This Fresh Apple Cake recipe will be the highlight of your Fall season! The delicious moist spice cake is made with grated apples, then served with a simple caramel sauce and scoop of ice cream.
Make sure to try all of my apple recipes this season, including Baked Apples, Caramel Apples, Apple Pie, or this yummy Caramel Apple Dip to eat with your fresh apples!
Generations of love come along with this Apple Cake.
Generations of love come along with this Apple Cake.Treasured family recipes are so special; not to get overly cheesy, but I love how food can link us with loved ones who have passed on. <3 My grandmother's fresh apple cake recipe has been a favorite for generations. You don't have to peel the apples–we just grate them right into the batter, and you can really use any type of apple you have on hand. Just don't don't skip the caramel sauce because it makes this cake irresistible!
How to make Apple Cake:
Make Caramel Sauce: Combine sauce ingredients in a glass bowl and place on top of a saucepan with simmering water. Let it simmer while the cake cooks.
Grate Apples: Keep the peels on the apples and grate them with a box grater or the grating attachment on a food processor.
Make Batter: Mix butter, sugar, and eggs in a mixing bowl then stir in grated apples. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl then pour into the wet ingredients and stir only until just incorporated. Don't over mix!
Bake: Spread batter evenly into a greased 9×13 pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with few crumbs.
Serve with caramel sauce and a scoop of ice cream!
Freezing Instructions:
To Freeze: Let cake cool completely then cover with plastic wrap and two layers of tinfoil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Enjoy cold or rewarm the whole pan in the oven on low heat, or warm individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds.
More Apple Recipes:
- Apple Crisp
- Baked Apples
- Applesauce Muffins
- Apple Coffee Cake
- How to make Caramel Apples
- Broccoli Apple Salad
- Apple Pie
- Waldorf Salad
- Applesauce
- Applesauce Bread
- Apple Pecan Salad
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Recipe
Apple Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter , room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 6 small/medium apples* , grated with peel on (discard the core)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1 cup chopped walnuts , optional
Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Easy Caramel Sauce (can be made ahead): Place all caramel sauce ingredients in a large glass bowl and stir to combine. Fill a saucepan with about 2 inches of water and bring it to a boil. Turn it to a low simmer. Set glass bowl over the saucepan (or use a double boiler) and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Pour into a jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wet ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until well blended. Add the eggs and mix well. Stir in the big pile of freshly grated apple.
- Dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.
- Combine: Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix, just until incorporated.
- Bake in a greased 9×13 inch pan for 45-60 min, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with caramel sauce and whipped cream or ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe November 2014. Updated November 2020, October 2022 and September 2024.
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Approximately how many cups of apples equals the 6 apples listed in the recipe?
Great question! On average, one medium-sized apple yields about 1 to 1.25 cups when grated. So for 6 apples, you’d be looking at roughly 6 to 7.5 cups. However, keep in mind that the exact amount can vary based on the size and variety of the apples you’re using.
I have made this cake several times now with a pecan filling and cream cheese frosting. It is referred to THE Apple Cake and everyone loves it. It keeps well; probably better as it ages.
This is THE most decadent cake recipe on Pinterest!!! It is so moist, absolutely delicious and with the caramel sauce over it, Heaven on a PLATE!!!
is there a way to make this cake gluten free? my classmate has celiacs and i don’t want them to suffer
I made this cake immediately after seeing it in my email. Let me tell you, it was easy and delicious. I had everything on hand. My only problem was; I saw the email about 12pm and I had to wait for the butter to get room temp. before I could make it.
I made this cake for a potluck after church. It was moist and delicious. I almost forgot the baking soda. I’m so used to reading recipes where the flour is listed before the other dry ingredients. Thankfully I gave it a second look. I baked it the night before and cut into small squares t the next morning, then placed in cupcake liners. I did not make the caramel. I wanted to, but thought it would be too messy for a church potluck. Thank you for the delicious recipe!!
I did the same for a potluck. I just had a stir bought ice cream caramel in a tube for them to squeeze on. It worked great.
I only had 3 apples so I made 1/2 of the recipe. It made 12 cupcakes which I baked for 30 minutes. I made the caramel sauce too. Yummy!
Today is my 74th birthday & I always requested my mother’s apple pie instead of cake. I ever mastered that so decided to try your cake. It’s delicious & easy to make. I was a little short on apples so added some raisins. It didn’t hurt the cake but since I had never tasted it without the raisins I don’t know if it was okay. Also, used a jarofcar. Sauce that was in the frig but was excellent.
I made the cake..exactly to the recipe contents but it takes very floury. Needs some adjustments.
Awesome!!!! The only thing I changed was I didn’t use cloves I substituted a 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg. Next time I will cut the recipe down a 1/4 cup on the sugar. I also didn’t make the sauce , it is great eating plain. This recipe is a keeper!!!!