Description
This Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert perfect for fall or any time you crave a comforting treat. Made with a reduced apple cider base and layered with thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples, it features warm spices like cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. A crumbly cinnamon sugar topping with grated butter adds delightful texture and sweetness. Serve it warm with a drizzle of salted honey butter for an extra special touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet 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
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2-3 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice
Additional
- 2-3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, grated
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C). Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the cake after baking.
- Reduce the Apple Cider: Pour the apple cider into a saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until it reduces to about 1/2 cup. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. This concentrate adds intense apple flavor to the cake.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled reduced apple cider, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, honey or maple syrup, and apple butter. Stir until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Apples: Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can make the cake tough. Fold in the thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples evenly throughout the batter. The batter will be thick due to the fruit.
- Spread Batter and Add Topping: Evenly spread the thick batter into the prepared baking dish. In a separate small bowl, mix granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and grated cold salted butter until a clumpy sugar mixture forms. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar topping generously over the surface of the batter to create a sweet crust.
- Bake the Cake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. The cake is done when it is just set in the center and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking to keep it moist.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the cake cool slightly before serving warm. For an extra indulgent touch, serve with salted honey butter made by mixing butter, honey, and a pinch of sea salt. Enjoy this delicious and comforting apple cake as a dessert or snack.
Notes
- Salted Honey Butter: Combine 6 tablespoons softened butter, 6 tablespoons honey, and a pinch of sea salt to create a sweet and salty butter perfect for spreading on the warm cake.
- Pumpkin Spice Mix: To make your own pumpkin pie spice blend, mix 1/4 cup cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ginger, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cloves, and 1 teaspoon allspice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/15 of cake)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
