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A slice of apple cake with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
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5 / 8 votes

Apple Cake

This easy apple cake is made with a couple of crisp apples and a tangy buttermilk cake batter, giving it a lovely fresh apple flavor.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Calories: 286

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons (3 oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 to 3 apples, peeled, cored, and thickly sliced
  • Confectioners’ sugar, (optional)
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Coat a 9-inch springform pan with butter and dust with flour, tapping out any excess.
  • In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. With the mixer running, slowly add the sugar and continue beating until fluffy.
  • Plop in the egg and beat until combined, then mix in the vanilla.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk to the bowl in 3 batches, beating after each addition.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
  • Starting at the outside of the pan, stand the apple slices on their narrow end in the batter to form a circle, fitting them as snugly as you can. Fill in the center of the circle with as many slices as will fit.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted into the cake--not the apples--comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack, unlatch the pan, remove the adjustable sides, and allow the cake to cool.
  • Sprinkle confectioners’ sugar over the cake just before serving, if desired.

Notes

  1. Storage and freezing--The cake can be stored, wrapped in plastic, at room temperature for up to 3 days. The cooked and cooled cake can be frozen for up to 3 months, wrapped in foil or plastic. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
  2. Apple slices--Keep your apple slices approximately the same thickness so that they'll bake evenly.
  3. Selecting your apples--Since there are no spices added to this cake, the apple flavor really shines. Choose good-quality apples without any bruising or soft spots.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 67mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g