When the weather turns cooler, my thoughts turn to apples and my Buttery Apple Cake.…sigh.
It’s a cake I’ve enjoyed for as long as I can remember. It was first introduced to me as an Italian Apple Cake and after a few changes to the recipe the results were a this moist delicious cake that’s easy to make and easy to adapt to the fruits you have on hand.
And the best part about this cake is it only takes two-thirds a cup of flour to make.
What ingredients do I need to make a Buttery Apple Cake?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make a Buttery Apple Cake. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
What kind of apples should I use for an apple cake?
Whenever anyone mentions baking and apples, the first thought turns to Granny Smith. It may be sacrilege, but I don’t like those apples. And because I’m baking for my family I use the kind of apples I like. Feel free to use your favorite apple for this cake.
These are the varieties of apples I use for baking:
- Gala
- Fuji
- Honeycrisp
- Pink Lady
- Winesap
- Jonathon
Can I use canned or frozen apples to make an apple cake?
Yes you can. I’ve never used canned apples for this cake, but I’m pretty sure they would work. I just wouldn’t cook the canned apples in butter, just use them straight from the can (without any extra juice).
Do I have to use apples in this cake?
No, you don’t. This is a very forgiving cake recipe and can be used with a variety of fruit. These are some of my favorites.
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Peach
- Blueberries
- Pears
**You don’t have to cook berries or stone fruit for this cake, but any firmer fruits like pineapple or pears would benefit from sauteing with butter. You can also mix different fruits together if you don’t have enough of any one variety.
How do I make a Buttery Apple Cake?
The first step is melting the butter for the cake. Reserve six tablespoons of butter for the batter, using the rest to saute the apples.
Add the apple chunks to the pan and cook until tender over medium heat, 7-10 minutes. Remove the apples from the pan and allow to cool.
**Don’t remove any of the butter that may be left in the pan
While the apples are cooling prepare the ingredients for the apple cake.
- In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- In a large bowl beat the whole eggs and egg yolks until blended. Add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest.
Add the flour mixture and sauteed apples to the egg mixture, mix just enough to blend in the flour.
Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. The batter may seem a little loose but trust me as long as you followed my recipe it will turn out great.
My preferred cake pan for all my baking is the 9-inch Chicago Metallic Professional Grade Cake Pan.
An Off-set Spatula is also one of my favorite kitchen tools for baking. You’ll thank me every time you use it!
CHEF DENNIS TIP**
Add parchment to the bottom of the pan before you add the batter. It will be much easier to remove the finished cake from the pan.
Bake until the cake is golden brown, about 30-35 minutes. Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool in pan for 5 minutes
Don’t expect this cake to rise very much. There isn’t enough flour vs butter in the cake to get much of a rise. I use standard 9-inch baking pans. An 8-inch cake pan will give you a taller cake.
Invert the cake onto a plate to remove the pan and then invert again on your serving dish.
Serve warm from the oven with a sprinkle of confectioners sugar, whipped cream or ice cream.
Kitchen tools I use for my cakes
- offset spatula (essential for bakers)
- 9-inch USA Pan Bakeware cake pans
- 9-inch parchment cake circles
- silicone spatulas
- wire whisk
- mixing bowls
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Buttery Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 4 ounces unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 3 large Gala apples cut into chunks (feel free to use your favorite apple)
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 2 large whole eggs plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar (if you like a less sweeter cake cut the sugar back to ¾ of a cup)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp grated lemon zest
Instructions
- preheat the oven to 375º. Butter and flour a 9” round cake pan. Place a piece of parchment in the bottom of the pan.
- In a large frying pan over low heat, melt the butter, reserve 6 tbs for later.
- Add the apple chunks to the pan and cook until tender over medium heat, 7-10 minutes.
- In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- In a large bowl beat the whole eggs and egg yolks until blended. Add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest.
- Stir in flour mixture and sauteed apples (leave out any butter left in the pan). Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
- Bake until the cake is golden brown, about 30-35 minutes. Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool in pan for 5 minutes.
- Invert the cake onto a plate to remove the pan and then invert again on your serving dish.
- Serve warm from the oven with a sprinkle of confectioners sugar, whipped cream or ice cream.
Nutrition
Kari Alana | Chef and Steward
Chef Dennis, you had me at buttery. This is the perfect hassle free autumn dessert and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Gail Montero
This apple cake would pair perfectly with my morning cup of tea! Love all the chunks of apples in it.
Kushigalu
Apple cake is my favorite and I love to try different variations every single time. Next time I bake I am going to give this cake a try. Looks so delicious and moist.
Emily
Apple pie really is the All American dessert! Your recipe was so delicious and my kids loved it with homemade vanilla ice cream!
Mirlene
I need to try this recipe ASAP. Looks moist, delicious and is perfect for fall.
Ramona
This apple cake is amazing and super delicious! I definitely recommend making it as it was one of the best apple cake recipes I have ever made. I can’t wait to make it again, thank you for sharing this recipe.
Jacqueline Debono
I love apple desserts and this apple cake is so calling my name! It looks and sounds easy and delicious! Bookmarking for later!
Julie
This cake is amazing. The apple flavor is perfect and the spices came out just right. What a great dessert for fall! Can’t wait to make again.
Alexis
My family and I loved this as a special treat this weekend. It was moist and super delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Beth
Everything about this cake sounds delicious, from sauteing the apples in butter to the fact that it doesn’t rise very much. My family would love the flavors and the density of this lovely dessert. And I’m so happy to hear you say you don’t like Granny Smith for baking. Around this time of year I buy as many Jonathan apples as i can reasonably use!
Marta
I love that this gives me the apple pie feel without the apple pie crust work, Apples make me feel like fall is in full effect. Thanks for sharing.
Maria
This cake sounds delicious and I love that you can see the chunks of apple in it! I’m a huge fan of Granny Smith apples for baking as well! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Amy Liu Dong
This cake recipe of yours looks really delicious and I am so excited to make this for my birthday celebration. Thank you!
Leslie
You had me at “buttery cake”. Haha! This looks beyond amazing! Great dessert recipe to try for the fall!
Lesli Schwartz
This apple cake looks so moist and delicious! I have a bunch of apples that need to be used up, so I’ll be trying out your recipe!
Stine Mari
You had me at the first word of this recipe, butter is so good in almost anything. In Norway we usually add raw slices of apples in the batter before baking it, but I LOVE this idea of cooking them first!
Kasy Allen
You always deliver delicious recipes and this one is definitely on our list to make this week! Yum!
Christina
yum!!
Lilly
I used Gala, Honeycrisp, and Fuji, it was delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Kerri
Chef, this is amazing! I’ve been craving an apple cake and this just pushed me over the edge!
Terra @ Terra's Bites
I just went and bought apples for this reason. Thank you!
Magali
This is so scrumptious! Thanks for the recipe!
Marla
I just returned from a road trip to upstate New York! Great recipe! An excellent idea for all these fresh apples I brought home with me!
Sue
Cake for breakfast??? Count me IN!!!
Emily
This apple cake was so amazing!! I can’t wait to make it again!
Laura
Best when served right out of the oven. So tasty with ice cream.
Michele
An easy and delicious way to enjoy the bounty of fresh apples in fall.
FOODHEAL
Wow, I love this apple cake. It sounds rich and really sweet
Kita Bryant
I would really love to make this. It looks so good and fluffy!
Kathy
This looks so good. I especially love apple recipes this time of year. It’s one of my favorite flavors too. I’ve never tried an apple cake before. I am looking forward to your recipe.
Ruth I
Looks amazing! thank you for this wonderful recipe. I like how you add that we can use other fruits than apples. I love apple pies! Will definitely try this one my family would love this.
Bolupe
There are a few dessert I love eating and this buttery apple cake is one of them. I like that you recommended using our best apples. I particularly love the taste of the Bramley apples, the official British cooking apples. I can’t wait to try your recipe chef.
Gervin Khan
What a healthy and delicious dessert to make for my daughter on her birthday. I love it!
Nikki Wayne
This is so new to me. I eat apple pie sometimes and I haven’t tried apple cake.
Jennifer Van Haitsma
This sounds so good! The perfect fall dessert. Thanks for sharing!
Terri A Steffes
You sold me on the low amount of flour that it takes. I would love to try this with almond flour.
Monica Simpson
I can tell I would love the texture of this cake. I’m also a huge fan of apple things in the fall.
Brandy Ellen Writes
THis buttery apple cake recipe looks so yummy and is something that I will try to make since we picked over 60 pounds of apples last weekend that I must use up.
Tasheena
I love a good apple cake recipe. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Amber Myers
I’m sure I will love this cake. I tend to enjoy apple desserts and this looks incredible.
Ben
I see apple cake, and I’m instantly all over it. THEN you go ahead and throw the butter on it. Man, I’m making this one for sure.
melissa chapman
That cake looks so good. I do not bake much but you outline this cake so well i will have to try making it myself.
Jolina
This looks delicious! I love baking with apples especially in the fall when they’re at their best.