Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

This delicious and old fashioned apple cake recipe is perfect for your fall or holiday gathering! It’s moist and spicy with juicy apple slices throughout. Add homemade caramel sauce for the ultimate decadence!

Each fall my mom makes this apple cake. When she makes it she tells about going to her Grandpa’s house and eating it: sunlight filtering onto the back porch that smelled like apples, a warm hug from Grandpa, spicy cinnamon and sweet cake served warm as friends came and went. I can almost see it she has described it to me so many times.

I love to hear my mom talk about her childhood and family, and I love chatting over apple cake sitting around my mom’s big trestle table. I wonder how my daughter will capture her memories eating cake with her Grandma and tell them her children. The circle of life gets me all weepy….

So let’s focus on the cake!

This is my go-to fall dessert recipe because it is so easy and it’s knock your socks off delicious! I’ve made it 3 times already this fall and it never disappoints! And I swear peeling and slicing apples sometimes feels therapeutic so don’t let that extra step dissuade you. Fresh apples are some of my favorite things.

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Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

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Apple Cake

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This delicious and easy apple cake recipe is perfect for your fall or holiday gathering! It's moist and spicy with juicy apple slices throughout. Add homemade caramel sauce for the ultimate decadence!

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Ingredients

• 4-6 cups peeled and sliced apples
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Caramel Sauce

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

1. Mix sliced apples with sugar in large bowl. Let set for 10-15 minutes. 
2. Beat eggs, oil, and vanilla together in a small bowl, then add to apples. 
3. Sift flour, salt, soda, and cinnamon together. Add to apple mixture. Add nuts if desired. 
4. Bake at 350 in a 9x13 pan for 45 minutes. 

Caramel Sauce

1. In a saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, and salt. Bring to boil, stirring with a wire whisk. Add evaporated milk and vanilla. Remover from heat and whisk together. 
2. Serve warm or make ahead and reheat when ready to use. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 628Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 435mgCarbohydrates: 99gFiber: 7gSugar: 74gProtein: 6g

All recipe nutrition information is approximate.

To make this apple cake recipe you may need:

• My favorite baking dish
• Apple peeler tool
• The perfect linen apron

This apple cake is so moist and good and can be eaten without frosting or served with a drizzle of caramel sauce! I love it with the caramel sauce, but brilliant me was reheating it in the microwave and completely forgot it there when I was photographing this recipe! You guys know the kids have stolen all my brain cells so I hope you’ll forgive me.

Just eat the cake.

Love apple recipes? Check out these delicious choices!

• Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
• Banana Applesauce Muffins
• Amish Apple or Pear Crisp
• Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal

Also a big thanks to my friend Katie of Katie Osborn Photography for sharing her photography expertise with me! She’s coaching me to get off auto mode with my big girl camera!

Pair this apple cake with a big glass of milk or a steaming mug of coffee and you are good to go! I’m also known to give this to my kiddos for breakfast when I’m feeling especially generous. Hope you enjoy it with your family like I’ve enjoyed it with mine!