There's a good chance you've never heard of a Jewish Apple Cake. But trust me, once you make this American Classic it will soon become a family favorite.
Jewish Apple Cake is one of my favorite food memories from my high school years. It was one of the cakes that the girls made in Home EC as a project. A lot of you probably have never heard of Home Ec either.
I could always count on the new class making Jewish apple cake and thankfully I was always asked to sample the cakes the girls in the class made.
This cake truly is an American Classic and is definitely a cake that you need to make. Trust me on this one. Your friends and family will love you forever when you serve them a slice of this delicious apple cake!
What is a Jewish Apple Cake?
A Jewish Apple Cake is a dense cake made with apples. Suspected to have originated in Poland, this delicious cake was well known in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
The Cake is made with vegetable oil, unlike many American cakes, which are usually made with butter. Because it doesn’t contain any dairy products the cake can be eaten after a meat meal under the Jewish dietary laws that prohibit mixing meat and milk.
Did I mention it’s Ah-mazingly Delicious!
What ingredients do I need to make a Jewish Apple Cake?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make a Jewish 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.
How do I make a Jewish Apple Cake?
Start by prepping the apples.
In a large bowl, toss the chopped apples with the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
What kind of apples should I use?
When ever 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.
These are the apples I like to use for baking:
- Gala
- Fuji
- Honeycrisp
- Pink Lady
- Winesap
- Jonathon
This is how you should approach recipes. Use ingredients that you like, not necessarily what the recipe calls for (if its an easy substitution).
Prepare the Cake Batter.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, vegetable oil, orange juice, and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir to combine with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, mixing well after each addition (the batter will start out very thick, but will get looser and easier to mix as you continue to add the eggs).
Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure that all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Add a thin layer of the cake batter to the bottom of the pan, then add one-quarter of the apples on top of the batter.
Add one-quarter of the remaining cake batter over top of the apples, spreading it with a rubber spatula.
The batter will not completely cover all of the apples (it will spread when baking). Really, it will… I promise.
Repeat this process two more times with the remaining apples and cake batter, ending with a layer of cake batter.
Remember the batter will not completely cover the apples. Don’t worry, its okay… trust me, I’m a chef.
Okay, I admit I had my doubts. It’s been decades since I made a Jewish Apple Cake, but it came out better than expected. And the house smelled of apples and a time long gone.
Do I have to use a Tube Pan?
That’s really a tough question, I would use a tube pan aka angel food pan if you have one. If not a 12 cup bundt pan should work, a 10 cup bundt pan might be cutting it too close.
Food stirs memories and this delicious cake certainly brought me back to a simpler time when a delicious slice of cake on the bus home from school made me happy.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like these:
- Pineapple Butter Cake
- Orange Yogurt Cake
- Ricotta Chocolate Chip Cake
- Blueberry Buckle with Key Lime Syrup
Jewish Apple Cake
Ingredients
APPLES
- 6 medium Gala or Fuji apples (frozen peeled apples work too) peeled, cored and rough cut from ½ inch to 1 inch. (4½ – 5 cups of peeled apples)
- 5 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp cinnamon more can be used if you like cinnamon
CAKE
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 2½ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
Prepare the Apples
- In a large bowl, toss the chopped apples with the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
Prepare the Cake Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, vegetable oil, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir to combine with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, mixing well after each addition (the batter will start out very thick, but will get looser and easier to mix as you continue to add the eggs). Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure that all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Add a thin layer of the cake batter to the bottom of the pan, then add one-quarter of the apples on top of the batter. The batter will not completely cover all of the apples (it will spread when baking). Really, it will… I promise.
- Repeat this process two more times with the remaining apples and cake batter, ending with a layer of cake batter.
- Place the cake in a 350 degree F preheated oven on the center rack in the middle of the oven.
- Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before serving and enjoy!
Nutrition
Sanna Bhavsar says
What a fabulous recipe! I’ll definitely try it out.
Jo says
Who can say no to apple cake. That is one delicious lloking apple cake. All my favorite flavors in it, simply love it.
Sam says
Wow this cake looks amazing. I wish we made it in home ec! It looks so moist and delicious. Looking forward to trying it.
Heidy says
Your recipe for Jewish Apple Cake should be renamed to award-winning Jewish Apple Cake! The entire family loved it. I will keep this recipe for years to come. It was perfect. Pinning!
MusicCityMissy says
I made this cake last night with early June apples I had in the freezer and it turned out GREAT! This recipe is definitely a keeper.
Paige says
Haha…I took Home EC, though we never made a cake that looked anything as good as this! It really looks moist, and I bet it’s one of those cakes that tastes even better the next day..YUM.
Nicole says
Home Ec was my favourite class (the cooking part, not so much the sewing part). We never made a cake like this, but I really wish we did. Luckily for me, I have all these ingredients on hand (one giant honey crisp apple waiting to be enjoyed, too), and I need to make a point to try this.
Tara says
I took Home Ec and we never made this cake, but I wish we did! It’s moist and delicious and since I’m recently dairy free, it’s the perfect dessert!
Amy says
I think I’m part of the first generation that didn’t have to take home ec — and jeez, I didn’t realize what I was missing! This looks SO amazing! Like an apple pie, but … cake! Which is even better. 🙂 I can’t wait to try it, and make up for all the time I didn’t get to eat this in junior high!
Carol Borchardt says
Ha! I’m here to tell you I DO remember Home Ec and took many a Home Ec class! I don’t remember making this cake, though but now I have to. Love how easy it is for a non-baker like me!
P-and-P says
It looks delicious. 🙂
Rosey says
I haven’t ever heard of it. It sure looks delicious though. I’m all about apple anything.
Cathy Mini says
Aww. this Jewish apple cake looks so delicious. I will save this recipe, yum!
Swathi says
This is delicious apple cake. I need to try it. Good apple cake with cup of coffee is always a bliss.
Catalina says
Apple cake is something that we make very often in my house. I will try your recipe next time!
Heather says
This cake is delicious! My family loved it!
Farrah Less says
I never had this bread before. But that surely taste and look good.
Bolupe says
Hmm, oh yum. I remember baking this cake when I hosted some friends who requested it. It is interesting that you chose to use Pink Lady apples for yours. I used British cooking apples. I never knew Pink Lady apples can be used for baking. It must make it sweeter.
Chef Dennis Littley says
I used Gala apples for my cake, Pink Lady were on the list of apples I recommended. I know apples change depending upon what part of the world you’re in.
Pam Wattenbarger says
I remember home ec in high school, except we never got to make anything that looked as good as this!
Sarah Bailey says
Hands up I absolutely LOVE a good dessert made from apple and this sounds like it would be right up my street.
Crystal Carder says
I might have just found me a new potluck dessert! This sounds amazing!
Beth says
I’ve never heard of a Jewish apple cake, but it looks delicious!
Leslie says
I took Home Ec in high school! Haha, so I have definitely remember a lot from that class. I have not heard of this apple bread though! I know this will be an instant hit in my house!
Natalie says
Oh that crust and flavors…. soooo delicious! I instantly want to make this cake. Have all the ingredients, don’t see why not. Thanks for this recipe!
Jennifer Van Haitsma says
Never had Jewish Apple Cake so this is new to me. Side note: I wish they still had Home EC at all schools. I didn’t have it in high school (I was a 2004 graduate). My mom didn’t really teach me that stuff and I left home not knowing how to do shit for myself LOL.
Tasheena says
This would be perfect to snack on. Looking forward to making this recipe.
Amber Myers says
This looks so good! I love apple treats, so I am excited to try this out. I don’t think I’ve ever had an apple cake before.
Jen Talley says
Delicious! Reminds me of my Aunt’s Jewish apple cake!
Melissa says
Yum! This cake is so good! Thanks for the recipe
Marina says
Jewish Apple cake looks yummy!
Lathiya says
The apple cake looks amazing. I love that you loaded with apple chunks.
Raquel says
This recipe looks delicious and I love how simple it is to make!
Ginny says
What a delicious recipe! The large apple chunks made the cake unique. I use a little bit of a more decorative bundt pan and it was so pretty in that pan too. Thanks for the yummy recipe.
Emily Flint says
I swear I can smell the picture, this looks sooooo good!
Sue says
Great cake! And I am with you on the apple types – I don’t get why everyone thinks of Granny Smith apples for baking. So many other varieties out there to choose from!
Gloria says
Well this certainly does look delicious! Makes a great brunch cake. Perfect for a take along to bbq parties and picnics too.
Michele peterson says
This delicious recipe brought back great memories of my time in Home Ec class! Although we didn’t make Jewish Apple Cake we were introduced to many other recipes that my mother didn’t make at home so it was always an adventure. I like your choices of apples too – I’m not a fan of granny smith apples for cooking either.
Laura says
This recipe is great. So much apple flavor!
Katherine O Shearin says
My mom made this. She always put a layer of cinnamon sugar and pecans at the bottom of the pan. She also added pecans in the batter. She just mixed apples and batter altogether and put the cinnamon and sugar in the batter. It is a recipe that reminds me so much of my mom, every time I make it. Delicious!