Description
This Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake is a moist, spiced dessert featuring thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples folded into a thick batter. The cake includes warm flavors of apple cider reduction, apple butter, and pumpkin pie spice, topped with a crunchy cinnamon sugar butter mixture. Perfect served warm with honey butter, this 9×13 inch cake is simple to prepare and bake, making it an inviting autumn treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup apple cider
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- ⅓ cup apple butter
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2-3 tsp apple or pumpkin pie spice
Fruit
- 2-3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
Topping
- 6 tbsp cold salted butter, grated
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C). Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy removal of the cake.
- Reduce the apple cider: Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat on the stovetop. Then lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until reduced to about ½ cup. Remove from heat and let it cool completely before using to avoid cooking the egg in the batter.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled reduced apple cider, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, honey or maple syrup, and apple butter. Stir thoroughly until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients and fold in apples: Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Mix gently just until combined to avoid overmixing the batter. Carefully fold in the thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples; the batter will be thick and chunky from the fruit.
- Transfer batter to dish: Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula to create an even surface.
- Prepare cinnamon sugar topping: In a separate small bowl, mix the grated cold salted butter, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until a crumbly, clumpy sugar mixture forms. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the surface of the batter in the dish.
- Bake the cake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. The cake is done when it is just set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The topping will be crisp and golden.
- Serve warm and enjoy: Allow the cake to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally with honey butter spread for extra richness. Slice into pieces and enjoy your flavorful spiced apple cake.
Notes
- Honey butter can be made by mixing softened butter with honey to taste; it pairs beautifully with this warm cake.
- Use Honeycrisp or any crisp, tart apple for best texture and flavor contrast.
- Make sure the reduced cider is cooled completely before mixing to prevent cooking the egg in the batter.
- For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flax egg and use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/15 of cake)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
