Description
A tender, slightly crisp German apple cake with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar glaze. This easy, make-ahead dessert bridges traditional flavors with modern simplicity, perfect for cozy fall evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large apples (about 1.5 lbs / 680g), peeled and sliced (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (113g / 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional but recommended)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- For the Glaze: ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- For the Glaze: 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- For the Glaze: 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 inch square pan.
- Peel, core, and slice apples into thin wedges or small cubes. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom.
- In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly pale.
- Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in the sliced apples gently.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- In a small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon for the glaze.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the batter.
- Drizzle the 2 tablespoons of melted butter evenly over the sugar layer.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
- If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
This cake tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not refrigerate. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil or plant-based butter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Oktoberfest, German Apple Cake, Cinnamon Glaze, Fall Dessert, Easy Cake, Apple Dessert, Cinnamon Sugar, Cozy Baking