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Homemade and better than the bakery, this Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake will become a new fall favorite! Made with boiled-down spiced apple cider, maple syrup, apple butter, and a mix of warming, cozy autumn spices. This cake is topped with sweet cinnamon sugar just before baking. Enjoy the warm smells of fall while this cake bakes away. It’s one of the best baked goods!
There are 3 secrets here. The first is to boil down the apple cider to concentrate its flavor. The second is to use spiced apple butter, it provides even more delicious apple flavor. And finally, serve the cake with warm salted honey butter – so delish!
When the apples are pretty, sweet, and delicious, it’s time to bake with them. September is my favorite month for using apples. I know everyone’s started in on the pumpkin craze, but in September, I bake with apples.
In my opinion, we can save the pumpkin for October and November. It makes it even more special!
So far this month, we’ve made shortcut easy apple fritters (my favorite), apple cider doughnut cookies (with melty chocolate), and now this most perfect apple cake.
Shockingly I’ve never made a simple apple cake before. I have apple doughnuts, maple glazed apple pull-apart bread, and even apple mini cakes, but a sweet apple-filled cake is something the site has been missing. So here we go!
Details
Step 1: boil the cider
Start by boiling down the cider. I’ve been doing this for pretty much every sweet apple recipe I’ve shared. Boiling the cider gives you an even more concentrated flavor that really comes through in the end.
Once the cider has boiled and reduced, continue on with the recipe.
Step 2: mix the batter
It’s a simple batter made with basic ingredients: vanilla, eggs, apple butter, and, of course, apple cider. I also use the perfect combination of warm autumn spices and very thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples.
For my apples, I love to leave the skin on. The skin provides more flavor and more fiber! If you prefer, you can also remove the skin, but around here, there’s no time for that!
Step 3: the cinnamon sugar
I mix granulated sugar with ground cinnamon and cold shredded salted butter.
Just take a very cold stick of butter and use a box grater to shred it. Just like cheese!
Now bake the batter into a sweet sheet cake. The smells from the oven will be better than your fall candles. It’s just wonderful and so cozy.
Step 4: salted honey butter
I’d say this is optional, but really, it’s not. You just have to smear this all over your warm cake. Mix soft salted butter with sweet honey, it’s the most indulgent addition. It’s absolutely what your cake needs.
Serve with coffee, hot cocoa, or even a steaming mug of cider for a quintessential fall treat!
Looking for apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita
Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots
Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds
Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Doughnut Holes
Lastly, if you make this Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake
Servings: 15
Calories Per Serving: 374 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2-3 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice
- 2-3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, grated
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.2. Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until reduced to 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat. Let cool.3. In a large bowl, stir together the boiled cider, coconut oil, vanilla, egg, maple syrup, and apple butter, until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, apple/pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix until just combined. Fold in the apples. The batter will be thick. 4. Spread the batter evenly among the prepared dish. 5. In a bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, and grated butter until a clumpy sugar forms. Sprinkle the sugar over the surface of the cake. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until just set. 6. Serve the cake warm with honey butter (see notes). Enjoy!
Notes
Salted Honey Butter: In a bowl, combine 6 tablespoons butter, 6 tablespoons honey, and a pinch of sea salt.
Pumpkin Spice: mix 1/4 cup cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ginger, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cloves, and 1 teaspoon allspice.
This post was originally published on September 19, 2023
Ok, I just had a little piece of this, fresh from the oven and it is SO GOOD. The perfect amount of spice, perfect amount of apple flavor. Honestly, no honey butter is needed for this delicious cake. The crunch from the cinnamon sugar/butter topping really makes it.
Love to hear this! Thank you so so much! xT
So delicious as whatever cinnamon spice in it is my favourite………..
Thank you!
These look amazing! Could you make these into muffins/cupcakes?
Hey Marissa! I personally haven’t tried that before but I think that should work well! xT
YES YES YES!!! More apple recipes – especially in September!
Looove a good apple recipe! xT
This is too rich for me; the cinnamon sugar is simply too rich; I would use less; otherwise, this is good and thank you for sharing.
Oh no I’m so sorry about that! Thank you for letting me know!
Can I use applesauce verses apple butter? Do you think it would change the flavor too much?
Hi there! Yes, that should be fine! xT
In the headnote, you call for spiced apple cider, but you don’t list that type in the ingredients. Which should be used? Also, a thousand years ago when I was in college, I discovered honey butter. It came in a tub or jar and was heaven on earth. Ever seen it? Any suggestions on where to find it? I’d love to have it on hand for this cake.
What oil can be substituted for the coconut oil?
you can make it yourself. soften a stick or two of butter, glob some honey in there and mix with a beater.
Canola oil or melted butter! xT
Can you give me an approx total weight for the sliced apples needed? Mine are all different sizes!
Hi there! I would suggest using medium-large apples! xT
Hi. I was curious about the apples also. Since your recipe says 2-3 apples, do you have any pointers for when we might be using too many or too few apples?
Would love to try making this cake but I don’t have coconut oil. Can I substitute canola oil?
Yeah, definitely! xT
Is the apple cider optional or is there a substitute? I don’t have any at home and would love to make this cake tonight.
You could use apple juice! xT
How do you feel about substituting coconut sugar for Cain sugar?
Hi! I haven’t ever tried that so I can’t say for sure! xT
Can you freeze this cake?
Yes, that should be fine! xT
YES!!!!! Apples in September. I just can’t do pumpkin in September. I guess I worked in the school system too long. Johnny Appleseed story and making applesauce at school was always in September. Ha!!
Haha love that!!
Any tips when using gluten free flour?
Hi there! I would maybe bake for a little less time! xT
I’m a sucker for any apple cake this time of year. This looks so delicious and easy!
xo Jessica
an indigo day
Hope you love the recipe!