Next Post
Baked Crunchy Maple Dijon Chicken.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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
Just wondering what a good sub for apple butter would be?
Applesauce would work great! xT
Would this be good with almond flour instead of all purpose flour? I have a bag of almond flour I’ve never used and I need to do something with it! Making this today and I’m so excited!
HI Jessica! I haven’t ever tried this with almond flour so can’t say for sure! So sorry! xT
Would this cake freeze well?
Hi there! Yes, that should be just fine! xT
Hands down THE BEST apple cake that I’ve ever had! Another outstanding recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Aw thank you so so much Laura! xT
Never said what to do with apple slices?? Assuming on top of batter before baking?
Hi there! At the end of Step 3 it says to fold in the apples! xT
I made this yesterday, everyone LOVED it and it disappeared after my daughter’s sleepover…. Making another one this morning! It’s absolutely delicious.
Can you bake this in 2 smaller dishes? What size is best
Hi there!I haven’t ever tried that before but I think that should work well! xT
In the oven now. Still deciding if I will make honey butter at end.
OMG soooooo delicious. I love it – can’t wait to share with the fam! Does it last in the fridge for a day or two? Still good to reheat and serve? Thank you!!
Absolutely incredible. Made this for Sunday night dinner with family and it was a huge hit. Be sure to not skip serving it warm with the honey butter!❤️🔥
Thank you so much for trying out the recipe! Have a great week! xT
Made this today for my dad’s birthday (he loves apple desserts) and this was a HUGE hit! So good and so easy to make! Thank you!!!
Thank you for taking the time to try out this recipe! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
I made this today and oh my gosh it is absolutely amazing!!! We served it warm with vanilla icecream.😋
Thank you for taking the time to try out this recipe! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
Could this recipe work for cupcakes?
This cake was absolutely amazing!!!! Loved everything about it and I am gluten free so I used Cup for Cup and friends said that they had no idea it was gluten free! The apple cider and how all the spices come together with the apples was just delicious! Thank you for my new favorite fall cake!!
I made this for my office. The ladies loved it! It was so good.
Thanks so so much Lisa! xT
This is a great fall cake! Loaded with apple flavor. My house smells amazing!
Thank you so much Tyra! xT
Can you sub anything for the coconut oil? Not something I typically have on hand. Thanks, can’t wait to try!
Vegetable oil or melted butter! xT
This recipe is insanely delicious. I’ll be making it as is again and again. New fall tradition. Thanks!
Thank you for giving this recipe a try! I really hope you loved it 🙂 xT
AMAZING!!! Used butter instead of coconut oil, cooked for 40 min and reduced the sugar just a tiny bit and came out sooo perfect. This and her cream cheese swirl apple bread are to die for!!!
Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe! I really hope you loved it! 🙂
In the oven now. I’m thinking about skipping the honey butter at the end. Thoughts?
Hi there! How did it turn out for you? Hope you enjoyed 🙂 xT