Select Crisp, Tart Apples: Choosing firm, flavorful apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp ensures the best texture and a balanced taste in your cake. They hold up well to baking and provide a pleasant tartness.
Avoid Overmixing the Batter: To achieve a light and tender cake, mix the batter only until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Overmixing can lead to a dense and tough cake by developing the gluten too much.
Confirm Doneness Carefully: The cake is perfectly baked when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out moist with a few crumbs, but without any raw, wet batter. The gooey apples can make this test tricky, so aim for cake sections.
Glaze While Hot: For that signature shiny, slightly crunchy fritter crust and to lock in moisture, pour the vanilla glaze over the cake within minutes of removing it from the oven.
Irresistibly Moist Apple Fritter Cake with Vanilla Glaze: Your Ultimate Fall Dessert Recipe
Prepare to fall in love with this Apple Fritter Cake – a truly sensational dessert that combines the nostalgic charm of classic apple fritters with the ease and elegance of a baked cake. Imagine a remarkably moist, tender, and richly buttery vanilla cake, generously studded with succulent, “ooey gooey” cinnamon-spiced apple pieces throughout. Each bite is then perfectly complemented by a delightful, crunchy vanilla glaze that drizzles and seeps into the cake, creating an irresistible sugary coating. It’s essentially a giant, wonderfully baked apple fritter, designed to be shared and savored. This cake is not just a treat; it’s the quintessential centerpiece for celebrating apple harvest season and all things cozy this fall. Beyond its incredible flavor and texture, it’s surprisingly simple to prepare, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Whether you serve it alongside a warm cup of coffee for a morning indulgence, as a star player at your next brunch gathering, or crowned with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable dessert, this Apple Fritter Cake promises pure delight.
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🍏 Why You’ll Absolutely LOVE This Apple Fritter Cake
Fluffy, Buttery Vanilla Cake: The foundation of this incredible dessert is a light, airy, and intensely buttery vanilla cake. This isn’t just any cake; its tender crumb and rich flavor are reminiscent of the beloved batter found in traditional apple fritters, ensuring a perfectly moist and decadent experience in every slice. The subtle vanilla notes provide a harmonious base for the apple filling, making it truly irresistible.
Layers of Gooey Cinnamon Apples: What sets this cake apart is the abundance of sweet, soft, and “ooey gooey” cinnamon-spiced apple pieces. These luscious apples are not merely mixed in; they are strategically layered both within the cake’s center and generously on top, ensuring distinct pockets of intensely flavorful fruit in every bite. The cinnamon caramelizes beautifully, creating an aromatic and comforting sensation.
Signature Crunchy Vanilla Glaze: A simple yet utterly essential vanilla glaze elevates this cake to true apple fritter status. Poured over the warm cake, it beautifully seeps into the crevices, then sets to form a delightfully crunchy, sugary coating. This signature glaze adds a textural contrast and a burst of sweet vanilla that is a hallmark of perfectly made apple fritters, completing the dessert with a touch of magic.
📝 Essential Ingredients for Apple Fritter Cake Success
For flawless results, delve into these key ingredient insights! Detailed steps and a complete ingredient list can be found in the recipe card below.
Apples: The choice of apples is paramount for this recipe. We recommend using a blend of tart and crisp varieties like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith. Granny Smith offers a lovely tartness that cuts through the sweetness of the cake, while Honeycrisp provides exceptional crunch and a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Other great options include Fuji, Gala, or Braeburn apples. Avoid soft, mushy apples like McIntosh or Red Delicious, as they will break down too much during baking and turn into an undesirable apple sauce consistency, losing the delightful texture we’re aiming for.
Cinnamon: A generous touch of ground cinnamon is essential for the apple filling. It imparts a warm, fragrant, and classic autumnal flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the apples and brown sugar, making the filling truly aromatic and inviting.
Cardamom: While optional, a hint of ground cardamom adds a unique and sophisticated dimension to the apple flavor. Its fragrant, mildly spicy, and slightly citrusy notes pair beautifully with apples, offering a subtle warmth and complexity that elevates the cake. If you’re new to cardamom or prefer not to use it, you can simply omit it or substitute with a tiny pinch of nutmeg or allspice for a different warm spice profile.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice plays a dual role in our apple filling. Firstly, it prevents the apples from browning, keeping them looking vibrant. More importantly, its bright acidity enhances and brings out the natural sweetness and deep apple flavor, creating a more complex and well-rounded taste profile for the filling.
All-Purpose Flour: For the most consistent and accurate baking results, we highly recommend weighing your all-purpose flour using a kitchen scale. If you don’t have a scale, proper measuring technique is crucial: lightly stir the flour in its bag or container, then gently spoon it into your measuring cup. Level off the excess with the flat edge of a knife, ensuring you do not pack the flour into the cup. This method prevents over-measuring, which can lead to a dense, dry cake.
Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter gives you complete control over the salt content in your cake. It is key to achieving a rich, buttery flavor and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature for optimal creaming with sugar, which incorporates air and creates a lighter cake crumb.
Sour Cream: This ingredient is a secret weapon for creating an exceptionally moist and tender cake crumb. Sour cream adds essential moisture without thinning the batter, and its slight acidity reacts with the baking soda, contributing to a wonderfully soft and airy texture. Ensure it’s at room temperature to easily incorporate into the batter.
Powdered Sugar: Also known as icing sugar or confectioners’ sugar, powdered sugar is indispensable for crafting the smooth, creamy, and quick-setting glaze characteristic of authentic apple fritters. Its fine texture dissolves easily, creating a silky glaze that hardens slightly to form that delightful crunchy coating.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is used generously in this recipe – not just in the cake batter and glaze, but also in the apple filling. This ensures a pronounced, comforting vanilla flavor that weaves through every single layer of the cake, tying all the elements together beautifully.
Milk: Only a small amount of milk is needed to achieve the perfect consistency for the vanilla glaze. While cow’s milk is typically used, you can easily substitute it with your preferred plant-based milk (like almond or oat milk) if you have dietary restrictions. For an even richer and slightly whiter glaze, heavy cream can also be used.
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Apple Fritter Cake
Crafting the Delicious Apple Fritter Filling
Step 1: Begin by preparing your apples. Peel and cube them into small, uniform pieces to ensure even cooking. Transfer the cubed apples into a large mixing bowl. Then, add the dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, optional ground cardamom, pure vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. This combination of ingredients will create a fragrant and slightly thickened “ooey gooey” filling.
Step 2: Gently stir all the apple filling ingredients together until the apples are thoroughly coated with the spices, sugar, and flour. Once mixed, set this aromatic apple mixture aside. The natural juices from the apples, combined with the sugar and flour, will begin to create a luscious, syrupy liquid while you prepare the cake batter, further enhancing its “gooey” texture when baked.
Preparing the Tender Vanilla Cake Batter
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 355°F (180°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when your cake is ready to bake, promoting an even rise and perfect texture. Next, prepare a 9-inch springform pan. Generously coat the inside with a thin layer of cold butter, then dust it lightly with all-purpose flour. Alternatively, you can line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper for easy removal. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures your beautiful cake releases effortlessly.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar. Beat them together on medium-high speed for about 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture becomes light, pale, and fluffy. This creaming process is vital as it incorporates air into the butter and sugar, which contributes significantly to the cake’s light and tender texture.
Step 3: Begin adding the large eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. It’s important to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl frequently with a rubber spatula to ensure all ingredients are evenly mixed. Next, add the room-temperature sour cream, a generous tablespoon of pure vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix again until everything is well combined and the batter appears smooth and homogenous.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Then, sift these dry ingredients directly into the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer on low speed, combine until a smooth, thick batter forms. Be extremely careful not to overmix the batter; stop mixing as soon as the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tough and dense cake rather than the desired fluffy texture.
Step 5: Carefully transfer approximately half of the prepared cake batter into your greased and floured 9-inch springform baking pan. Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, gently spread the batter into an even layer, extending it all the way to the sides of the pan. This creates a solid base for the apple filling. Next, spoon about two-thirds of your cinnamon-spiced apple mixture, including any accumulated liquid, evenly over the first layer of cake batter. Distribute the apples as uniformly as possible to ensure every slice gets a generous portion.
Step 6: Gently dollop the remaining cake batter over the apple filling, being careful not to disturb the apple layer too much. Carefully spread this final layer of batter evenly to cover the apples. Then, scatter the remaining one-third of the apple mixture on top of the cake batter. For baking, place the cake pan on a larger baking sheet. This acts as a safeguard against any potential drips, keeping your oven clean. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour. Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it.
Baking Tip: To test for doneness, insert a clean wooden toothpick or skewer into the very center of the cake. It should come out moist with a few sticky crumbs attached, but not covered in wet batter. If the toothpick is coated in a thick, white, uncooked batter, the cake needs more time in the oven. The apples inside can make this test a little trickier due to their natural moisture, so ensure you’re hitting cake batter. Once baked to perfection, remove the cake from the oven and prepare for glazing.
Finishing with the Classic Vanilla Glaze
Step 1: While the cake is still hot from the oven (within 5-10 minutes of removal), prepare your vanilla glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and the final touch of vanilla extract until completely smooth and free of lumps. The consistency should be pourable yet thick enough to coat a spoon. If the glaze appears too thick, add a tiny bit more milk, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Pour this luscious glaze evenly over the hot cake, allowing it to naturally spread and seep into all the nooks and crevices, creating that signature fritter-like crust.
Step 2: Allow the cake to cool for some time, preferably until it’s just warm or at room temperature. This allows the glaze to set properly and the cake’s structure to firm up. Once sufficiently cooled, carefully run a thin knife or a metal spatula along the inside edge of the springform pan to loosen the cake. Release the springform ring and gently remove it. Slice the Apple Fritter Cake into generous portions and serve immediately while it’s still warm, or enjoy it at room temperature for a delicious treat.
✔️ Expert Apple Fritter Cake Baking Tips for Perfection
Choose the Right Apples for Optimal Flavor and Texture: The type of apples you use dramatically impacts the final result. Always opt for a blend of tart and crisp apples, such as Granny Smith (for its refreshing tartness) and Honeycrisp or Fuji (for sweetness and firm texture). These varieties hold their shape well during baking and provide a delightful textural contrast and a deeper, more interesting apple flavor. Avoid soft, mealy apples as they will turn to mush.
Do Not Overmix the Cake Batter for a Tender Crumb: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix only until they are just combined and a smooth batter forms. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can lead to a dense, tough, and chewy cake, far from the light and fluffy texture we desire. Typically, this process takes no more than 20-30 seconds on low speed with an electric mixer. Stop as soon as you see no more streaks of flour.
Accurately Determine When Your Cake is Perfectly Baked: The presence of moist apple filling can make testing for doneness a bit tricky. After the initial hour of baking, insert a wooden toothpick or thin skewer into the very center of the cake, making sure it goes through the cake batter layer, not just an apple chunk. If it comes out moist but with only a few sticky crumbs (not wet batter), your cake is ready. If it’s coated in uncooked white batter, continue baking for another 5-10 minutes and retest.
Glaze the Cake While It’s Still Warm for Maximum Absorption: This is a classic technique borrowed directly from traditional apple fritters. Pouring the vanilla glaze over the cake while it’s still hot allows some of the glaze to melt slightly and deeply seep into the cake’s surface. This process not only locks in moisture, keeping the cake incredibly tender, but also creates that desired slightly hardened, crackly, sugary crust on top as it cools. Aim to glaze the cake within 5 to 10 minutes of removing it from the oven for the best results.
🥄 Make Ahead and Storage Tips for Your Apple Fritter Cake
This delightful glazed Apple Fritter Cake is perfect for making ahead! Once completely cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container. It will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, remaining wonderfully moist and flavorful. For longer storage, you can freeze individual slices or the entire cake (if well-wrapped) in an airtight container for up to 2 months. To enjoy its best texture, reheat frozen or refrigerated slices gently in the microwave or a low oven until soft and warm again, allowing the flavors to truly bloom. This makes it an ideal dessert to prepare in advance for gatherings or to simply have on hand for a sweet treat.
For those who adore comforting apple desserts, don’t miss out on my family’s cherished Sharlotka apple cake recipe, an even simpler apple cake that embodies heartwarming tradition and deliciousness.
📖 Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe
What are the best apples to use for baking in this cake?
For this apple fritter cake, the best apples are those that are both tart and firm, holding their shape and flavor well during baking. Granny Smith apples are an excellent choice due to their pronounced tartness which balances the sweetness of the cake. I often combine them with Honeycrisp for added sweetness and a fantastic crisp texture. Other great options include Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, or Pink Lady apples. Avoid softer varieties like Red Delicious or McIntosh, as they tend to break down too much and become mushy.
Can I make a gluten-free version of this Apple Fritter Cake?
While this specific recipe hasn’t been officially tested with gluten-free flour, many readers have reported success by substituting the all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend (ensure it contains xanthan gum). The moistness from the apples and sour cream should help maintain a good texture. If you decide to try it, please share your results in the comments section below – your feedback is invaluable to our baking community!
Can I bake this recipe in a rectangular 9″ x 13″ baking pan instead of a round springform?
Yes, you absolutely can adapt this recipe for a rectangular 9″ x 13″ pan! However, a 9×13 inch pan has a significantly larger surface area and volume than a 9-inch springform. To ensure your cake has enough height and doesn’t turn out too thin, we strongly recommend doubling the recipe if you choose to use the larger rectangular pan. Adjust baking time accordingly, as a larger, thicker cake may require slightly longer in the oven, possibly around 75-90 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Can I add nuts to the Apple Fritter Cake?
Absolutely! Adding nuts can provide a wonderful textural contrast and an extra layer of flavor. To incorporate nuts, finely chop about ½ cup of walnuts or pecans and gently fold them into the apple filling mixture during Step 2 of the apple filling instructions. They will toast slightly during baking, adding a delicious crunch that complements the soft apples and moist cake beautifully.
🍎 Explore More Delicious Apple Recipes
Apple Cider Bundt Cake
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Caramel Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Chai Cake with Spiced Apple Filling
Did you bake this incredible Apple Fritter Cake? We’d absolutely love to hear about your experience! Please take a moment to rate this recipe and share your thoughts in the comments section below. Your feedback truly helps our community. Don’t forget to showcase your delicious creation on Instagram and tag @flouringkitchen so we can see it! For more tempting recipe ideas and baking inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest.
📖 Recipe
Apple Fritter Cake
Mary
This apple fritter cake is an incredibly moist and tender vanilla cake, brimming with “ooey gooey” cinnamon-spiced apple pieces and crowned with a delightful, crunchy vanilla glaze. It’s truly a giant, baked version of your favorite apple fritters, perfectly capturing their essence and charm. Ideal for celebrating the apple harvest and embracing fall flavors, this cake is not only straightforward to make but also a proven crowd-pleaser. Enjoy it with a hot coffee, as a showstopping brunch item, or as a decadent dessert with a scoop of ice cream.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutesmins
Cook Time 1 hourhr
Total Time 1 hourhr20 minutesmins
Course Baking, Breakfast, Cake, Dessert, Brunch
Cuisine American, Fall
Servings 10people
Calories 394kcal
Equipment
nine inch springform round baking pan
Ingredients
Apple Filling
4cupsapplespeeled and cubed small (approx. 4 large apples, 550g), ideally a mix of tart and crisp varieties
½cup dark brown sugarpacked
1teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground cardamom(optional, adds a fragrant, mildly spicy note)
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
2tablespoonslemon juicefreshly squeezed
Cake Batter
½cupunsalted buttersoftened to room temperature
¾cupgranulated sugar
2large eggsroom temperature
½cupsour creamroom temperature
1tablespoonpure vanilla extract
¼teaspoonsea salt
2cupsall-purpose flour (240g)
1teaspoonbaking powder
¼teaspoonbaking soda
Glaze
1cuppowdered sugar
2tablespoonsmilk (or more, a teaspoon at a time, to reach desired consistency)
¼teaspoonpure vanilla extract
Shop Ingredients on Jupiter
Instructions
Apple Filling Preparation
In a large bowl, combine the peeled and cubed apples, dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, optional ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
4 cups apples, ½ cup dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Stir the apple filling gently until all pieces are well coated. Set aside while you prepare the cake batter.
Cake Batter Creation
Preheat your oven to 355°F (180°C). Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by greasing it with cold butter and dusting with flour, or lining the bottom with parchment paper.
In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
½ cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar
Add eggs one by one, beating well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed.
2 large eggs
Stir in the sour cream, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix until just combined.
½ cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Sift the remaining 2 cups all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda into the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a smooth, thick batter forms, being careful not to overmix. Stop as soon as the dry ingredients are incorporated.
Transfer half of the cake batter into the prepared springform pan and spread into an even layer to the sides.
Spoon two-thirds of the apple mixture (including any liquid) evenly over the first cake layer.
Spread the remaining cake batter over the apple filling, then evenly add the remaining apple mixture on top.
Place the cake pan on a larger baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out moist with crumbs, but not coated in wet batter. Remove from oven once baked.
Vanilla Glaze Application
In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract until a smooth, pourable glaze forms. Add more milk, a teaspoon at a time, if the glaze is too thick.
1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pour the prepared glaze evenly over the hot cake, allowing it to spread and seep into the warm cake.
Let the cake cool until warm or at room temperature. Run a knife along the outside of the pan to release the ring. Slice and serve your delicious Apple Fritter Cake.
Notes
Storage Instructions: To keep your glazed apple fritter cake fresh, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer preservation, individual slices or the whole cake can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. For best enjoyment, gently reheat slices before serving to restore their soft, tender texture and warm, comforting flavors!Key Tips for Achieving Success with This Recipe:
Select Crisp, Tart Apples: Choosing firm, flavorful apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp ensures the best texture and a balanced taste in your cake. They hold up well to baking and provide a pleasant tartness.
Avoid Overmixing the Batter: To achieve a light and tender cake, mix the batter only until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Overmixing can lead to a dense and tough cake by developing the gluten too much.
Confirm Doneness Carefully: The cake is perfectly baked when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out moist with a few crumbs, but without any raw, wet batter. The gooey apples can make this test tricky, so aim for cake sections.
Glaze While Hot: For that signature shiny, slightly crunchy fritter crust and to lock in moisture, pour the vanilla glaze over the cake within minutes of removing it from the oven.
