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.
For more apple recipes perfect for fall, try my homemade apple pie, caramel apple crumble bars, and easy apple crisp.
Old Fashioned Apple Cake
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.
Why You’ll Love This Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake
Traditional recipe: This is a tried and true old-fashioned apple cake recipe. It uses real apples, too!
Perfectly moist: The buttermilk and oil make this a super moist apple cake recipe. The butter topping was also poured over the top.
Super simple: It’s easy to make and doesn’t require a mixing bowl.
Make it your own: It can be topped with any frosting you like or eaten without frosting, as it’s perfect on its own.
Fresh Apple Cake Ingredients
Granulated Sugar – Sugar sweetens the cake and helps create a tender crumb. Be sure to use regular granulated sugar, not powdered sugar.
All-Purpose Flour – Flour provides structure to the cake. For best results, spoon and level your flour rather than scooping directly from the bag.
Baking Soda – Acts as a leavening agent to help the cake rise properly.
Salt – Enhances all the flavors in the cake and balances the sweetness.
Ground Cinnamon – Adds warmth and that classic fall spice flavor that pairs perfectly with apples.
Ground Cardamom – This aromatic spice adds a unique, slightly citrusy flavor that elevates the apple cake to something special.
Eggs – Provide structure, moisture, and help bind the ingredients together. Use room temperature eggs for best results.
Vegetable Oil – Creates a super moist cake. Unlike butter, oil stays liquid at room temperature, keeping your cake moist for days.
Buttermilk – Adds moisture and a slight tanginess that balances the sweetness. The acidity also helps activate the baking soda.
Vanilla Extract – Enhances all the flavors in the cake. Use pure vanilla extract when possible for the best flavor.
Apples – The star ingredient! Use a mix of sweet and tart apples like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith for the best flavor. Make sure to peel and chop them into small pieces for even baking.
Apple Cider – Used in the glaze to add rich apple flavor. Use fresh apple cider when possible, not apple juice.
Unsalted Butter – Creates a rich, buttery glaze that seeps into the cake.
How To Make Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake
Prep Baking Pan – Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour a 9×12 cake pan or bundt pan.
Combine Dry Ingredients – Mix sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom in a large bowl.
Prepare Wet Ingredients – Whisk together eggs, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, and buttermilk in a large measuring glass.
Mix Batter – Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
Add Apples – Fold in the peeled and finely chopped apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Bake Cake – Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Make Glaze – While the cake bakes, combine apple cider, butter, sugar, and baking soda in a small saucepan and simmer until melted.
Finish With Glaze – Pour the hot glaze over the cake immediately after removing it from the oven.
Cool – Let the cake sit for 1 hour to absorb the glaze.
Serve – Invert onto a serving plate if using a bundt pan, and serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream.
Storage
Room Temperature
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.
Freezer
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.
Recipe Variations
This old-fashioned fresh apple cake is delicious as is, but you can customize it with these tasty variations:
Old Fashioned Pear Cake: Substitute the apples for firm pears for a slightly different flavor and texture.
Caramel Apple Cake: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce over the top instead of the apple cider glaze.
Nutty Apple Cake: Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or chopped pecans to the batter for extra crunch.
Cranberry Apple Cake: Mix in 1 cup of fresh or dried cranberries with the apples for a tart twist.
Gluten-Free Apple Cake: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour.
Eden’s Tips
Choose the Right Apples: Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples create the perfect balance.
Buttermilk Substitute: Don’t have buttermilk on hand? Regular milk with lemon juice or vinegar works as an effective substitute when buttermilk isn’t available.
Bundt Pan Option: This cake works well in different pans. A well-greased bundt pan creates an impressive presentation that’s perfect for special occasions.
Glaze Alternative: The cake is versatile with toppings. Try using cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, or maple syrup frosting in place of the glaze.
Do You Need to Peel and Pre-Cook Apples for Apple Cake?
Great news – there is no need to pre-cook apples for apple cake! Just make sure to chop them into small pieces so they cook evenly.
As far as peeling goes, I do prefer to peel my apple for this old fashioned fresh apple cake recipe. In my opinion, the skin makes the cake a little tough.
That said, you are welcome to leave the peel on if you’re short on time and don’t mind a little texture!
How to Tell When Your Cake Is Done
This fresh apple cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. No raw batter!
More Cake Recipes You’ll Love
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Old-Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
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.
- Whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, and buttermilk in a large measuring glass.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Fold in the 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.
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.
- When the cake is finished baking, remove and pour the butter mixture over the hot cake and let it sit for 1 hour.
- 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.
Notes
- 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.
Just baked it, poured the glaze over it and waiting for it to cool so we can eat it!! Easy bake and looks delicious!!!
oh my goodness! this is an amazing tasting cake and I cant wait to make it again in the fall
Moist & delicious!! Love the chunks of apple in each bite! It has the perfect apple flavor!
OMG I loooooove this cake! It’s so moist with the BEST flavor…..tastes like home.