This old fashioned apple cake is as moist as it is delicious. Its simple to make, perfect for fall baking and is soft with a sweet, crunchy cinnamon topping.

old fashioned apple cake on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it and an apple to the side

This recipe is the perfect way to use up freshly picked apples. When my neighbor shared a big basket of apples with me, I knew this delicious apple cake would be the best way to enjoy them.

This fall cake is wonderful paired with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, and if you’re in the mood for more apple desserts, my apple crisp and apple sauce are some of my favorites.

a slice of apple cake sitting on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the side of it with a fresh apple

Everything You’ll love about this recipe

Its great for breakfast, dessert or as an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee
Its easy to make and comforting
Full of fall flavors

three slices of cake piled on top of each other on a white plate with some crumbs to the side with a fall cloth napkin

Recipe Ingredients

Lets talk ingredients! Here’s everything you’ll need to make this recipe.

For the cake:

Un-salted Butter- Softened, so its easy to mix with the sugar
Granulated Sugar
Large Egg
Vanilla Extract- Real is best but artificial works as well
Apples- Any type works, make sure to chop fine
All Purpose Flour- I use un-bleached all purpose flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Whole Milk
Lemon Juice- Optional, but will keep the apples from going brown

For the topping:

Un-salted Butter
All Purpose Flour
Granulated Sugar
Brown Sugar- Either light or dark brown sugar works
Cinnamon

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make this recipe

Use these photos as a guide as you move along each step.

flour, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl mixed with butter to make a crumbly cake topping

Step 1: In a medium bowl add in the flour, sugar and cinnamon. Mix. Add the butter and mix until crumbly. Place in the fridge.

flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl on a fall cloth napkin with an apple to the side of it sitting on a wooden counter top

Step 2: Pre-heat oven to 375, line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper or grease pan and set aside. In another bowl add in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk then set aside.

finely chopped apple in a white glass bowl sitting on a fall cloth napkin with fresh apples to the side

Step 3: Peel, core and chop apples into small pieces and coat with a splash of lemon juice and set aside.

butter and sugar creamed together in a clear glass bowl and mixed with an egg and vanilla sitting on a fall cloth napkin with apples to the side of it

Step 4: Cream the butter and sugar together, then mix in the egg and vanilla.

apple cake batter in a glass bowl with a silicon spatula in it with a fall cloth napkin to the side of it

Step 5: Sift half the dry ingredients over the wet then add half the milk and mix. Sift the other half of the dry ingredients onto the batter and then add the rest of the milk. Mix until just combined.

apples folded into the cake batter sitting on a fall cloth napkin with a fresh apple to the side

Step 6: Fold in the apples.

apple cake batter in a cake pan with an apple to the side of it sitting on a fall cloth napkin

Step 7: Add the batter to pan and smooth out the top.

old fashioned apple cake topped with a buttery crumble sitting in a pan on a fall cloth napkin

Step 8: Evenly sprinkle over the topping and press it into the batter slightly. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

baked apple cake sitting in a pan with an apple to the side of it on a wooden counter top and sitting on a fall cloth napkin with leaves on it

Hint: Make sure to chop apples small and make sure not to over mix the batter or the cake wont be as light.

Storage

Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days at room temperature.
Fridge: It will last up to one week in the fridge but it does go drier when stored there.
Freezing: Allow cake to cool completely before freezing. Slice into squares and wrap each piece in cling wrap then place in a freezer bag. It will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

apple cake in a pan sitting on a wire rack on a fall cloth napkin sitting on a wooden counter top with fresh apples to the side

Old Fashioned Apple Cake

A tasty fall recipe, perfect with a side of vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee

Prep Time 15

Total Time 55

Serving Size 12 slices

Ingredients

For the Topping

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup un-salted butter

For the Cake

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup diced apples peeled, cored and chopped fine
lemon juice optional, for coating the apples
1/3 cup un-salted butter softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole milk

Instructions

In a small bowl add in the flour, sugar and cinnamon. Mix.
Add in the butter and mix until combined. Place it in the fridge while preparing the batter.
Pre-heat the oven to 375 and line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper or grease pan and set aside.
In a medium bowl add in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk and set aside.
Peel, core and chop the apples into small pieces and coat with a splash of lemon juice then set aside,
Cream the butter and sugar together.
Mix in the egg and then the vanilla.
Sift half the dry ingredients over the wet and then half the milk and mix until just combined. Sift over the other half of the dry ingredients then the rest of the milk. Mix until just combined.
Fold in the apples.
Add the batter to the pan and smooth out the top.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the batter and press into the batter slightly.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean from the center.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30-40 minutes before slicing and serving.
Serve with some ice cream if you'd like or custard

Notes

Store at room temperature in an air tight container for up to 2-3 days.

Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Freeze for up to 3 months with each piece wrapped in cling wrap and then placed in a freezer bag.

Leave a comment below if you made this recipe, I’d love to hear feedback.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

grandmas old fashioned apple crisp in an 8x8 dish on a wooden counter top with apples around it that were freshly picked

Grandmas Apple Crisp

homemade ice cream being scooped with an ice cream scoop

Vanilla Ice Cream

Apple Sauce