Easy Country Apple Cake
This simple apple cake recipe for fall combines fresh apples, warm cinnamon, and pantry staples for a dessert that’s super easy to make.
Old-fashioned country apple cake is an easy homemade dessert that’s just as welcome with an afternoon cup of coffee as it is after dinner.

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There’s something about an old-fashioned apple cake that makes you feel right at home once apple season rolls around.
Made with fresh apples and a handful of everyday pantry staples, it’s the kind of cake that’s simple enough for an ordinary afternoon but special enough to share with family and friends.
This is one of those recipes that works just as well with a cup of coffee in the morning as it does after supper. The tender cake, bits of sweet apple, and cinnamon sugar topping come together without a long ingredient list or anything complicated.
If you’ve been looking for a simple apple cake recipe for fall, this one is perfect to keep on hand!
Autumn Apple Recipes:

Old-Fashioned Country Apple Cake
This country apple cake keeps the focus on the apples instead of covering them up with lots of extra ingredients. It’s the type of cake your grandmother would make.
Fresh diced apples stay soft as the cake bakes, adding moisture and little pockets of fruit throughout every slice.
The cinnamon sugar on top gives the cake a lightly crisp finish that pairs nicely with the tender crumb underneath.
Another reason this recipe works so well is its flexibility. Sour cream gives the cake a slightly richer texture, but milk works beautifully if that’s what you have on hand.
You can also use different apple varieties depending on what’s available, making this cake with fresh apples easy to enjoy throughout the season.
It can even be baked ahead of time since it stays moist for several days when covered.

How to Make an Easy Apple Cake
It’s really easy to make cake with fresh apples.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Unsalted Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Milk Or Sour Cream
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Apples
- Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon

How to Make It:
Find the full printable recipe available below
Combine the wet ingredients. First, you’ll beat together sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, milk (or sour cream), and vanilla extract.
Mix to combine. The mixture may look clumpy at this point, but that’s normal.

Add the dry ingredients. Then, you’ll add flour and baking powder, mixing on low speed just until combined.

Fold in the apples. Then, you’ll gently fold the diced apples into the batter until they’re incorporated throughout. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake the cake. Then, you’ll bake in a preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
You can serve warm or let the cake cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes and Adaptations:
- This can can be served for dessert or breakfast. Enjoy it as-is or add a scoop of ice cream and caramel drizzle to dress it up.
- Leftover cake can be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Recommended Equipment:

Country Apple Cake
Ingredients
For Cake Batter:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk or sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 apples (peeled and diced; approx. 1.5 cups)
For Topping:
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch cake pan or pie plate. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer), beat together sugar and butter until pale and fluffy.
- Add eggs, milk (or sour cream), and vanilla extract. Mix to combine. The mixture may look clumpy at this point, but that's normal.
- Add flour and baking powder, mixing on low speed just until combined.
- Gently fold the diced apples into the batter until they're incorporated throughout. Spread batter into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- You can serve warm or let the cake cool completely.
Notes
- This can can be served for dessert or breakfast. Enjoy it as-is or add a scoop of ice cream and caramel drizzle to dress it up.
- Leftover cake can be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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