There’s nothing quite like the warm, comforting aroma of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven. Apple cakes are the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, and they can be as simple as a two-ingredient mix or as special as a homemade caramel-drizzled bundt cake. In this collection, you’ll find 5 easy and delicious apple cake recipes that are perfect for fall, holidays, or any time you’re craving a cozy treat.
From the effortless 2 Ingredient Apple Spice Cake to the rustic charm of a Swedish Apple Cake, these recipes bring out the best in apples and will make your kitchen smell amazing. Whether you’re a beginner baker or an experienced cook, there’s an apple cake here that you’ll want to make again and again.
2 Ingredient Apple Spice Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box spice cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1 can apple pie filling (21 oz)
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine spice cake mix and apple pie filling. Mix until just blended (batter will be thick and chunky).
- Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Cooking Notes & Tips
- For extra texture, stir in chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- Add a dusting of powdered sugar or drizzle of caramel sauce for presentation.
Apple Bundt Cake
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 cups peeled, chopped apples
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Add eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
- Fold in chopped apples (and nuts if using).
- Pour batter into bundt pan.
- Bake 55–65 minutes, until cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Cooking Notes & Tips
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for best flavor.
- Drizzle with caramel glaze or cream cheese frosting for a sweet finish.
- Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cans apple pie filling (21 oz each)
- 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter (sliced)
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread apple pie filling evenly in the dish.
- Drizzle caramel sauce over apples.
- Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly on top.
- Place butter slices evenly over cake mix.
- Bake 45–50 minutes, until top is golden and bubbly.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Cooking Notes & Tips
- Best served warm with vanilla ice cream.
- For crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans before baking.
- Swap yellow cake mix for spice cake mix for extra flavor.
Caramel Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups peeled, chopped apples
- ½ cup caramel sauce (plus more for topping)
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time.
- Stir in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk.
- Fold in apples and ½ cup caramel sauce.
- Pour into prepared dish and bake 40–45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool slightly and drizzle with more caramel sauce before serving.
Cooking Notes & Tips
- Use tart apples for balance with the caramel.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- Store in fridge up to 4 days, warm before serving.
Swedish Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- 2–3 apples, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon (for topping)
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round springform pan.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.
- Stir in dry ingredients alternately with milk.
- Spread batter into prepared pan.
- Arrange apple slices on top in a spiral pattern.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake 40–45 minutes, until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool before slicing.
Cooking Notes & Tips
- Traditionally served with whipped cream or vanilla sauce.
- Use firm apples for best texture.
- Add a handful of sliced almonds on top for crunch.
Conclusion
Apple cakes are timeless desserts that never go out of style. With their soft texture, warm spices, and the natural sweetness of apples, they’re loved by kids and adults alike. The best part is their versatility—whether you’re baking a quick dump cake, an elegant bundt cake, or a rustic Swedish classic, you’ll always end up with something delicious to share.
So the next time you have a basket of apples, try one of these cozy cakes. Pair it with coffee, serve it warm with ice cream, or enjoy a slice for breakfast—you really can’t go wrong. These recipes are simple, comforting, and sure to become favorites in your kitchen.