Traditional Spiced Apple Cake

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 50 min
🍽 Serves: 8
★★★★★
Be the First to Review!

If you're in the mood for a cozy, nostalgic treat, this Traditional Spiced Apple Cake is just the ticket. It's a delightful blend of warm spices and juicy apples that captures the essence of fall in every bite. Perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying solo with a good book.

Ingredients for Traditional Spiced Apple Cake

The heart of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the quality of its ingredients. Butter provides a rich foundation, creamed with sugar to create a tender, sweet base. Eggs add structure and moisture, while vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile. Our dry mix relies on all-purpose flour for structure, with baking soda ensuring a nice rise. Salt balances the sweetness and highlights the spices. Speaking of spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are the trio that infuse every bite with warmth. The star, of course, is the apples, which keep the cake moist and add natural sweetness. Finally, walnuts (optional) introduce a delightful crunch.

Tips & Tricks

  • Use a mix of apple varieties for a more complex flavor.
  • Chop apples uniformly to ensure even baking.
  • To prevent sticking, line the bottom of your pan with parchment paper.
  • Check your cake a few minutes early; ovens can vary in temperature.

Serving Suggestions

This cake is delightful served slightly warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For an extra touch, drizzle with a simple glaze made of powdered sugar and a splash of apple cider. Serve alongside a warm mug of chai tea for the ultimate autumn experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
Yes, but the texture will be denser. Consider using half whole wheat and half all-purpose for a balance.
What type of apples are best for this recipe?
Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work well due to their firm texture and balanced sweetness.

Traditional Spiced Apple Cake Recipe Walkthrough

Let's begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While that's heating up, prepare a 9-inch square baking pan by greasing it lightly and dusting it with flour. This step ensures your cake releases easily after baking.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until they're light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add this dry mixture to your creamed mixture. I like to do this in two parts, mixing just until the flour disappears to avoid overmixing.

Now, gently fold in the diced apples. If you're using walnuts, add them at this point as well. Pour your batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.

Bake your cake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes. You'll know it's done when the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Perfect balance of spices that warm your soul.
  • Deliciously moist texture thanks to fresh apples.
  • Simple to make yet impressively flavorful.
  • Flexible for dietary needs – easily omit nuts for allergies.
  • Great for using up a bounty of apples.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cups peeled and diced apples
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
6. Fold in the diced apples and walnuts, if using.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
8. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ratings and Comments

Thank you for your rating!