There are apple cakes, and then there is this special old fashioned fresh apple cake. This delicious apple cake recipe comes from European baking traditions, where simple ingredients create something truly special. Unlike modern cakes that rely on flour, this one uses semolina and lots of fresh apples for structure and flavor.

Check out the video below for this old fashioned fresh apple cake! Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more moist apple cake recipes you’ll love.

What Makes This Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Special

This old fashioned fresh apple cake recipe has become a family favorite in my home. The unique texture and pure apple flavor make it stand out from regular cakes, and the fact that it uses so many fresh apples makes it perfect for apple season when trees are loaded with fruit.

I discovered this recipe years ago when looking for ways to use up apples from our tree. Most recipes called for just a few apples, but this one uses seven or eight. The first time I made it, I was skeptical about the lack of flour, but the result convinced me immediately.

Give it a try next time you have a surplus of apples and want something different from the usual apple pie.

Ingredients for Fresh Apple Cake

Before you start baking, gather all your ingredients. This recipe uses simple items you might already have at home, with the possible exception of quark cheese and semolina.

7-8 medium apples (about 1000 grams or 2.2 pounds)
1 lemon (juice and zest)
5 large eggs, separated
Pinch of salt
125 grams (2/3 cup) softened butter
160 grams (3/4 cup) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
500 grams (about 2 2/3 cups) quark or cottage cheese, or farmer cheese
100 grams (2/3 cup) semolina

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Top Tip: If you cannot find quark cheese, you can substitute it with cottage cheese blended until smooth or Greek yogurt. Each will change the flavor slightly, but work well in this recipe.

Equipment You’ll Need

This old fashioned recipe requires just basic baking equipment:

26 cm (10-inch) springform pan
Parchment paper
Electric mixer
Mixing bowls
Grater for lemon zest
Spatula
Knife and cutting board for apples

Note: The springform pan is important for this recipe. Because this cake is moister than regular flour cakes, a springform makes it much easier to remove without breaking.

Getting Started

The apples are the star of this old fashioned fresh apple cake, so proper preparation matters.

Step 1: Peel all your apples and cut them into thin slices. I like to quarter the apples first, remove the cores, and then slice each quarter into pieces about as thick as a quarter coin.

Step 2: Place all apple slices in a bowl and squeeze the juice of one whole lemon over them. Mix well to coat all pieces. This prevents browning and adds a nice brightness to the cake.

Step 3: Add the lemon zest to your apple mixture. Make sure you only grate the yellow part of the lemon skin, not the white bitter part underneath.

The apple mixture might look like too much fruit, but trust me, it works beautifully in this recipe. I was surprised the first time by how much the apples cook down during baking.

Making the Cake Batter

The batter for this old fashioned cake comes together in several steps, but none are difficult.

Step 4: Separate your eggs, putting whites in one bowl and yolks in another. Make sure no yolk gets into the whites or they will not beat properly.

Step 5: In a separate bowl, add the softened butter and start beating with an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Step 6: Add the vanilla extract to your butter mixture and mix briefly.

Step 7: Add the lemon zest and mix again until combined.

Step 8: Add the egg yolks to your butter mixture and mix until well combined. The mixture should look smooth and creamy.

Step 9: Add the quark cheese to your mixture. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.

Top Tip: Make sure your butter is truly at room temperature before starting. Cold butter will not cream properly with the sugar, affecting the final texture of your cake.

Without flour, this old fashioned apple cake relies on different ingredients for structure.

Step 10: Add the semolina to your batter and mix well until no dry spots remain. The batter will become thicker but should still be pourable.

Step 11: Fold in your apple and lemon juice mixture. Use a spatula and gentle motions to preserve air in the batter.

folding of beaten eggs into apple butter

Step 12: In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks. Start slow with your mixer and gradually speed up.

Step 13: Gently fold the beaten egg whites into your apple batter. Use an up-and-down motion rather than stirring to keep the air bubbles intact.

Did You Know? Semolina is made from durum wheat, often used for pasta. In this cake, it absorbs moisture from the apples as the cake bakes, creating a unique texture.

Baking The Cake

Proper baking is crucial for getting the right texture in this old fashioned fresh apple cake recipe.

Step 14: Prepare your 26 cm springform pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper and greasing the sides with butter.

Step 15: Pour your batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Step 16: Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit) for about 60 minutes.

Note: After about 45 minutes, you might want to cover the top loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from getting too dark while the inside finishes cooking.

flourless old fashioned fresh apple cake recipe

The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. When ready, your kitchen will fill with the wonderful aroma of baked apples and lemon.

Related Recipe: If you like cakes with lots of apples, then you should definitely try this moist apple loaf cake recipe here.

Moist Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe

Recipe by Jen Evansy

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: DessertCuisine: FrenchDifficulty: Medium

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Baking time

hour

Calories

290

kcal

Total Time

hour

minutes

This old fashioned fresh apple cake is delicious, moist, and surprisingly easy to make. It uses tons of apples and no regular flour, giving it a texture that’s between cake and custard. The lemon adds a nice brightness that balances the sweetness perfectly. It’s become my go-to recipe when apple season hits!

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

5 large eggs
1 pinch salt
1 piece lemon (juice and zest)
7 pieces medium apples
2/3 cup (125g) softened butter
3/4 cup (160g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups (500g) quark cheese (farmer cheese or cottage cheese)
2/3 cup (100g) semolina

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
Peel and core about 7 medium apples, and slice them thinly.
Mix apple slices with the juice of 1 lemon to prevent browning.
Separate the 5 eggs, placing whites in one bowl and yolks in another.
Beat the 2/3 cup softened butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix well.
Add the lemon zest to the butter mixture and combine thoroughly.
Mix in the egg yolks until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Add 2 2/3 cups quark cheese to the mixture, mixing until smooth.
Incorporate 2/3 cup semolina, ensuring there are no dry spots.
Fold the prepared apple slices gently into the batter with a spatula.
Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form.
Carefully fold the beaten egg whites into the apple batter.
Line a 26 cm springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top evenly.
Bake the cake in the preheated oven for about 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Recipe Video

Notes

Apple Varieties: Granny Smith or Golden Delicious work best for this recipe because they hold their shape during baking. You can also use Honeycrisp or Jonagold for a sweeter flavor profile.
Quark Substitutions: If you can’t find quark, blend cottage cheese or farmer cheese until smooth, or use full-fat Greek yogurt instead. Cream cheese mixed with a little sour cream (4:1 ratio) also works in a pinch.
Perfect Apple Thickness: Cut apple slices about 1/4 inch thick – too thin and they’ll disappear into the batter, too thick and they won’t cook through properly.
Cooling Matters: Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before removing the ring, or it might fall apart while it’s still hot.
Easy Topping: Dust with powdered sugar just before serving instead of making a complicated frosting – it’s all it needs.

Nutrition Facts

Total number of serves: 12
Calories: 290kcal
Fat: 13g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Protein: 8g

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Serving Your Fresh Apple Cake

This old fashioned apple cake has a wonderful flavor and unique texture that makes it special for any occasion.

When you cut into this cake, you will notice it has a texture somewhere between a traditional cake and a custard tart. It is soft and moist with visible pieces of apple throughout. The flavor is sweet but not overly so, with a nice balance of apple and lemon.

The cake tastes great warm or cold. I like it slightly warm with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. For breakfast or afternoon tea, a slice on its own is perfect. A light dusting of powdered sugar on top also adds a nice touch for serving to guests.

Storing Your Apple Cake

Proper storage helps maintain the wonderful texture and flavor of this old fashioned recipe.

Top Tip: This cake actually tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to meld together.

To store leftover cake, cover it with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The high moisture content from all those apples means this cake stays fresh longer than many traditional cakes.

You can bring slices to room temperature before serving or warm them slightly in the microwave for about 15 seconds if you prefer it warm.

This cake also freezes well for up to one month. Just wrap individual slices or the entire remaining cake in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil before freezing.

More Apple Cake Recipes to Try

If you enjoyed this old fashioned apple cake, you might like to explore other cozy apple desserts too on my YouTube channel. I regularly share different variations and techniques, including wholesome oat apple cake, a lighter apple pie with oats, and even a quick and easy apple crumble.

Wholesome Oat Apple Cake – A hearty cake that combines the nutty texture of oats with the natural sweetness of apples, giving a wholesome twist to the classic apple cake.
Healthy Apple Pie with Oats – A lighter take on apple pie, made with a delicious oatmeal crust and the timeless flavors of apples, cinnamon, and oats.
How to Make Apple Crumble (Quick and Easy Recipe) – A simple yet indulgent dessert with sweet-tart apple filling and a golden, buttery crumble topping that’s easier to make than you’d think.