Mouthwatering Apple Fritter Cake Recipe
This Mouthwatering Apple Fritter Cake blends tender, spiced cake batter layered with soft, cinnamon-sugar coated Granny Smith apples, topped with a luscious vanilla glaze. Perfectly balanced with applesauce and Greek yogurt for moistness, this dessert combines the flavors of a classic apple fritter in an easy-to-bake cake form, delivering a delightful treat that’s ideal for fall or any time you crave a comforting sweet.
- Author: Tim
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Apple Filling
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced (about 2 medium)
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp water
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Cake Batter
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
Vanilla Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Prepare the Apple Filling: In a medium saucepan, combine peeled and diced Granny Smith apples, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, cornstarch, and water. Heat over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until the apples soften and the liquid thickens. Remove from heat and let cool while preparing the rest of the cake.
- Make Cinnamon Sugar Mix: In a small bowl, mix together dark brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Set aside for layering on the cake.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Beat Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, and eggs to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix on medium speed until fully combined, scraping the bowl as needed to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon.
- Mix Batter: Alternate adding the dry ingredient mixture and Greek yogurt (or sour cream) to the wet mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, then finish mixing gently by hand with a spatula to avoid overmixing and ensure a tender cake.
- Layer Cake Batter and Apple Filling: Spread half of the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Spoon the cooled apple mixture over the batter layer, spreading to cover. Sprinkle two-thirds of the brown sugar-cinnamon mix evenly over the apples. Top with the remaining batter, spreading gently. Finally, sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar-cinnamon mix on top.
- Bake the Cake: Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, tent gently with foil during the last 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Vanilla Glaze: While the cake is baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Apply Glaze: Once the cake is baked and still warm, poke about 30 holes evenly across the surface using a butter knife. Immediately pour the glaze over the cake and spread with a spatula. Let the glaze set for about 20 minutes before serving. Optionally, substitute half of the milk with apple cider in the glaze for extra flavor.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for their tartness and firm texture that holds up well during cooking.
- To avoid overmixing the batter, finish combining ingredients gently by hand to ensure a tender crumb.
- Let the glaze set fully before slicing for cleaner cuts and better flavor absorption.
- For extra flavor, try adding a pinch of nutmeg to the cinnamon in the apple filling or cake batter.
- Use room temperature ingredients to achieve the best mixing results and texture.
- This cake keeps well for 2-3 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature; refrigerate if keeping longer.
Keywords: apple fritter cake, spiced apple cake, cinnamon apple cake, glazed apple cake, autumn desserts, easy apple cake