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Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze is a sugary sweet cake filled with fresh apples, pecans, and topped with buttery brown sugar decadence. This simple cake is a little slice of comfort just waiting to be devoured!
This Fresh Apple Cake is packed full of sugary goodness. Thanks to the wonderful folks at Imperial Sugar for providing me with all the sweets for Apple Week!
Being a food blogger sure does require using lots of sugar, so I am so very thankful for the abundance they so graciously shared with me! And I have to say I have always been so impressed by the quality of the product. It’s always a perfect consistency and never clumps up (And that is so important y’all)! Just perfect for all this Southern Baking going on this week.
Sweet Hospitality
And speaking of sweet! I have to tell you about some of the wonderful people we have come to know and love through my daughter. You may have heard me talk about her going away to college. She has made her way to Mississippi via a friend that moved here to FL for a few years with her family and then moved back to her hometown. Well, that took my daughter there for spring break and summer visits to see her friend she missed so dearly.
So when the time to go to college came around she wanted to be with her bestie and some of the wonderful friends she had made. That led us to visits in Mississippi and meet Marilese’s (Bri’s friend) grandparents, who generously opened their home to us!
If you ever get a chance you want to visit (wink wink), because both Wayne and Barbara Carter are the SWEETEST friends, best cooks, and most hospitable people you will ever meet! Wayne had breakfast ready each morning and it was a feast! We also enjoyed long talks, laughs, sightseeing, and family dinners with them. AND…. Barbara’s Fresh Apple Cake! This is one of the recipes I had to bring home and share with you! There may be more in the future because they can cook!
What is Apple Cake?
Apple cake is a moist, flavorful dessert that lets fresh apples shine as the star ingredient, often paired with crunchy nuts, warm spices, and a buttery glaze or frosting. It’s one of those desserts that can be dense and rich or light and tender, and this recipe hits the perfect balance with just the right texture. The apples bring a natural sweetness and keep every bite wonderfully moist.
While it’s often thought of as a fall dessert when apples are in season, apple cake is truly a year-round favorite. Its cozy, comforting flavors make it perfect for family gatherings or simply treating yourself to something homemade and absolutely delicious.
What You’ll Need for the Best Apple Cake Recipe
- Cooking Oil: Helps keep the cake super moist. Stick to neutral oils like vegetable or canola.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar is key to balancing the tartness of the apples.
- Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the cake.
- Self-Rising Flour: Makes this cake foolproof. No extra leavening agents needed!
- Vanilla: Enhances all the flavors in the cake and glaze.
- Nuts: Pecans or walnuts work best; chop them finely for even distribution.
- Granny Smith Apples: Their tartness balances the sweetness of the cake beautifully.
What Kind of Apples for Apple Cake?
For apple cake, firm and slightly tart apples like Granny Smith(my pick), but Braeburn, Jonathan, and Pacific Rose are a fantastic choice because they hold their shape well during baking and balance the sweetness of the cake.
If you prefer a sweeter flavor, varieties like Honeycrisp, Jazz, Fuji, or Pink Lady work beautifully too. Just make sure to choose apples that are firm enough to avoid turning mushy in the cake.
How to Make Apple Cake with Fresh Apples
Step 1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix oil and sugar until well combined. Add in eggs one at a time. Slowly add in self-rising flour until combined and mix in vanilla. Fold in nuts and apples. The batter will be very thick.
TIP for using All Purpose Flour: Mrs. Barbara makes this with self-rising flour. But you can use all-purpose flour if you do not have self-rising. Her original recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
Step 3. Spread into prepared 9 X 13 dish. Bake for about 40 to 55 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool as you start the glaze.
Brown Sugar Glaze for Apple Cake
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Step 1 for Glaze. In a saucepan, over medium heat, while stirring add butter and brown sugar and cook until it dissolves. Add in powdered sugar and milk and stir until well combined and melted into the glaze.
Step 2 for Glaze. Immediately pour glaze over the cake and serve warm.
How to Serve Fresh Apple Cake with Glaze
This apple cake can truly stand on its own with its moist texture, tender chunks of apple, and that rich buttery glaze that soaks into every bite.
For an extra treat, serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to complement the flavors. It’s equally delicious with a hot cup of coffee or tea for a cozy afternoon indulgence!
How to Store Apple Cake with Glaze
Make Ahead: Prepare the cake but hold off on adding the glaze. Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for up to 2 days. If freezing, wrap the unglazed cake in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add the glaze before serving.
Refrigerator: For longer storage, refrigerate the cake for up to 5 days. Be sure it’s covered to keep it moist.
Freezing Leftovers Instructions: Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw slices at room temperature or in the refrigerator, then warm gently if desired. If the glaze is on the cake, heating will melt it into the cake.
Does apple cake need to be refrigerated?
Apple cake doesn’t need to be refrigerated if you plan to enjoy it within 1-2 days. Simply cover it tightly and store it at room temperature. However, if you’d like to keep it fresh longer, you can refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze apple cake?
Yes, you can freeze apple cake! To freeze the cake, let it cool completely and skip the glaze until after it’s thawed (if possible glaze after freezing for best glaze texture). Wrap the entire cake or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Make sure to share Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze with someone you love! I truly believe recipes are meant to be shared. I am so glad the Carters shared this with me. Not only do I now have lifelong friends, I have cherished memories made around the table!
Other Apple Recipes to Enjoy
- Apple Butter Cheesecake Tart
- Instant Pot Apple Butter
- Bourbon Apple Pecan Bread Pudding
- Apple Pecan Sticky Bun Bites
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Fresh Apple Cake Recipe from Scratch
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ¼ cups cooking oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 ½ cups self rising flour
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup nuts, chopped
- 3 apples, peeled & chopped, (I use granny smith apples)
Glaze
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
- ¾ cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix oil and sugar until well combined. Add in eggs one at a time. Slowly add in flour until combined and mix in vanilla. Fold in nuts and apples.
- Bake for about 40 to 55 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool as your start the glaze.
Brown Sugar Glaze
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, while stirring add butter and brown sugar and cook until it dissolves. Add in powdered sugar and milk and stir until well combined and melted into glaze.
- Immediately pour glaze over cake and serve warm.
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Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
I’m here for this cake!! Yummmm!
This apple cake is seriously fall in a pan! Printing this out to make next time apples are in season!
I’m always ready for a delicious cake! Can’t wait to make this festive fall recipe this weekend!
This is sooo delicious! The whole family loved it and they want me to make more!
I think it turned out good. Thank you so much for sharing. I will be making it again with a few adjustments. For me, I felt there just wasnt enough apple flavor (I used two granny and one honey crisp) and in all was a bit too sweet for me. (But not my BF! He loved it!) I think i will drizzle the glaze rather than pour it on the entire cake next time for sure. I did have the issue of the brown sugar not dissolving and I’m not sure why. I will work on that next round! Also, I cant wait to try it next day though! 🙂
Thank you and I look forward to trying some of your other recipes very soon!
Tina
Thank you, Tina. You can definitely add more apple if you want! It’s hard to say what happened with the brown sugar. Brown sugar does take a little more time than white sugar does to dissolve. I look forward to seeing you around and hearing from you!
This is absolutely delicious cut the recipe in 1/2 used a 8×8 pan and it turned out fantastic even better the next day. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Lisa! I agree I love it the next day too!
This a very beautiful dish thanks for sharing
You are so welcome and thank you so much!
Very easy to make and absolutely delicious!!! I added a teaspoon of cinnamon ….
Thank you Mimi! I love your addition of cinnamon.
I just wanted to let you know that I have made this 3 times and every time I take it somewhere I am handing out your blog recipe!! This really is the perfect apple cake!
Thank you so much! I appreciate you sharing the apple cake love! I love this time of year! I call it baking season.
I followed your recipe to a T and it was the perfect amount of apples and sauce— The sweetness of the cake was so good with the apples…. I will be making this for so many potlucks coming up!
Thank you Michele! It’s a great one to share – it makes plenty!
just when I thought that apples couldn’t get any better, this brown sugar glaze comes along! I am definitely making this again with Granny Smith next time!
I know I could eat that glaze by itself! It’s def good with granny smiths! Enjoy!
This is a delicious cake and one of my husband’s favorite! The glaze is so delicious. We’ll be making this over and over again. Thank you!
Thank you Sandra! I’m with your hubby, one of my favorite fall desserts!
I am so excited to make this recipe! It looks positively DELICIOUS!
Thank you Brandi! I hope you enjoy a slice this fall!
Your cakes are just amazing, and I’m sure this one will be stellar too. I love apple anything and can’t wait to give this one a try!
Thank you Julie! I do enjoy baking! This one is a dear friends recipe and it’s just delicious!
So delicious, we love the texture of this cake (as did everyone else!) Not much leftover either – what a treat!
Thank you Deb! I am so happy it was a hit! You’ll just have to make another since there weren’t many leftovers 😉
I’m not a novice baker, but I’m on my second round of trying to make the glaze. The brown sugar won’t dissolve. I’ve followed the directions both times. The first time I went ahead and added the milk and powdered sugar and it turned into a stiff glob. Second time the I just stirred and cooked the butter and brown together as directed and brown sugar is still gritty. I decided not to waste any more powdered this time and will just look up another type of glaze to use on the cake, but would like to know if anyone else has had this issue, or if you can tell me what the problem might be. My brown sugar is fresh, so I know that’s not the problem. Thanks.
Tanya, I am unsure of what may be happening. I have made this glaze several times and it turns out. Usually brown sugar will dissolve in butter on the stove top. This one is stumping me. Possibly your heat was too high?
Does this cake need to be refrigerated, or stored covered on the counter top?
I store it in the refrigerator but it does become quite moist. The person that shared the recipe with me says she stores it on the counter.
Hi Nikki, I see you did not leave my original comment on lIne for others to see my problem with the bottom of the cake having too much liquid LEFT in the dish after baking. Do you leave only the favorable comments?
Anyway, I halved the recipe except for the apples, I found that in a cake pan 8×8, 1/2 to 3/4 cup apples were plenty, (One would have been too much) I also baked it for 45 minutes then it sat for awhile. I then poured the brown sugar glaze over it and it was moist but no liquid in the bottom as before.
It may do better if the temperature was raised to 350. I will try that next time.
Linda D.
No I do add all comments, but I had an issue with site, so I will go back and see if I can get them added back in. My reply wasn’t there either. I am glad that you were able to get this to your liking! We enjoy this cake so much and I would hate for anyone to miss out on the deliciousness shared by such a great friend of mine.
Thank you for sharing at our apple celebration of Celebrate 365 Blog Party!
This sounds wonderful.. Is there a particular apple you use in the cake? Thank you.
I am rating the cake just based on how wonderful it sounds and will come back to rate again once I have actually made it.
Thank you Bernice! I will update the recipe to include. I use granny smith apples. I like the tart apple with all the sweetness in the cake!