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Old Fashioned Apple Cake

September 26, 2023 by Amanda 9 Comments

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A tried & true Old Fashioned Apple Cake. This cake is very moist and a bit sticky. Sweet and simple, it’s a perfect dessert for any occasion, any time of the year. Quick & easy to make – it requires only a few ingredients.

Originally published 12/27/2014. Post updated 9/26/2023.

Old Fashioned Apple Cake – American Comfort Food

Apple Cake like the grandma’s used to make (and still do). It’s tried, true and has withstood the tests of time. There’s something delightful about baked apple desserts. It’s classic American comfort food.

Desserts like this cake were made during simpler times. The ingredients are all pantry staples. Most families had apple & walnut trees or knew a local who did. Apples were readily available and the bounty was stored in a fruit cellar for use throughout the year. The surplus was canned into sauce.

Recipes like this cake were also from a time when a dessert would be served almost daily. Most woman stayed home and prepared all the meals. People had larger families, more mouths to feed and lived on a strict budget. A simple daily dessert after dinner allowed for a bit smaller dinner. Hence the saying “save room for dessert”.

Plus leftover deserts could be utilized the next day with breakfast. Simpler, more efficient times.

Here’s another delicious apple recipe – Apple Rings. Wonderful for breakfast & dessert!

Ingredients, Preparation & Substitutions

Ingredients : Walnuts, Flour, Baking Soda, Apple Sauce, Five Apples, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Sugar

This cake is quick and easy to mix up & bake.

I prefer to make this cake with applesauce instead of any oils, but you can switch it with vegetable oil if you’d like.  

I slice the apples, but feel free to shred, cube or cut them any way you would like.  

Raisins compliment this cake wonderfully as does adding a bit of quick oats for texture. Add in more nuts if you’d like or sprinkle some extra on top.

Add more spices – ginger, nutmeg, cardamon – whatever your taste buds fancy! Switch up extracts or try a bit of bourbon or rum. I love making baked goods that leave so much room for creativity.

The batter will be thick and dry – no need to worry and please don’t go and add extra liquids. As always, when baking with fruits, the juices will moisten everything up.

Serve

This cake is very moist and a bit sticky. Sweet and simple, it’s a perfect dessert for any occasion, any time of the year.  

I love it as is but it’s wonderful topped with some whipped cream, caramel syrup, maple syrup, honey or vanilla ice cream.

This is a great dessert to whip up last minute. It’s simple, quick, and enjoyed by all. Just ask any great grandma – they can throw one of these together from memory effortlessly.

Hope you enjoy!

Amanda ♥

Want more apple desserts? I got you covered! Check out my Soft & Fluffy Apple Cake & PA Dutch Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Apple Butter Frosting . (Click for recipes)

Old Fashioned Apple Cake

www.craftycookingmama.com
A tried & true Old Fashioned Apple Cake. This cake is very moist and a bit sticky. Sweet and simple, it's a perfect dessert for any occasion, any time of the year. Quick & easy to make – it requires only a few ingredients.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices

Ingredients
  

  • 5 apples – whatever kind you prefer to bake with
  • 2 cup flour
  • 2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/3 cup crushed walnuts

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9 baking dish.
  • Prep apples. Wash, peel and slice. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon and baking soda.
  • Mix in vanilla extract and applesauce.
  • Fold in apples and walnuts.
  • Spoon/scrape mixture into prepared 13 x 9 baking dish.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes.
  • Let cool, cut and enjoy : )

Notes

I slice the apples, but feel free to shred, cube or cut them any way you would like.  
Raisins compliment this cake wonderfully as does adding a bit of quick oats for texture. Add in more nuts if you’d like or sprinkle some extra on top.
Add more spices – ginger, nutmeg, cardamon – whatever your taste buds fancy! Switch up extracts or try a bit of bourbon or rum. I love making baked goods that leave so much room for creativity.
The batter will be thick and dry – no need to worry and please don’t go and add extra liquids. As always, when baking with fruits, the juices will moisten everything up.
This cake is great served as is – but it’s wonderful topped with some whipped cream, caramel syrup, maple syrup, honey or vanilla ice cream.
Keyword apple, apple cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Filed Under: Baked Goods, Breads and Muffins, Desserts, Fruit, Recipes

Previous Post: « Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie
Next Post: Chocolate Pumpkin Bread »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mike

    October 22, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    No egg, no oil or butter at all?

    Reply
    • Amanda

      October 23, 2016 at 11:18 pm

      Nope, none at all.
      The applesauce acts as the fat/oil in this recipe.

      Reply
  2. Linda

    October 27, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    is this plain flour or self rising that is used in this recipe?

    Reply
    • Amanda

      October 27, 2016 at 11:32 pm

      Hi Linda. This recipe needs plain, all-purpose flour.

      Reply
  3. Nancy B Watts

    January 20, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    Amanda, I would like to add some quick oats as you suggested. How much do you suggest? should the flour be decreased?
    Thanks,
    Nancy

    Reply
    • Amanda

      February 3, 2018 at 11:08 pm

      Hi Nancy!
      I usually just toss a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of oats in without any other changes to the recipe.
      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Marie

    May 12, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    do we really have to use sugar?? wow, that is a lot. can the recipe be sweetened with just the apples and applesauce?

    Reply
  5. Jess

    July 10, 2019 at 6:30 pm

    5 stars
    I have made this cake so many times since finding it. One of my favourite recipes. I am trying to cut the sugar down, have managed about only 1 cup and all okay. Do you think the sugar could be taken out altogether? Or swapped for agave or honey?
    Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Naomi

    February 19, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe !!!

    Reply

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Welcome to Crafty Cooking Mama. I’m Amanda, a wife and mama loving life in beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

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