Description
Apple Fritter Cake is a moist and soft buttery vanilla cake filled with gooey apple pieces and topped with a crunchy vanilla glaze. This cake is a delightful celebration of fall flavors, combining tender baked apples with warm spices and a luscious glaze, perfect for brunch, dessert, or alongside coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Mixture
- 4 cups apples (peeled and cubed small, about 4 large apples, 550g)
- ½ cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Cake Batter
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup sour cream (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour (240g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (more as needed)
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: In a medium bowl, combine the peeled and cubed apples with dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom if using, vanilla extract, all purpose flour, and lemon juice. Toss gently to coat the apples evenly and set aside.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined but do not overmix.
- Incorporate Apples: Gently fold the apple mixture into the batter, ensuring the apples are distributed throughout without deflating the batter.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan or a similar size cake pan. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.
- Make the Glaze: While the cake cools, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable. Adjust milk quantity if needed to achieve the right consistency.
- Glaze the Cake: Once the cake has cooled slightly but is still warm, drizzle the vanilla glaze evenly over the top, letting it set before slicing.
- Serve: Slice and serve the apple fritter cake warm or at room temperature. It pairs wonderfully with coffee, brunch, or a scoop of ice cream for dessert.
Notes
- This cake is best served fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and sour cream with coconut yogurt.
- If cardamom is not available, you can omit it or replace it with a pinch of nutmeg for additional warmth.
- Adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans can provide extra texture and flavor.
- Ensure apples are small cubed to distribute evenly and cook through the cake uniformly.
- Use room temperature ingredients for better mixing and cake texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 394 kcal
- Sugar: 44 g
- Sodium: 151 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
