Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake Recipe comes together in a pinch. All natural, nothing artificial, and tastes incredible. Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting is optional (it’s vegan without.) This cake is a keeper you’ll want all year round.
I mentioned we finally made it to our local family-owned apple orchard, right? I love, love that place. It’s owned by the sweetest peeps who make their own apple cider, jams, bakery goodies, and even crisp hard cider. It’s all part of the fall experience here in Minnesota.
A visit to the apple orchard always gives us inevitable apple-greed. I believe we came home with nearly 20 pounds of apples. That’s not counting the 5 lbs we polished off on the way home. I wish I were exaggerating.
I’m not really complaining though. Because check out the Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake I’m about to reveal.
There are a few apple cakes we adore: this One-Bowl Apple Streusel Coffee Cake and this Apple Caramel Cinnamon Cake are two of my go-to favorites. But I cannot get myself to stop with the apple cakes; it’s an autumn obsession.
So here we are. Introducing the easiest, fool-proof-est Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake you’ll ever make/eat/repeat.
Watch us make Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake Recipe:
If you just watched that short video, then…right?!
This is the easiest, least messy version of apple cake you’ll ever make. It’s truthfully so moist, tender, and tasty that it doesn’t have to have the luscious cream cheese drizzle. This cake is good enough to stand on its down. That being said…who doesn’t want luscious cream cheese drizzle??
I routinely keep a Ziploc baggie of this easy, fool-proof cream cheese frosting in the fridge because this frosting is a social butterfly and makes friends with all the treats. It takes this already irresistible apple cake and takes it over the top.
I’ll concede that sounds a little bit braggy. I’m trying to stay humble about this cake, but I’m maybe not quite succeeding. 😇
You just have to bake it up and see for yourself. Dessert or breakfast. You choose.
If you make this recipe or any others from our collection, don’t forget to show it off on Instagram. Hashtag it #chewoutloud so we can see your awesomeness!
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Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 12-16 1x
Description
Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake comes together in a pinch. All natural, nothing artificial, and tastes incredible. Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting is optional (it’s vegan without.) This cake is a keeper you’ll want all year round.
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 2/3 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour*
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp table salt
- 4 1/2 cups apples, peeled and chopped (I use Fuji or Honeycrisp)
- Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened to room temp
- 16 oz regular cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 lb powder sugar
- 1–2 TB milk, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs. Using a hand whisk, mix until well combined and smooth. Add the sugar and whisk until combined.
- Gently add remaining ingredients and stir with wooden spatula (it’s a thick batter) until just combined and no flour streaks remain. Do not over-mix. Use rubber spatula to gently fold in apples. Scrape batter evenly into your prepared baking dish, ensuring batter spreads evenly into the corners. Bake 35-45 min or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with few tender crumbs attached. Let cool to room temp.
- Meanwhile, make Cream Cheese Frosting (if using.) In a bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add powder sugar and gently mix in until incorporated. Add a bit of milk as needed to reach desired consistency. Transfer to a Ziploc baggie, press air out, and seal. Snip off a bit of the corner and drizzle onto cooled apple cake.
Notes
*I use white whole wheat flour, which is milder than typical whole wheat. You can use half whole wheat + half white flour, or use entirely all-purpose flour.
- Category: dessert, breakfast
Kitchen Stuff we Love:
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4. Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake (Make-ahead!)
Wow!! These one bowl apple cake looks so tasty and delicious. Would love to try these recipe. I really like apples.
It’s not vegan with eggs in it… do you have a good substitute?
You can sub with “flax eggs”… hope you love it!
Being easy is a big selling point for me, but what I really love is all those apple chunks in there. I can’t wait to make this!
★★★★★
Looks so yummy and easy to make. I’ll have to make this for a house warming party this weekend!
★★★★★
It’s a perfect pick for parties!
We picked so many apples at the orchard, and this would be a great recipe to use up some apples! Sounds delicious, and my kids would have fun baking this.
What a super tasty recipe, I just got hungry to read it!
★★★★★
Your apple cake looks moist and delicious and I love how easy it is to make too! Perfect for when you want something sweet in a pinch.
★★★★★
This recipe seems so easy to do and I am going to make this with my kids next week for half term as they love eating apples
★★★★★
This apple cake recipe looks really delicious. Perfect dessert for our family gathering this weekend.
★★★★★