This classic apple cake is moist, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion. It’s filled with tender chunks of apple and warm spices, making it a comforting treat.
Ingredients:
- For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Gala), peeled, cored, and diced
- Optional Topping:
- Powdered sugar for dusting, or a caramel sauce.
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prepare:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour a 9-inch square or round baking pan.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves (if using), and salt.
- Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil or melted butter, eggs, milk or buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add Apples:
- Fold the diced apples into the batter.
- Bake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool:
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve:
- Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with caramel sauce before serving, if desired.
Tips for the best cake:
- For extra flavor, toss the diced apples with a little cinnamon and sugar before adding them to the batter.
- Using a mix of apple types give your cake a deeper more complex apple flavor.
- Buttermilk will create a more tender cake.
- Allow the cake to fully cool before dusting with powdered sugar.
Enjoy your delicious homemade apple cake!