Description
Grandma’s classic Apple Cake brings warmth from German kitchens, combining sweet apples and delicate spices in a comforting dessert. Cinnamon-kissed layers promise delightful moments that wrap you in nostalgic memories of home-baked goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 medium apples (peeled, cored, and chopped into small chunks)
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk or buttermilk
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
Optional Mix-ins and Topping:
- ½ cup (75 g) chopped walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup (40 g) raisins
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter (melted)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and coating a 9-inch baking pan with grease to prevent sticking.
- Create a dry mixture by combining flour, leavening agents, spices, and salt in a mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Cream butter and sugar in a separate large bowl until the mixture becomes airy and pale, incorporating eggs individually and vanilla extract for enhanced flavor.
- Gradually integrate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with sour cream to maintain a smooth, consistent batter.
- Gently fold chopped apples into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout to ensure each slice contains fruit.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it uniformly and create an even surface.
- Prepare a quick topping by mixing sugar and cinnamon, then delicately sprinkle the mixture across the cake’s surface for added texture and sweetness.
- Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick that should emerge clean when the cake is fully cooked.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing to ensure proper setting and easier serving.
Notes
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of sweetness and texture in your cake.
- Dice apples into uniform small cubes to ensure even distribution and prevent sinking to the bottom of the batter.
- Dust apple pieces with a little flour before folding into the batter to help them stay suspended and prevent clumping.
- Swap sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter version or use dairy-free alternatives like almond yogurt for a vegan adaptation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 409 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 165 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg