Easy Apple Cake

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Makes

20 servings

Updated: Jan. 03, 2024
After testing many apple cake recipes with fresh apples, I found this old-fashioned easy apple cake that is moist, dense and down-home delicious. Even better, it's quick to fix, and when it's served warm with whipped cream or a dollop of frozen custard, it's one of my family’s very favorites. —Sherry Ashenfelter, Waterville, Ohio

Ingredients

  • 1-3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups finely chopped peeled tart apples
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1-1/4 cups whipped topping

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and baking soda; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Fold in apples and walnuts.
  2. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with whipped topping.

Easy Apple Cake Tips

What kind of apples are best for Easy Apple Cake?

Granny Smith are the go-to apples for this cake recipe, but other tart varieties, such as Braeburn and Jonathan, work well too. Or, use a mix of tart and tart-sweet apples, such as Gala or Fuji.Here's our handy guide for choosing which apples to use and when.

How else can you serve Easy Apple Cake?

Grab some ice cream—especially vanilla, if you have it. Drizzle a bit of caramel syrup on top, or go with nuts and whipped cream. (Here's how to make fresh whipped cream at home.) For a lighter take, simply dust confectioners' sugar over top.

How do you store Easy Apple Cake?

Keep cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. To serve, warm it up in the microwave, covered, before topping with homemade vanilla ice cream.

—Elizabeth Harris, Taste of Home contributing writer

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 278 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 169mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.