There are some recipes I come back to simply because they’re easy, comforting, and never seem to disappoint. This soft apple cake is one of those recipes.
I usually make it when I have a few apples sitting in the fruit bowl that are starting to look a little tired. Add three eggs, a glass of milk, and a handful of everyday baking ingredients, and somehow they turn into the most tender, fragrant cake.
Honestly, the texture is my favorite part. The apples keep the cake wonderfully moist, while the milk gives it a soft, delicate crumb. It’s the kind of homemade apple dessert that practically melts in your mouth.
And yes, it’s simple enough for a weekday treat—but pretty enough to serve when guests come over.
Ingredients
For one medium apple cake:
- 3 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 3 eggs
- 1 glass of milk (about 200 ml / ¾–⅞ cup)
- 150 g all-purpose flour (about 1¼ cups)
- 100 g granulated sugar (about ½ cup)
- 80 ml vegetable oil (about ⅓ cup)
- 10 g baking powder (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Optional additions
If you want to make it a little more special, you can add:
- A little lemon zest
- A handful of chopped walnuts
- Raisins
- A pinch of nutmeg
- Extra cinnamon for the top
How to Make This Easy Apple Cake
1. Prepare the apples
Start by peeling and coring the three apples. Slice them fairly thinly.
I like using a mixture of sweet and slightly tart apples because the contrast gives the finished cake more flavor. If your apples are very sweet, you can reduce the sugar slightly.
Set the sliced apples aside while you prepare the batter.
2. Mix the eggs and sugar
Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes lighter and slightly frothy.
Add the vanilla and vegetable oil, then whisk again.
3. Add the milk
Pour in the milk gradually while mixing.
At this point, the batter will be quite smooth and relatively thin. Don’t worry—that’s exactly what you want for this soft apple cake.
4. Add the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until everything is incorporated.
Don’t overmix. I usually stop as soon as I can’t see any obvious streaks of flour. Overmixing can make the cake heavier instead of tender.
5. Add the apples
Fold most of the sliced apples gently into the batter.
Pour the mixture into a greased and lined 20–22 cm (8–9 inch) cake pan.
Arrange the remaining apple slices over the top. I like overlapping them slightly because they caramelize beautifully as the cake bakes.
6. Bake
Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 40–50 minutes, depending on your oven and the depth of your pan.
The top should be golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean. A little moisture from the apples is perfectly normal.
If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the final part of baking.
7. Cool and serve
Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10–15 minutes, then carefully transfer it to a cooling rack.
Once it’s cool enough to handle, dust the top with powdered sugar if you like.
And that’s it! A wonderfully soft homemade apple cake with very little fuss.
My Best Cooking Tips
Choose the right apples.
Firm apples work best because they hold their shape during baking. A combination of sweet and tart apples is especially tasty.
Slice the apples thinly.
Thin slices soften beautifully and distribute the apple flavor throughout the cake.
Don’t overmix the batter.
This is one of my biggest rules for soft cakes. Mix just enough to combine the ingredients.
Measure the milk consistently.
A standard glass can vary in size, so if possible, use approximately 200 ml of milk.
Give it time to cool.
I know it’s tempting to cut into the cake immediately, but letting it cool helps the crumb set and makes slicing much easier.
Add cinnamon generously if you love apples and spice.
Honestly, I sometimes add a little extra cinnamon because that warm apple-and-cinnamon aroma is hard to resist.
Serving Suggestions
This cake is delicious on its own with a cup of coffee or tea, but you can dress it up too.
Try serving a slice with:
- A dusting of powdered sugar
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- A spoonful of Greek yogurt
- Warm caramel sauce
- A drizzle of honey
- A cup of hot coffee or tea
For breakfast or an afternoon snack, I usually keep things simple and enjoy it just as it is.
Approximate Nutrition Information
Nutrition will vary depending on the exact apples, milk, sugar, and portion size used.
Approximate per serving, assuming 10 servings:
- Calories: 250–270 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 35–38 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Fat: 10–12 g
- Fiber: 2–3 g
- Sugar: 18–21 g
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use different types of apples?
Absolutely. Almost any firm baking apple will work. I particularly like using apples that are slightly tart because they balance the sweetness of the cake.
2. Can I make this apple cake without oil?
You can experiment with replacing the oil with melted butter, although the texture will be slightly different. Oil helps keep this cake particularly moist and soft.
3. Can I prepare this recipe without cinnamon?
Yes. Cinnamon adds a lovely warmth, but the cake will still be delicious without it. You could use vanilla and a little lemon zest instead.
4. How should I store leftover apple cake?
Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for about a day, or refrigerate it for several days. If refrigerated, letting a slice come closer to room temperature before eating will bring back some of its softness.
5. Can I freeze this apple cake?
Yes. Let the cake cool completely, cut it into portions, and wrap them well before freezing. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
Final Thoughts
If you have 3 apples, 3 eggs, and a glass of milk, you’ve already got the beginnings of something really lovely.
I honestly love recipes like this because they don’t require fancy equipment or unusual ingredients. Just mix, fold in the apples, bake, and let the oven do the hard work.
The result is a soft, moist, homemade apple cake with tender apples in every bite. It’s simple, cozy, and exactly the sort of dessert that disappears surprisingly quickly from my kitchen.