frosting, as it’s perfect on its own.
Ingredients to make an old-fashioned apple cake recipe.

Tips for Making This Cake

  • I want to use various apples for this cake, such as a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.
  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use regular milk combined with a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
  • This cake can also be made in a bundt pan. Be sure to grease the pan well so the cake doesn’t stick.
  • You can also use a frosting over the top.
Old-fashioned apple cake with a buttery apple cider glaze poured over the top.

How to Store 

Leftover cake can be stored at room temperature and covered for up to a week. If you have any leftover glaze, it can also be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

To freeze, wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container. It will be kept in the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before serving.

Easy apple cake in a rectangular cake pan. with fresh apples and apple cider.

Can this cake be made in a bundt pan?

Yes, this cake can be made in a bundt pan. Be sure to grease and flour the pan well so the cake doesn’t stick. 

Do you need to pre-cook apples for apple cake?

No, you don’t need to pre-cook apples for apple cake. Just make sure to chop them into small pieces so they cook evenly.

Should I peel my apples for an apple cake?

We prefer to peel our apples for apple cake. The skin can sometimes make the cake tough. However, leave the skin on if you don’t mind a little texture.

Slice of moist apple cake on a plate.

More Cake Recipes You’ll Love

If you love this old-fashioned fresh apple cake recipe, try more of our favorite recipes!

Slice of apple cake with apple cider glaze and fresh apple chunks.

Let me know if you make this old-fashioned fresh apple cake recipe by leaving a comment and review below.

You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOKINSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!

slice of apple cake on a plate.

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

This old-fashioned fresh apple cake recipe is the perfect for fall! It’s made with real apples, oil, and buttermilk for a delicious, buttery flavor. A sweet glaze poured over the top makes it super moist and irresistible.
4.82 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 15 people
Calories: 312kcal
Author: Eden

Ingredients

Apple Cake

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups apples, peeled and finely chopped

Apple Glaze

  • 1/2 cups apple cider
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup sugar

Instructions

Apple Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×12 cake pan or a bundt pan.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine all of the dry ingredients – sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and cardamom.
    dry ingredients in a mixing bowl
  • Whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, and buttermilk in a large measuring glass.
    liquid ingredients in a measuring glass.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
    wet and dry ingredients in a mixing bowl
  • Fold in the chopped apples.
    folding in chopped apples
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
    pouring apple batter into a cake pan

Apple Cider Butter Glaze

  • While the cake is baking, make the glaze. Add 1/2 cup apple cider, 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 tsp baking soda into a small saucepan and simmer until it’s all melted.
    making an apple cider glaze
  • When the cake is finished baking, remove and pour the butter mixture over the hot cake and let it sit for 1 hour. 
    pouring glaze over the top of an apple cake.
  • Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes before inverting it onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
    slice of apple cake on a plate.

Notes

Top this cake with any frosting you want! You can also serve it with just the glaze, which is delicious. 
Baking times vary depending on a few factors, such as:
  • The type of apple you use and how big they’re cut.
  • The size and shape of your baking dish and how well you like your cake.
  • An oven’s actual temperature. Every oven is different so that yours may run hot or cold.
  • The elevation you’re baking at. Higher elevations tend to require longer baking times.
  • We suggest checking your cake a few minutes before the recipe says it will be done. Start with 1 hour and go from there.

Nutrition

Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 212mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 269IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @sugarandcharm or tag us #sugarandcharm!

3 thoughts on “Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe”

4.82 from 11 votes (8 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




AS SEEN ON: