Easy Apple Cake (One-Bowl)
Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake comes together in a pinch. All natural, nothing artificial, and tastes incredible. Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting is optional. This cake is a keeper you'll want all year round.
Servings: 16
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ⅔ cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 4 ½ cups apples, peeled and chopped (I use Fuji or Honeycrisp)
Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup butter, softened to room temp
- 16 ounces regular cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pounds powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Grease a 9x13 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.
- Use a sweet, crisp apple like Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best texture and flavor. Chop them finely so they bake evenly into the cake.
- Don’t overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added. Stir just until the flour is absorbed to keep the cake tender.
- Let the cake cool completely before adding frosting. If it’s even a little warm, the cream cheese drizzle will melt and slide right off.
- This recipe is part of our Apple Recipes Collection.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.8g | Protein: 4.6g | Fat: 19.7g | Saturated Fat: 8.4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 52.8mg | Sodium: 331.1mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 29.3g