Description
This Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake is a moist, flavorful dessert featuring a spiced apple-infused batter topped with a sweet cinnamon sugar and butter crumble. Made with reduced apple cider, fresh apples, and warm spices, it’s perfect for cozy gatherings or a comforting treat any time of year.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2–3 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice
- 2–3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
Topping
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, grated
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Reduce Apple Cider: In a saucepan over high heat, bring 1 1/2 cups of apple cider to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until it reduces down to about 1/2 cup. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled reduced apple cider, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, honey or maple syrup, and apple butter. Stir until all the wet ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Stir just until combined to avoid overmixing. The batter will be thick.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the very thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples into the batter ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Spread Batter: Pour and spread the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix the grated cold salted butter, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until the mixture forms clumps.
- Apply Topping and Bake: Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar butter mixture evenly over the surface of the cake. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until the cake is just set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally with honey butter for an extra touch of richness. Enjoy!
Notes
- The reduced apple cider intensifies the apple flavor in the cake, so be sure to simmer it until reduced properly.
- Use very thinly sliced apples to ensure they cook through evenly within the batter.
- Honey or maple syrup can be used interchangeably for natural sweetness.
- For an extra moist texture, serve the cake warm with honey butter as suggested.
- Store leftovers tightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/15 of cake)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
