Description
This easy apple cake is a moist, tender fruitcake slice packed with juicy apples and gentle spices, perfect for any occasion. Simple ingredients and a straightforward method make it ideal for beginner bakers or busy families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 300g / 10.5oz, or about 2 cups)
- 3/4 cup caster sugar (150g, or use light brown sugar)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (120g)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 2/3 cups self-raising flour (200g, or plain flour + 2 tsp baking powder)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice
- Pinch of salt
- 2–3 tbsp milk (whole milk preferred)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
- 1 tbsp demerara sugar (for topping)
- Handful of flaked almonds or chopped walnuts (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C, 160°C fan, Gas Mark 4). Line an 8-inch (20cm) round cake tin or square baking pan with baking paper and lightly grease the sides.
- Peel, core, and chop 2-3 medium apples into small cubes (about 1cm). For extra moistness, grate one apple and chop the rest. You’ll want about 10.5oz (300g) total.
- In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter with sugar until pale and fluffy (2-3 minutes with mixer, 5 minutes by hand).
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. If the mixture curdles, it will smooth out once flour is added.
- Sift in self-raising flour, cinnamon, mixed spice, and salt. Fold gently until just combined.
- Add chopped and grated apples, milk, and lemon zest (if using). Fold gently until apples are evenly distributed. Batter should be thick but drop easily off a spoon.
- Spoon mixture into prepared cake tin and level the top. Sprinkle with demerara sugar and nuts if desired.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes. Check after 40 minutes; if browning too fast, cover loosely with foil. Cake is done when a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Let cake cool in tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature, with custard, cream, or as is.
Notes
For extra moistness, grate one apple and chop the rest. You can swap apples for pears, use brown sugar for deeper flavor, or add nuts and dried fruit. For gluten-free or dairy-free, use appropriate substitutes. Let cake cool before slicing for best texture. Freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10th of cake)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: apple cake, moist fruitcake, UK dessert, British baking, easy cake recipe, autumn cake, tea cake, apple dessert, fruitcake slice, beginner baking