Few desserts capture the comforting essence of home baking quite like Cinnamon Apple Cake. With tender chunks of fresh apples, warm cinnamon spice, and a soft, moist crumb, this cake is the perfect blend of sweetness and spice. It’s ideal for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or even an afternoon coffee break.
Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a family gathering, or just craving something comforting and homemade, this Cinnamon Apple Cake is guaranteed to impress. It’s simple to prepare, uses everyday ingredients, and fills your kitchen with the most irresistible aroma while it bakes.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Apple Cake
- Incredibly moist and tender thanks to fresh apples
- Packed with warm cinnamon flavor
- Perfect for any time of day — breakfast, snack, or dessert
- Simple ingredients you likely already have
- Freezes beautifully for make-ahead convenience
- Great for fall and holidays, but delicious year-round
🍎 Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk or buttermilk
- 2 cups chopped apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work best)
Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves for extra spice
Optional Topping:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Cream cheese glaze
- Cinnamon streusel topping
👩🍳 How to Make Cinnamon Apple Cake
1. Preheat & Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan or a round 9-inch cake pan.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg (if using)
Set aside.
3. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk together:
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Oil or melted butter
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Milk
Mix until smooth and fully combined.
4. Combine & Fold in Apples
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
Fold in the chopped apples (and nuts or raisins if using).
5. Bake
Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool & Serve
Allow to cool for 15–20 minutes before slicing.
Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze if desired.
🌟 Expert Baking Tips
- Use fresh apples, not canned, for the best texture.
- Granny Smith apples give a perfect balance of tart and sweet.
- Don’t overmix the batter—this keeps the cake tender.
- Dice apples small for even distribution throughout the cake.
- Add a streusel topping for bakery-style crunch.
🍏 Delicious Variations
1. Cinnamon Apple Crumb Cake
Top with a buttery brown sugar streusel before baking.
2. Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake
Bake in a greased Bundt pan for 50–60 minutes for a stunning presentation.
3. Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Add a swirl of cinnamon sugar through the middle.
4. Gluten-Free Version
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
5. Caramel Apple Cake
Drizzle warm caramel sauce over each slice before serving.
☕ What to Serve with Cinnamon Apple Cake
- Hot coffee or cappuccino
- Chai tea or spiced tea
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Warm caramel sauce
- A scoop of cinnamon butter
This cake is equally delicious warm or at room temperature.
❄️ How to Store & Freeze
Store at Room Temperature
Keep in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
Refrigerate
Store up to 1 week if topped with cream cheese glaze.
Freeze
Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
💛 Final Thoughts
This Cinnamon Apple Cake is everything a homemade dessert should be—warm, moist, flavorful, and comforting. With its rich cinnamon spice and juicy apple bites, it delivers the perfect balance of sweetness and nostalgia in every slice.
Whether you’re baking it for a cozy fall treat, a holiday dessert table, or a simple family gathering, this cake is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Print
Cinnamon Apple Cake: Moist, Cozy, and Bursting with Warm Fall Flavor
Ingredients
Cake:
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour (or 1¼ cups almond flour + 2 tbsp coconut flour for keto)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar (or monk fruit brown sugar blend)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• 2 cups peeled & diced apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
Cinnamon Swirl:
• 3 tbsp brown sugar (or erythritol blend)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp melted butter
Maple Glaze:
• ¾ cup powdered sugar (or powdered erythritol)
• 1½ tbsp pure maple syrup (or sugar-free maple syrup)
• 1–2 tsp milk
• Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9″ round or 8×8″ square pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1½ tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Mix in sour cream.
- Fold in dry ingredients just until combined. Gently stir in apples.
- Spread half the batter into pan. Mix swirl ingredients; sprinkle evenly over batter. Top with remaining batter (don’t stir—swirl gently with a knife if desired).
- Bake 40–45 mins—until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 15 mins in pan.
- Glaze: Whisk all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over warm cake. Let set 10 mins before slicing.
PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time: 20 mins, Cook Time: 43 mins, Total Time: 1 hr 3 mins (+ cooling), Servings: 9
Calories: 280, Net Carbs: 36g, Fats: 12g, Protein: 4g
✅ Keto version: ~6g net carbs/slice — warmly spiced and deeply satisfying.