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German Apple Cake
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German Apple Cake

I'm call this apple cake the quintessential autumn dessert. It's simple and easy to make. It doesn't require the use of a stand mixer or electric hand mixer. And it's the perfect recipe when you only have one apple on hand!
Yield: 8-inch square pan
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, German
Servings: 9

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (130 g)
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutemg
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113 g), room temp
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar (100 g), packed
  • cup granulated sugar (68 g)
  • 2 large eggs , lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping:

  • 1 large Granny Smith apple , cored, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • sifted powdered sugar, to garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350℉.  Cut parchment paper about 2 inches larger than the pan. Line 8-inch cake pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to extend over the edges.  Lightly coat with butter or cooking spray.  Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined. Add flour mixture and stir until just combined.
  • Transfer batter to prepared cake pan. Use the back of a spoon or a mini offset spatula to evenly distribute batter in pan.
  • Apple Topping: In a small bowl whisk together sugar and cinnamon. Add sliced apples. Toss to coat in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Arrange apple slices on top of batter in desired configuration.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Unmold by lifting excess parchment paper overhang. Allow to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with powdered sugar, if desired.

Notes

Ingredients: Good substitutes for Granny Smith apples include Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious. 
  • This recipe also works well with stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, or plum. 
Storage: Store cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Keep in the fridge for longer storage, up to a week. 

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 374mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg