The best old-fashioned apple cake recipe made with fresh apples. The cake is moist with delicious chunks of apple, fruity, and full of flavor and spice.

This Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe is perfect for fall, Thanksgiving, or really any time of the year. I love having it with some ice cream on the side or some tea. So comforting!

Apple desserts like Homemade Apple Pie, Cinnamon Rolls With Apple Pie Filling, and Tarte Tatin have my heart. There’s something about apple and baking that works!

Add this old fashioned fresh apple cake recipe to your repertoire of Thanksgiving recipes. So good for fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, breakfast, or for when you just want to snack on some delicious cake.

The Perfect Recipe For Apple Season

Let me tell you something. I went shopping and I bought just apples for about $20. And I only shopped for about $30 so it was a ‘buy buy apple’ kind of day.

You guys, I bought 6 Honeycrisp apples for over $10. What? After checking my receipt and doing the math while I got back home, I almost said aloud, “Why are people so wicked?”

As in why would you sell one apple for almost $2?! Next time I am going to the apple orchard for a better bargain (and some apple picking!).

Am I the only one who scrutinizes grocery receipts after buying? I mean I get home, take out my receipt, and start to check one item after the other and the prices.

Maybe it’s the African blood in me but I always feel like the cashier is trying to/going to cheat me. Trust issues. Ha.

Best Apples For Apple Cake

Honeycrisp apples are ideal for a fresh apple cake recipe with chunks of apple because they hold their shape nicely when baked.

My second choice is granny smith apples which are also so good in apple desserts like homemade apple pie or tarte tatin.

Watch How To Make Fresh Apple Cake

This Fresh Apple Cake Recipe is so easy! And you can see how easy that is when you watch me putting it together in the video. 

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Ingredients For Fresh Apple Cake

The ingredients for this old fashioned fresh apple cake are pretty simple:

• Apples: Granny Smith or honey crisp apples would work.
• Flour: You need all-purpose or plain flour for this recipe.
• Butter: The butter should be softened at room temperature so it easily creams with the sugar.
• Granulated sugar: Cane sugar would work as well.
• Cinnamon powder: Essential for adding spice. Cinnamon and apples go well together.
• Vanilla Extract: Check out my homemade vanilla extract recipe.
• Lemon zest: Adds freshness.
• Milk: Whole milk or evaporated milk would work. You could also substitute with buttermilk in a pinch.
• Egg: Adds richness and binds the ingredients together.
• Salt: Balances all the flavors.

For the full list of ingredients with measurements, check out the recipe card below.

How To Make Apple Cake With Fresh Apples

Here are the simple steps involved in making apple cake from scratch!

1. The first thing to do is core, peel, and chop the apples. Then sprinkle two tablespoons of flour on top and toss to coat them.

2. Then cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. An electric beater makes the work easier.

3. Then add in the eggs one at a time and beat lightly. Adding the eggs one at a time allows you to carefully incorporate each egg. But do not overmix.

4. Then add in the liquid milk (check the full recipe below for quantity). Mix and add in thespices. Now I have to talk about the combo of vanilla extract, lemon zest, and cinnamon in this recipe. It is bombzilla – it gives the cake such a fresh fruity spicy taste.

5. Add some flour, salt, and baking powder to the dry ingredients and mix to form a batter. Do not overmix. Mix until just combined.

6. Once the batter is mixed, add in the chopped apples and gently fold in.

7. Now pour that batter into a greased cake pan, being sure to level the batter at the top.

8. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Hint: My apple cake is usually a light brown color when it comes out of the oven. I love it this way because it remains nice and moist. If it stays too long in the oven, it becomes dry – not good.

9. Now sieve some icing sugar over the top of the cake to take it over the top and for a beautiful presentation.

10. Cut yourself a slice...

And enjoy the wonders of lovely chunks of apple in a cake. This right here is a trip to cake heaven.

My girls, Mr. N and I are all in love with this cake. The girls had some for breakfast this morning with some hot cocoa on the side. They totally love this apple cake made with fresh apples.

Success Tips For The Best Apple Cake!

• If you dislike chunks of apples in your cake, shred the apples instead.
• Once the cake is done, take it out of the oven. Any extra time in the oven will make the cake turn from moist to dry.
• Do not over-beat the eggs.
• Also, do not over-mix the batter. Once the ingredients are incorporated, you are good to go!
• If you have any doubts, watch the apple cake video for clarification.

That’s it, folks. A delicious old fashioned fresh apple cake waiting to be baked by you. Let me know how you like it!

Also, do you ever cook with apples in your life? What are your favorite apple recipes?

More Delicious Treats For Thanksgiving

Other spectacular cake recipes here on the blog:

• Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Cake
• Mango Upside-Down Cake

*This recipe has been updated.

If you make this recipe, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me: @preciouscore, or share a photo on my Facebook page. I’d love to see it!

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