This moist, spiced caked is studded with fresh apples and finished off with a sweet brown sugar glaze. The perfect cake for fall baking!
I saw a version of this Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze online a few weeks ago and made it that very day. My kids smelled it baking and kept asking when it would be done.
After tasting it, they proclaimed it the best cake they’ve ever had! I think it was even better the next day. In fact, I made this cake again the same week, and I don’t repeat recipes very often.
This was one of the best apple cakes I’ve ever had. It was just so buttery and fragrant and flavorful. ~ Monica
It’s so moist and delicious, and tastes a lot like a caramel apple. What’s not to love about that?
Plus, I feel like everyone gets so excited for pumpkin season that sometimes apple season doesn’t have a chance. And believe me, you want to give this cake a chance!
This apple cake is one of my favorite fall recipes, and a must make when apple season rolls around. But don’t wait until then to make it. This cake is definitely one that I plan on baking year round.
Helfpul hint: if you don’t have any heavy cream handy for the frosting, evaporated milk is a good substitute.
Love this cake!! I first tried it when I was visiting my brother. His roommate was making this and we had to try it. We loved it so much we had to make our own. Thank you for sharing!!! ~ Marperla
And trust me, although this cake is delicious without any extras, you don’t want to skip the frosting. And a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a piece of warm apple cake is pretty much heaven.
If you decide to share with your neighbors, be prepared to get asked for the recipe. This Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze is destined to become a family favorite!
Be sure to save this Potato Chip Crusted Grilled Corn recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Tips for Choosing and Storing Apples
What type of apple should I choose? Granny Smith, Cortland and Rome Beauty apples are great for baking and pies. For applesauce, try Braeburn, Jonathon or McIntosh. Gala apples are great from drying.
For more help choosing the perfect apple for your recipes, check out this handy chart.
Appearance: Look for apples that are free of blemishes and bruises and feel firm when you grip them. Dull skin may indicate that an apple is past its prime.
Storing: Put your apples in the refrigerator right away. Store them away from any strong smelling foods so they don’t absorb unpleasant odors. Properly refrigerated apples will keep from 4−6 weeks.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Spices: salt, cinnamon
- Eggs
- Canola oil
- Vanilla
- Apples
- Pecans or walnuts
- Brown sugar
- Butter
- Heavy cream
Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
Ingredients
Cake:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup canola oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 cups finely chopped apples
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts chopped (optional)
Brown Sugar Glaze:
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch pan and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light and foamy. Add the oil and vanilla and mix well.
- Stir in the flour mixture with a spoon and continue stirring the batter until the flour disappears.
- Add the apples and nuts; mix well.
- Scrape the batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the cake on a wire rack.
- While the cake is still hot, prepare the glaze.
- Combine the brown sugar, butter, vanilla and heavy cream in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Continue cooking for 3 minutes.
- Spoon the hot glaze over the still warm cake.
- Let the glazed cake cool completely before serving straight from the pan.
Video
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: This recipe was originally published in the Southern Cakes cookbook, but I found it at Lick the Bowl Good.
26 comments
MegUnprocessed
Love apples and that brown sugar glaze look great!
Jennifer
Can’t wait to try these – thanks for sharing!
marperla
Love this cake!! I first tried it when I was visiting my brother. His roommate was making this and we had to try it. We loved it so much we had to make out own. Thank you for sharing!!!
kristin1724
Okay…I’m back. This recipe was DELICIOUS!!! Hope you don’t mind the variations – trying to put a healthy twist on my baking. I forget in my first post: I used 1/2 olive oil, 1/2 canola oil (I love the richness of the olive oil if I’m using honey or whole wheat in a recipe). I also love salty caramel, so I added a sprinke of fleur de sel to the sauce. This cake was amazing, even with my “healthy” stuff. I can only imagine how decadent the original recipe is. I’ll have to indulge some day. Now, I am off to find more recipes on your site!!! = )
kristin1724
This looks amazing. Actually have a variation baking in my oven right now. Used half white whole wheat flour (King Arthur) in place of some of the all-purpose. Also used 1/2 cup of honey in place of 1/2 cup of the sugar. Smells delicious! I’ll try and post back and let you know how it came out.
Astrid
…here’s a link to my page with the picture of my interpretation http://carfreeinannarbor.blogspot.com/2010/10/apple-cake-with-caramel-glaze.html
I also didn’t peel the apples, using both yellow and red apples. Thanks so much, I’ll be making this cake for years to come. The family loves it!
Astrid
I doubled the recipe and substituted ground almonds for the pecans – delish! thank you
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
I’m so making this! It looks awesome, especially with the glaze! Thanks!
Julie
It looks so wonderful, I’ll bet I could eat that glaze with a spoon!
fahnmamma
Hi! I wanted you to know that I made this cake and it is sooooo good! The glaze is wonderful. I will certainly make it again.
Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet
This sounds absolutely delish! I love apple cake and I bet the glaze makes it over the top! 🙂
Pam
What a great cake!!! Love the glaze and it sounds so easy.
Mimi
Delicious looking cake. We are on an apple cake binge and this looks like the perfect candidate for our next cake.
Mimi
Sharon
Wow this looks o gooooood!! We were just talking about apples today, I was going to make an apple pie tomorrow but you just changed my mind!! Thanks for sharing!
Jenna
Oh wow, this looks delicious, I can almost smell it.
Monica H
This was one of the best apple cakes I’ve ever had. It was just so buttery and fragrant and flavorful. I’m glad you and hte kiddos liked it as much as we did!
Kathiey
Looks yummy. I will add it to my list of must tries!
Thanks for your post
Kathiey:-)
HollyC
Wow! What a beautiful blog you have! I love apple cake! I’ve got to try this.
~Holly
The Urban Baker
I am loving this time of year and all these yummy apple desserts. i may have to make this oh-so soon!
ButterYum
What a great photo! I wish I had a bite of this delish cake right now!!
🙂
ButterYum
Heavenly Housewife
What a wonderful sounding apple cake, I’ve goat loads of apples to use up thanks to the trees in my back yard, and a girl can only eat so much applesauce LOL.
*kisses* HH
Michele
Wow, I’ve been paging through your blog and everything looks delicious. I have already bookmarked a few things to try, namely that decadent brownie pie to the right and the nutella gooey butter cake. This apple cake looks great too.
Ingrid
I made this a couple of days after seeing it on MOnica’s blog and my kids LOVED it too! It didn’t last a day at my house. 🙂 Yours looks really good.
~ingrid
kitchen flavours
Have not made it yet, but am liking it already! Will be trying this out! Thanks for sharing. ^..^
danasfoodforthought
I loooove apple cake, and so does my boyfriend! I’m going to make this for him!!
Avril
LOVE LOVE LOVE this cake! I too saw it on Monica’s blog (Lick the Bowl Clean) and knew I had to make ASAP! Made it this past weekend and it disappeared just like that! I can’t wait to make it again! 🙂