Easy Apple Cake

This cake is an old stand-by that I have made for years. The recipe is easy, and it’s especially good when you make it with tart apples like Granny Smiths or Pippins. The cake can also be made without the crumb topping, and served warm sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied by a scoop of ice cream. I have also made the plain cake and topped it with a caramel frosting.

  • 2 cups apples, peeled and cut into small pieces (2 to 3 large apples)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup nuts (optional)

Crumb mixture:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

In a large bowl, sprinkle the apples with the sugar, stir well and let stand for 30 minutes. (This is important, because the sugar creates some liquid which is needed to thin the batter.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and stir well. You may think something is wrong, because at this point the batter is very thick. Don’t worry, just mix in the apple-sugar mixture and stir until combined. Spread into a greased 8-inch square baking pan. You can bake the cake now without adding the topping, for 30 to 35 minutes. Or continue as follows:

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter, cutting the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork until the mixture is combined and the crumbs are about the size of small peas. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the cake batter and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or cold. Makes about 9 servings.

1 thought on “Easy Apple Cake”

  1. Pingback: A Sweet, Easy Autumn Apple Cake « Happy Simple Living

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