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Simple Anytime Apple Cake

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This simple Apple Cake is really an Anytime Apple Cake. Which simply means it’s an easy to make light and airy buttery cake, filled with fresh apples, warm spices, and topped with crunchy chopped walnuts. That’s perfect… anytime!

Side front view of Anytime Apple Cake with a bite missing

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It’s an incredibly moist cinnamon spice cake perfect for snacking, of course, but also for fall teatime, Sunday coffee, or even midnight cravings.

When fall leaves shimmer in an October wind and when the sun is warm but the air is cool, it’s time for apple cake.

And while I bake special apple cakes that might be fancier, this more simple apple cake is delicious enough for holidays, but easy enough to make anytime. A snacking cake with a rich texture that always puts a smile on the faces of my family.

Or on the faces of neighbors and friends that may stop by for a chat.

Top view of unsliced Anytime Apple Cake on a round wood board

What to Love About This Apple Cake

  • A simple to make cake that’s tastes like fall in every bite.
  • Versatile for snacking, teatime, or delicious enough for holidays.
  • Easy ingredients you may already have on hand.

What is an Anytime Apple Cake?

Anytime cakes are cakes that are perfect… anytime of the week or anytime of the day. Simple enough for every day baking, but delicious enough for Sunday cake with coffee or a teatime treat.

This Apple Cake combines the flavors of fall, like cinnamon, and has a soft but light and buttery crumb. Filled with fresh chopped apples and topped with crunchy walnuts, it’s a simple cake with equally simple ingredients.

But when combined, they create fall magic.

If you’ve come across my Anytime Almond Cake, this cake will seem familiar. One of our popular cake recipes, almond cake is a year round favorite you may also enjoy!

Top view of apple cake served for tea on a white scalloped plate with a cup of tea

Teatime Cake

Teacakes are especially nice for afternoon tea. A treat everyone around my tea table seems to look forward to.

Cakes are especially nice in the fall served with an autumn tea that’s appropriate any time the leaves begin to change. Or with a Harvest Afternoon Tea theme that features apples, pumpkins and fall flavors.

If you’re wondering what tea to pair with apple desserts, here are some favorites:

Top view of Apple Cake ingredients on a round wood board

Apple Cake Ingredients

These simple ingredients will make a delicious and moist apple cake. The exact measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Here’s what you will need:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder and baking soda
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Softened butter
  • Brown sugar and granulated sugar
  • Room temperature eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Sour cream
  • Fresh apples
  • Chopped walnuts (optional)

Special Kitchen Equipment

Electric Mixer or Stand Mixer: Creaming the eggs and sugar together is easiest using a hand-held or stand mixer.

Cake Pan: I prefer a 9-inch nonstick springform pan, but a 9-inch cake pan with at least 2-inch sides can work too. Be sure to line with parchment and butter and flour well.

Why is it important to bring eggs to room temperature?

There is a much more detailed explanation of bringing eggs to room temperature and why it’s important in my Anytime Almond Cake recipe, but here are a couple of brief reasons.

  • Room temperature eggs impact structure and texture in baked goods.
  • Eggs help create stability and bind ingredients together.
  • The temperature of eggs also affects baking time.

Be careful not to let eggs sit out of refrigeration for more than about an hour. For more ways on bringing eggs to room temperature safely, see the almond cake recipe post.

Top side view of a slice of apple cake on a white plate with the whole cake in the background

How to Make Apple Cake

This apple cake is a simple and easy cake to make any day of the week. Begin by preheating the oven to 325°F and buttering a 9-inch springform pan.

Detailed step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients and set aside.

Step 2: Cream the butter and make the batter

Cream the butter and sugars together with an electric stand mixer until light. Beat in the eggs (one at a time) then add vanilla and sour cream. Stir in the flour mixture until just combined and fold in the apples.

Top view of unbaked apple cake in a springform pan

Step 3: Transfer batter to pan

Transfer the batter to the springform pan. Smooth with a spatula and sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top.

Top view of just baked Apple Cake in a springform pan

Step 4: Bake the apple cake

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cake is baked through.

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Front view of Anytime Apple Cake with a bite missing on a white plate
Side front view of Anytime Apple Cake with a bite missing

Simple Anytime Apple Cake

Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

This simple Apple Cake is really an Anytime Apple Cake. Which simply means it’s an easy to make light and airy buttery cake, filled with fresh apples, warm spices, and topped with crunchy chopped walnuts. That’s perfect… anytime!

Ingredients

  • 12 tablespoons (6 ounces) butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 and 1/2 cups chopped apples (about 2 medium apples)
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter the sides and bottoms of a 9-inch springform pan or use cooking spray with flour.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Set aside.
  3. With an electric mixer or stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until mixed, then add vanilla and sour cream; combine until just incorporated.
  4. Stir in the flour mixture just until mixed with no dry flour streaks; then fold in the apples.
  5. Transfer the batter to the springform pan. Smooth with a spatula and sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top.
  6. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden and springs back when lightly pressed. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes or so before removing the sides of the pan. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if you want. Or simply as is-- it's so delicious!

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 264mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 4g

31Daily.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although 31Daily.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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5 Comments

  1. I’m trying your recipe out. It’s still in the oven. But while it’s baking I was wondering how it should be stored? I’m bringing it to my daughter tomorrow for her birthday. Should it be stored in the refrigerator or left on the countertop? The better was surprisingly light and sweet. I can’t wait to taste the cake.

    1. Hi Tammie! Thank you for trying this recipe— you can store it at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate it tightly wrapped or in an airtight container for about 5 days. Happy birthday to your daughter!

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