The Best Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake recipe is so easy, moist, full of fresh apples, nuts, raisins, cinnamon and is the best recipe ever!

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Easy Apple Cake

Every year I always look forward to apple season, even though apples are readily available all year round.

Maybe it's because we used to pick them every year when my son Patrick was small. He used to have so much fun.

Actually I think we had more fun watching him but who knows for sure!

Maybe it's because of our old apple tree that I wait almost impatiently for the apples to be ready, year after year.

I am sure I will always be impatient like this but I LOVE fresh apples, right from the tree.

There is just something about making a fresh apple cake, and other apple desserts that use fresh apples, that excites me. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks like this.

All I know for sure is that this easy apple cake is absolutely wonderful, all year around, especially with a scoop of ice cream and some caramel sauce.

Oh my goodness, I almost start to drool just thinking about eating a slice of The Best Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake.

Best Apple Cake Recipe

My husband is like a squirrel and LOVES nuts in everything or as many recipes as I can can fit them into!

He snacks on them a lot and I'm pretty sure they're his favorite muchie.

This fresh apple cake tastes great with both pecans or walnuts so just use your favorite or whichever you have on hand. I'm sure other nuts will work too but those are the only two that I have ever tried.

That being said, no nuts at all works great too and on occasion I have left them out myself!

Depending on who is visiting we have some friends and family that have nut allergies so I avoid using anything nutty like the plague when they're visiting.

Otherwise, I will definitely include nuts, specifically for my husband, in our best apple cake recipe.

Luckily for him, I LOVE nuts too! ?

Fresh Apple Cake Recipe

It took me forever to find the perfect fresh apple cake and I believe this is it! Otherwise I wouldn't have stopped looking all of those years ago!

I'm a big believer in not trying to fix what isn't broken.

With this fresh apple cake recipe you end up with perfect everything

Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe

The Best Apple Cake Recipe Ever

Apple Cake Recipe

Apple Cinnamon Cake

What would an apple cake be without a little cinnamon added. Apples and cinnamon go perfectly together and I believe a little nutmeg is a fabulous addition too.

My husband always refers to this easy apple dessert as the apple cinnamon cake and always has.

From his perspective, I know I make a lot of apple desserts and I just can't seem to help it. We have an apple tree after all that produces these amazing apples, year after year.

Many more apples than I can handle.

As you might expect, my friends, neighbors and family end up with as many apples as they can use as well.

I just hate to see anything go to waste. Especially when they taste so good!

This fresh apple cinnamon cake uses 1 ½ teaspoons on ground cinnamon but can easily handle 2 teaspoons if you're a cinnamon lover.

After you try this recipe the first time you will know whether or not the cake requires more cinnamon to suit your personal tastes.

I would use 2 teaspoons myself but my son and husband aren't huge cinnamon fans. They simply don't like this apple cake as much with any more cinnamon in it.

Don't get me wrong they will still eat it. I just figure why include the extra when ultimately this fresh apple cake is a treat for me still. Even with less cinnamon in it.

Fresh Apple Cake

What kind of apples should I use to make the Best Apple Cake?

Of course The Best Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake uses fresh apples of your choice and it wouldn't be the best apple cake without them!

The most important part, actually the secret to making an amazing apple cake is to use a variety or mixture of apples. This way you have such wonderful flavors and textures in the dish you are creating.

Sweet and tart or just sweet, both will produce amazing results! Choose a sweet and a tart apple or just sweet, pick your favorites or whatever you are in the mood for, you will enjoy this cake!

I prefer to use a tart apple like granny smith with a sweet apple like Honeycrisp, Gala or Fuji but feel free to use your favorite or favorites. I haven't used an apple yet that didn't turn out beautifully!

That being said, there are some apples that don't cook as well as others and should be avoided for recipes like this.

The Washington Apple Commission has a fabulous list, including pictures, of every apple. There is a brief history and description of each and most importantly each of their best uses.

This list comes in handy when deciding which apple to use in a recipe and which is recommended for baking. Also, which apple freezes better than others.

I have made apple desserts in the past and the apples have just disintegrated and disappeared. They couldn't handle the heat from the cooking or baking process. Some apples just don't hold their shape as well as others and this apple resource has definitely come in handy!

Best Apples to Use for Baking

My favorites are as follows. These apples are fairly common in my part of the world but for a more complete list you can always check here.

Granny Smith apples are tart and sour and go beautifully with a sweet dessert like this, especially mixed with other sweeter apples such as Braeburn, Mutsu or Crispin, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Winesap, Pink Lady (or Cripps Pink) and Honeycrisp apples!

That being said, I have included a list so here we go!

Red Delicious

Crunchy and Mildly Sweet and the world’s favorite snacking apple. Known for its crunchy texture and mildly sweet flavor, this tasty apple is perfect for snacking and salads.

Gala

Crisp and Very Sweet this apple works best in pies, sauces, snacking, salads, baking and beverages.

Fuji

Crunchy and Super Sweet this apple is used primarily as a snack, in salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauces and freezing.

Granny Smith

Crunchy and Tart this is the best tart apple for snacking, pies, salads, sauces, baking, freezing, and beverages.

Honeycrisp

Crisp and Distinctly Sweet is subtly tart and great for sweet and savory dishes. Mainly used as a snack, in salads, pies, beverages, sauces, and holds a firm shape in baked goods.

Cripps Pink or Pink Lady

Crunchy, Firm and Sweet-Tart is delicious as a snack, retain its shape in baked goods, salads, pies, sauces, and freezing.

Golden Delicious

Crisp and Sweet these apples work in any recipe as an all purpose sort of apple. The flesh stays white after slicing for longer than any other apple variety I have come across. This apple was made for snacking, salads, baking, freezing, sauces, beverages, and pies.

Ambrosia

Sweet as Honey and the best as a snack, in salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauces and freezing.

Autumn Glory

Crunchy and subtly cinnamon sweet this apple is used as a snack, in salads, baking and beverages.

Braeburn

Crisp and Tangy and used as a snack, in salads, will hold its shape when baked in the oven, in sauces, and pies.

Breeze

Crisp and Sweet and made for snacking, salads, baking, sauces, and pies.

Cameo

Crunchy and Sweet-Tart and used mainly for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauces, and freezing.

Envy

Crisp, sweet, and naturally delicious in snacking, salads, and baking.

Jazz

Crisp and Tangy in salads, snacks, baking, beverages, pies, sauce and freezing.

Jonagold

Crunchy and Sweet-Tart this apple is ideal for snacking, salads, especially baking in the oven, beverages, pies, and sauces.

Juici

Crunchy and Sweet used as a snack, baking, salads, and beverages.

Kanzi

Intense and Sweetly Tart and can be used for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauce, and freezing.

Kiku

Juicy and Super Sweet is great for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauces, and freezing.

Lady Alice

Crunchy and Sweet-Tart the ideal apple for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, and sauces.

Mutsu or Crispin

Firm and similar in flavor to a Golden Delicious apple. Perfect for pies and slow cooking.

Opal

Crisp and Juicy-Sweet used for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauces, and freezing.

Pacific Rose

Crisp and Sweet used for snacking, salads, and sauces.

Piñata or Pinova

Crisp, Sweet-Tart and Slightly Tropical and great for snacking, salads, baking, and sauces.

Rome

Soft and Mildly Tart is best used in baking or pies, not for snacking.

Smitten

Crunchy and Juicy and used for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauce, and freezing.

Sonya

Crunchy and Sweet for snacking, salads, baking, beverages, pies, sauces, and freezing.

SugarBee

Sweet as can bee, crisp and juicy for salads, baking, beverages and snacking.

SweeTango

Crisp and Sweet for snacking, salads, and baking.

Sweetie

Crisp, sweet, and blushing with flavor for snacking and salads primarily

Winesap

Intensely flavored, these apples hold their shape during cooking and are wonderful in baked goods.

Ingredients for Easy Apple Cake Recipe

apples
salt
flour
baking soda
cinnamon
nutmeg
butter
sugar
eggs
vanilla
apples
pecans or walnuts
raisins

How to make a Moist Apple Cake Recipe

Prepare a springform pan with butter or cooking spray and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.

In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.

In another bowl, using a handheld mixer, on medium speed, beat butter and sugar together until smooth, about 5 minutes.

Add eggs and vanilla. Scrape sides of bowl with a spatula.

Add in flour mixture and blend on low speed until combined.

Fold in apples, raisins and nuts.

Pour batter into your prepared pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Allow cake to cool completely.

Use a knife to loosen cake from the outside of your spring form pan.

Serve cake warmed and sliced with a scoop of ice cream and some caramel sauce.

This cake can easily be reheated at 325 degrees for 7-9 minutes or in your microwave.

How to properly store and keep your cake moist?

The cake is moist and should be stored in an airtight container, in a cool place, for 2 to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

If you do not have a large enough container simply place your cake on a plate, sprinkled lightly with white, granulated sugar to prevent sticking, and cover it with plastic wrap until the cake is small enough for one of your airtight containers.

In warmer climates it is just better to store your cake in the fridge. You can remove the cake from the fridge an hour or so before serving to allow it come down to room temperature.

Should you refrigerate apple cake?

Truthfully, it depends on how long you want to keep it out, whether covered or in a container, how warm or hot the environment is and many other factors.

A great habit is to refrigerate until about an hour or so before you want to serve it and then within a couple of hours, cover and return to your fridge for safe keeping.

Can you freeze an Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake?

This cake can be frozen for up to 2, maybe 3 months, if stored correctly. Once baked, allow your apple cake to completely cool, wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and then tinfoil or an airtight container.

I realize that seems excessive but your goal is to keep air away from the surface of your cake so it looks great after defrosting. All you can do is your best.

also love apples and make several apple dishes you might be interested in trying. I truly love them all and am excited to hear what you think!

Other Delicious Apple Recipes to Try

German Apple Pancake

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Apple Pie Muffins

Crunchy Apple Bake

The Easiest Apple Tart

The Best Apple Upside Down Cake

Ozark Pudding

Apple Pecan Bread

My Grandma's Apple Pandowdy

Caramel Apple Pecan Raisin Crisp

Below, is one of my first pictures I took for this site that I was proud of and I just can't take it down. I hope you don't mind! This is The Best Nutty Apple Cake and definitely is a keeper!

The Best Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Video

The Best Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake