Description
This Apple Spice Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert featuring grated honey crispy apples and warm autumn spices. Topped with a luscious brown sugar icing, it’s perfect for cozy gatherings or a sweet treat any time of year. The cake combines classic fall flavors like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves with the natural sweetness of apples for a delightful balance.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2-3 large honey crispy apples, grated using the large holes on a box grater (~1 1/2 cups), skin on
Brown Sugar Icing
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch light colored nonstick pan with parchment paper and set aside to ensure easy removal of the cake after baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves until well combined, creating a uniformly spiced base for the cake batter.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another mixing bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, sour cream, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined, ensuring the sugars dissolve and the mixture is homogenous.
- Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula just until combined; avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Fold in grated apples: Carefully fold the grated honey crispy apples into the batter, spreading them evenly throughout without breaking down the mixture.
- Transfer batter to pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top evenly to prepare for baking.
- Bake the cake: Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once done, allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make brown sugar icing: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, dark brown sugar, and heavy cream, whisking continuously until the mixture is combined and reaches a gentle boil.
- Finish icing: Remove the saucepan from heat, then whisk in the vanilla extract and sifted powdered sugar until smooth and glossy, forming the brown sugar icing.
- Apply icing: Pour the warm icing over the cake while it is still slightly warm; this allows the icing to melt gently into the cake for a richer flavor and texture.
- Serve: Slice and enjoy the cake warm for the best taste experience.
Notes
- You can keep the skin on the apples for added texture and nutrients.
- If honey crispy apples are unavailable, substitute with other sweet, crisp apple varieties such as Fuji or Honeycrisp.
- Ensure eggs and sour cream are at room temperature to achieve better batter consistency.
- The cake is best enjoyed warm but can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- For a spicier version, increase the cinnamon or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
