Description
Apple Fritter Cake is a moist, soft vanilla cake filled with tender apple pieces and topped with a crunchy vanilla glaze. This dessert mimics the flavors and texture of classic apple fritters but in a large cake form, perfect for celebrating fall and apple harvest. It pairs wonderfully with coffee, brunch, or ice cream for a delicious treat any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Mixture
- 4 cups apples (peeled and cubed small, about 4 large apples, 550g)
- ½ cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom (ground, optional)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
Cake Batter
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup sour cream (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour (240g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (more as needed)
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Apple Mixture: In a medium bowl, toss the peeled and cubed apples with dark brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom (if using), pure vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix well to coat the apples evenly and set aside.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy using a hand or stand mixer. Add in the room temperature eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Apples: Carefully fold the prepared apple mixture into the cake batter, ensuring the fruit is distributed evenly throughout the batter without breaking up the apples too much.
- Bake the Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Vanilla Glaze: While the cake bakes, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and pure vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Add more milk if the glaze is too thick to drizzle.
- Glaze and Cool: Once the cake is baked and slightly cooled (about 10-15 minutes), drizzle the vanilla glaze evenly over the top of the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely to let the glaze set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- This apple fritter cake is moist and buttery with a soft vanilla flavor and tender apple pieces that create an ooey gooey texture.
- The crunchy vanilla glaze adds a delightful contrast to the soft cake and mimics the classic apple fritter glaze.
- Best served alongside coffee or as a brunch treat. It also pairs well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and tartness in the cake.
- The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Make sure the eggs and sour cream are at room temperature for better batter consistency and cake texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 394 kcal
- Sugar: 44 g
- Sodium: 151 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
