Old Fashioned Apple Cake

4.84 from 12 votes

This old fashioned apple cake is made with fresh apples, oil and buttermilk for a soft, moist crumb. A hot apple cider butter glaze soaks right into the top.

Prep Time30

Cook Time1 15

Total Time1 45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Author: Eden

Cost: $20

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°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 cake pan or a 12-cup bundt pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cardamom.
In a large measuring glass, whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, vegetable oil and buttermilk.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter will be thick.
Fold in the chopped apples until evenly distributed.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 60 to 75 minutes for a 9x13, or 70 to 80 minutes for a bundt. The cake is done when the center reads 205°F to 210°F on an instant-read thermometer. A toothpick test is unreliable on this cake because it is so moist.

Apple Cider Butter Glaze

While the cake bakes, add the apple cider, butter, granulated sugar and baking soda to a small saucepan. Simmer, stirring, until melted and smooth. It will foam slightly.
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour all of the hot glaze over the hot cake. Let it sit for 1 hour to absorb.
If using a bundt pan, cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

The full hour of resting is not optional. The glaze needs that time to soak into the crumb.

This cake is even better on day two, so it's a great make-ahead dessert.

Fold in 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans with the apples if you like nuts.

Baking times vary depending on:

The type of apple and how small you chop it
The size and material of your pan
Your oven's actual temperature
Your elevation

Nutrition