20+ Apple Cake Recipes to Make This Fall

Updated August 18, 2020
Credit: Jennifer Causey

What's one of the best ways to enjoy fresh, in-season apples? Apple cake, of course. These apple cake recipes celebrate fall's flavors in full force, and best of all, you don't have to be an expert baker to master them. From oven-baked to skillet-cooked, we rounded up our top-rated cakes that celebrate fall's bounty of apples and spice.

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Caramel Apple Cake

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Caramel Apple Cake Recipe

This cake is topped with sauteed apple slices and drizzled in a delicious Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce. 

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Apple Bundt Cake with Brown-Sugar Glaze

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Apple Bundt Cake with Brown-Sugar Glaze Recipe

Try this Apple Bundt Cake drizzled with a delicious brown-sugar glaze for a fabulous fall dessert. 

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Whole-Grain Apple Cake with Yogurt Cream

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Whole-Grain Apple Cake with Yogurt Cream Recipe

There's a trifecta of textural awesomeness here, as the buttery-crisp topping meets silky-smooth yogurt cream on moist, tender cake. By using whole-wheat pastry flour in place of all-purpose, we triple the fiber per slice to a hearty 4 grams. For a chunkier cake texture, use chopped apples instead of shredded. This cake is great served warm or at room temperature.

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Carrot-Apple Spice Cake with Browned-Butter Glaze

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Carrot-Apple Spice Cake with Browned-Butter Glaze Recipe

We challenged ourselves to come up with a showstopping dessert that uses boxed cake mix as a starting point—and we succeeded. Fresh carrot and apple plus a splash of bourbon boost the flavor of the layers, while the browned-butter glaze is, well, the wildly delicious icing on the cake.

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Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Ginny Branch

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake Recipe

Fall flavors and cream cheese are a match made in culinary heaven. Drizzle with praline frosting to seal the deal.

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Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cinnamon-Apple Cake Recipe

Among our most popular cakes—the 5-star rated Cinnamon-Apple Cake gets its moisture from cream cheese in the batter.

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Double Apple Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Double Apple Cake Recipe

Let the batter—flavored with dried apple slices and applesauce—sit in the slow-cooker for a couple hours and you've got double the delight in this Double Apple Cake.

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Apple Bundt Cake with Apple-Cream Cheese Glaze 

Credit: Darcy Lenz

Apple Bundt Cake with Apple-Cream Cheese Glaze  Recipe

This incredibly moist bundt cake gains its strong apple flavor from 4 cups of shredded Granny smith apples baked into the batter, as well as a concentrated apple liquid (made by reducing apple juice and apple liqueur) that is brushed over the warm cake after baking and used to create the cake’s sweet-tart apple and cream cheese glaze. Grating the apples, as opposed to chopping them into pieces, makes for more even distribution of moisture and apple flavor throughout this dense and delightful cake. While we opted to keep the spice factor simple here (to avoid overpowering the apple) with just a teaspoon of cinnamon, feel free to mix it up and add other favorite spices—such as cloves, ginger, nutmeg, or allspice. You can also swap the vanilla bean paste for 11/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract. If you can’t find apple liqueur, simply substitute apple flavored brandy or 1/4 cup more apple juice. 

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One Bowl Apple Cake

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

One Bowl Apple Cake Recipe

Some people might call this cinnamon-spiced apple cake the perfect fall dessert—and those people would be absolutely correct. You only need a handful of basic ingredients and the batter comes together easily in a single bowl. Serve this easy apple cake warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it's a guaranteed hit, no matter the occasion. 

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Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze Recipe

Don't be afraid to go 100% whole-grain with desserts; we use all spelt flour here with amazing results. The nutty flour boosts the taste of the butter, spices, and vanilla, unlike all-purpose flour, whose bland nature would dilute those flavors. Be sure to weigh the flour for accuracy; using too much will make the cake dry.

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Apple Stack Cake

Apple Stack Cake Recipe

A naked layer cake filled to the brim with cinnamon cooked apples is sure to be a show piece at your next party.

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Fresh Apple Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

Fresh Apple Cake Recipe

Thinly sliced apples and toasted pecans make up the bulk of this recipe. Topped with your choice of three types of frosting and you've got your family's newest addiction.

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Fort Davis Apple Cake

Credit: Randy Mayor

Fort Davis Apple Cake Recipe

Not only is this glazed apple cake recipe a sure-fire hit, but it's super low-maintenance too—no mixer required!

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Honey-Apple Cake

Credit: Charles Walton

Honey-Apple Cake Recipe

Top your apple cake with a generous scoop of icing and a drizzle of warm honey sauce, and guests will start begging for seconds.

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Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Cake Recipe

Think the apple, pecan, and sugar mixture bubbling in the skillet is enough? Add cake batter and you've entered true euphoria.

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Upside-Down Apple Polenta Cake

Credit: Beatriz Da Costa

Upside-Down Apple Polenta Cake Recipe

Cornmeal gives the upside down cake the perfect texture underneath a layer of tender skillet-cooked apples.

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Nutty Apple Spice Cake with Quick Butterscotch Sauce

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Nutty Apple Spice Cake with Quick Butterscotch Sauce Recipe

The sugar caramelizes into a crunchy top layer that's best eaten the day it's made, so go ahead and have another piece.

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Apple Oven Cake

Credit: Leo Gong; Styling: Karen Shinto

Apple Oven Cake Recipe

This (pan)cake puffs to perfection in the oven for a not-too-sweet breakfast main dish or rustic dessert option.

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Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Honey Apple Cake

Credit: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lydia Degaris-Pursell

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Honey Apple Cake Recipe

Everyone loves apple-cinnamon oatmeal, right? Now make it a cake! Sweetened with apple sauce and topped with a fluffy whipped frosting—it's a perfect fall dessert.

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Autumn Apple Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Autumn Apple Cake Recipe

This not-too-sweet cake recipe works best with sweet, crisp apples such as Pink Lady, Braeburn, or Sundowner.

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French Apple Cake

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee

French Apple Cake Recipe

This French Apple Cake is super easy, can be made very quickly, and transforms into a fancy cake perfect for a dinner party or special occasion. Plus, all the ingredients are easy to find. The rum and the warm apples wrapped in fluffy cake gives you the perfect bite. Add some whipped cream on top and it becomes delightfully sweet. If you don’t have any rum on hand, it’s okay to leave it out—however, the rum really elevates the cake. Serve with coffee or tea at your next cozy gathering.

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Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes

Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes Recipe

Finish the cakes with one of the three toppings. Toss together the Streusel Topping before you start baking. Both glazes can be prepped while the cakes cool.

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Apple Cream Torte

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Apple Cream Torte Recipe

A cream torte is like a cross between a cake, a custard, and a dutch baby. The tender-sweet varieties of apples used here soften more readily than some when baked, making them a better match for the delicate cake. Look for Northern California and Northwest varieties at your local grocery store or farmers' market from August through November. Five great Western apple varieties in the Cameo, Gravenstein, Ida Red, Pink Pearl, and Sierra Beauty.

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