This German Apple Cake is a harbinger of Fall: a dense and cinnamon spiked cake is topped with fresh apples. It’s all baked together and is delicious served on its own or with ice cream.
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Apple Everything
When the colors change, the temperatures shift from hazy to crisp, and cozy layers cover bare skin, not much sounds better than a delicious apple treat. It’s a type of right of passage into Autumn, ushering in warm flavors, textures, and delicious dishes.
This German apple cake is fitting to be an annual tradition for me, and I hope it will be for you too! Read on to learn more about this scrumptious German Apple Cake!
What is German Apple Cake?
German apple cake is a sweetened cinnamon spiked cake that is topped with fresh sliced apples. Its texture is more dense than light, offering a nice toothsome bite which counters the soft and tender baked apples.
In Germany, this cake is called Apfelkuchen, which of course translates to “apple cake”. Although it can of course be made year round, it’s particularly tasty when a large variety of apples are readily available as they are in the Fall.
How To Make German Apple Cake
As previously mentioned, this cake is on the dense side. That said, the recipe calls for equal ratio of sugar to butter, which supports the chewier texture. This cake includes just a handful of ingredients, but is so simple to make!
- A basic cake batter is made of sugar, butter flour, spice, and eggs.
- Apples are peeled, thinly sliced, and artfully arranged on top of the batter.
- Everything is dusted with a cinnamon spiked sugar and baked until the apples are tender and the cake is cooked through.
What To Serve With German Apple Cake
This German Apple Cake is delicious on its own, whether you’re serving it for dessert or perhaps an indulgent breakfast treat. Here are a few ways to make it even more special when you serve it!
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Serve with cinnamon or salted caramel ice cream
- Add a glass of German wine, such as a Riesling or Gewürztraminer
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German Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 to 4 apples such as Granny Smith, Jazz, or Honeycrisp
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375. Butter an 8 inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup of the sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and beat until combined. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan.
- Mix remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix to combine. Peel apples, slicing from core in large chunks. Thinly slice apples, keeping sections intact. Place directly on top of cake batter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Bake for 45 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.