Old-fashioned cinnamon sugar apple cake

This cinnamon sugar apple cake comes straight from my grandma’s old recipe book, and I’m so glad I still have it. The second that apple and cinnamon smell starts filling the kitchen, I already know I’m going to be standing there waiting for it to cool just enough so I can cut myself a slice.

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Check out my cinnamon sugar apple cake video below and see exactly how I make it. If you liked it, hit the like button and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more easy cake recipes.

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Why you’ll love this cinnamon sugar apple cake

There is just something about an old-fashioned cake like this that feels good to make. You do not need anything fancy, the ingredients are all pretty simple, and once everything comes together, you end up with this big, warm apple cake that feels like it belongs right in the middle of the kitchen table.

I also love that it is not one of those cakes where you have to fuss over every little detail. You mix it, layer in all that cinnamon goodness, bake it, glaze it, and somehow it still comes out looking like you put way more effort into it than you actually did.

Let’s be honest… those are my favorite kinds of recipes.

Texture + flavor

This cake is one of those that is really hard to leave alone once you cut into it.

The inside stays soft and moist from the apples, and you get those little cinnamon swirls running through the cake rather than just sitting on top.

Then that glaze sinks down into the little cracks while the cake is still warm, which makes every slice feel extra special without being too fussy or overly sweet.

I love it most when it is still a little warm. Add a cup of coffee next to it and I’m very happy.

Best apples for apple cake

For this cake, I usually go with Granny Smith or Honeycrisp because both work really well, just in slightly different ways.

Granny Smith gives you a little tartness, which is really nice with all that brown sugar and cinnamon, while Honeycrisp gives you a sweeter apple flavor and still holds up nicely in the oven.

If you have another good baking apple at home, use it. I would just stay away from anything that goes mushy too quickly because you still want to bite into little pieces of apple once the cake is baked.

Did You Know: Granny Smith apples usually stay firmer during baking, while Honeycrisp apples bring a sweeter flavor and still hold their shape pretty well.

Cinnamon sugar apple cake ingredients

For the apples

• 2 good baking apples, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the cinnamon mixture

• 3/4 cup (150 g) light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted

For the cake

• 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted

For the sugar glaze

• 1 1/4 cups (150 g) powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) milk

Equipment

• 8 by 8 inch square square baking pan
• Parchment paper
• 3 mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Spatula
• Knife or skewer
• Measuring cups and spoons

How to make cinnamon sugar apple cake

Step 1: Coat the apples

To make this super yummy and moist apple cake, start by adding 1/4 cup granulated sugar to a mixing bowl, then add 2 teaspoons cinnamon and give everything a quick stir so the cinnamon is mixed through the sugar.

Now add 2 peeled and diced apples. Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are both great choices here, and once the apples are in the bowl, stir them around until all those little pieces are nicely coated in the cinnamon sugar.

Top Tip: Try to keep the apple pieces around the same size so they soften at roughly the same time while the cake bakes.

Step 2: Make the cinnamon mixture

Next, take a separate mixing bowl and add 3/4 cup light brown sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon.

Then add 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter and stir everything together until you have a smooth, buttery cinnamon mixture. Set that bowl to one side for now because we are going to use all of this over the cake batter in a little bit.

Step 3: Mix the cake batter

Next, in another mixing bowl, add 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 4 teaspoons baking powder.

Then add 1 1/4 cups milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 large eggs that have been lightly beaten. Use a whisk to mix everything together until the batter looks smooth and you do not have any big dry pockets left.

At this point, the batter should look a lot like pancake batter, so if it is fairly loose, that is exactly what you want.

Step 4: Add the melted butter

Next, add 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter to the cake batter and give everything another good mix until the butter is fully mixed in and the batter looks nice and smooth.

You do not need to keep mixing once it comes together. As soon as the batter looks even, you are good to move on.

Step 5: Add the cinnamon apples

Now, add those cinnamon sugar apples we prepared earlier to the cake batter and gently fold them through with a spatula.

Take a few turns around the bowl until the apple pieces look nicely spread through the batter, then stop there. There is no need to keep working it once everything is mixed in.

Step 6: Fill the baking pan

Next, take an 8-inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving a little hanging over the sides so the cake is easy to lift out later.

Pour the cake batter into the pan, then use your spatula to scrape every last bit out of the bowl because we are definitely not leaving any of that lovely cake batter behind.

Once it is all in there, smooth out the top so the batter sits nice and even across the pan. It does not have to look perfect, just give it a quick tidy-up so there are no big dips or mounds.

Step 7: Add the cinnamon mixture

Now, take that cinnamon sugar and butter mixture we made earlier and drizzle it all over the top of the cake batter.

Keep moving across the pan as you go so you get that buttery cinnamon mixture right across the whole cake. Once it is all on, take a skewer or knife and gently swirl it through the batter a few times.

You only need a few passes here. We want those cinnamon swirls running through the cake, not the whole thing completely mixed together.

Step 8: Bake the apple cake

Next, bake the cake in a preheated oven at 320°F (160°C) for around 40 to 45 minutes.

Start checking it at about 40 minutes. By then, the top should be turning a lovely golden brown and the whole kitchen should smell absolutely amazing.

To check the middle, insert a toothpick or skewer into the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, it is ready.

Note: If your toothpick lands right in a piece of apple or one of the cinnamon swirls, it may look wetter than the cake really is. Just check another spot before putting it back in the oven.

Step 9: Make the sugar glaze

While the cake is cooling down a little, take a small mixing bowl and add 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, then pour in 1/3 cup milk.

Give everything a good mix until the glaze is smooth and easy to pour, with no big lumps of sugar left.

This glaze is meant to be fairly loose because we want it to spread easily over the warm cake and sink into those little cracks.

Step 10: Glaze the cake

Then pour that sugar glaze all over the warm apple cake and use a spatula to spread it around a bit so it gets right across the whole thing.

Some of the glaze will sink into the little cracks as you spread it, which is exactly what makes this cake so good. Once the top is covered, leave the cake for around 20 minutes so the glaze can set a little before you slice into it.

And after that… finally, cake.

How to know when it is done

The easiest thing to look for is the top. Once it has turned golden brown and the middle looks set rather than wet or wobbly, you are very close.

I still like to do the toothpick check because it gives you a little extra reassurance. A few moist crumbs are absolutely fine, but if you see wet cake batter, give it a few more minutes and check again.

Because there are apples and cinnamon swirls in the cake, one wet-looking spot does not always mean the whole cake needs longer, so try a second spot if you are not sure.

Related Recipe: And if you’ve still got a few apples left over, try my other apple cake recipe here too. It probably has even more apple packed into it than this one, so if you’re a big apple cake fan, you’re absolutely going to love that one as well.

How to store this apple cake

Once the cake has completely cooled and the glaze has set, cover it well or move the slices into an airtight container.

If your kitchen is fairly cool, you can keep it at room temperature for about 1 to 2 days. For anything longer than that, I like to keep it in the refrigerator, where it should stay good for around 4 to 5 days.

The cake does firm up a bit when it is cold, so I usually let a slice sit out for a little while before eating it.

Can you warm it up?

Yes, and I actually really like it that way.

If the cake has been in the refrigerator, about 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave is usually enough to take the chill off. You do not want it piping hot, just slightly warm and soft again.

That is especially good if you are having it with coffee.

More apple cake recipes

If you enjoyed this cinnamon sugar apple cake, have a look through some of my other cake recipes below because there are plenty more easy, homemade cakes to try.

• Moist Apple Oatmeal Cake Everyone Loves – This easy apple oatmeal cake is soft, moist, and filled with sweet apple flavor. It’s a simple homemade bake that’s perfect with tea or coffee.
• Wholesome Oat Apple Cake – This wholesome apple cake combines oats and apples for a soft, satisfying bake. It’s an easy option when you want something a little different from a traditional apple cake.
• Moist Apple Cinnamon Cake – Apples and warm cinnamon come together in this soft, moist cake. It’s a cozy homemade dessert that’s especially good served slightly warm.

And if you make this one, let me know how it turned out in the comments below or over in the YouTube video comments. If you have any questions about the cinnamon sugar apple cake, leave those there too, and I will try to reply to every comment and question.