The Best Easy Apple Cake – Soft & Buttery 10-Minute Recipe
This Easy Apple Cake is a wonderfully soft, buttery, and fruit-filled homemade dessert made with 3 fresh apples, melted butter, and a simple vanilla cake batter.
The preparation takes only about 10 minutes, making it a great choice when you want a beautiful homemade apple cake without complicated techniques. Fresh apples provide plenty of fruity flavor and moisture, while melted butter gives the cake a rich, tender texture.
Before baking, the apples are finished with 3 tablespoons of sugar and a little cinnamon, creating a warm, fragrant topping. After the regular baking time, an optional final 3 minutes using the grill function helps give the surface an attractive finish.
Perfect for afternoon coffee, tea, family gatherings, or a comforting dessert, this simple apple cake combines classic ingredients with an easy preparation method.
Ingredients
For the Apple Cake
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 75 g sugar (2.64 oz)
- 8 g vanilla sugar (0.28 oz)
- 150 g flour (5.29 oz)
- 10 g baking powder (0.35 oz)
- 100 g butter, melted (3.5 oz)
- 3 apples
For Sprinkling
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- Cinnamon, as needed
How to Make the Best Easy Apple Cake
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F).
Prepare a 19 cm baking pan by lightly greasing it or lining the bottom with baking paper.
Set the prepared pan aside while you make the cake.
2. Prepare the Apples
Wash 3 apples thoroughly.
Peel them if desired, remove the cores, and cut the apples into thin slices or evenly sized pieces.
Try to keep the slices relatively uniform so they soften at a similar rate while baking.
Set the prepared apples aside.
3. Beat the Eggs and Sugar
Place 3 room-temperature eggs into a large mixing bowl.
Add 75 g (2.64 oz) sugar and 8 g (0.28 oz) vanilla sugar.
Whisk until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture becomes lighter and slightly fluffy.
Using room-temperature eggs helps the ingredients combine more smoothly.
4. Add the Melted Butter
Melt 100 g (3.5 oz) butter and allow it to cool slightly.
Gradually pour the melted butter into the egg mixture while gently stirring.
Continue mixing until the butter is completely incorporated.
The butter provides richness and contributes to the cake’s soft, tender texture.
5. Add the Flour and Baking Powder
Combine 150 g (5.29 oz) flour with 10 g (0.35 oz) baking powder.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
Gently fold or mix until a smooth batter forms and no visible pockets of dry flour remain.
Avoid overmixing once the flour has been added, as excessive mixing can make the cake denser.
6. Transfer the Batter to the Pan
Pour the prepared batter into the 19 cm baking pan.
Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly and smooth the surface.
7. Arrange the Apples
Arrange the prepared apple slices evenly over the cake batter.
You can slightly overlap the slices to create an attractive apple-covered surface.
Gently press the fruit into the batter without completely submerging it.
Using 3 apples gives this cake a generous amount of fruit and ensures plenty of apple flavor in every slice.
8. Add Sugar and Cinnamon
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the apples.
Finish with cinnamon according to taste.
The combination of apples, sugar, and cinnamon creates the classic warm aroma associated with homemade apple cake.
9. Bake
Place the cake in the preheated oven at 180°C (356°F).
Bake for approximately 35 minutes, or until the cake has risen, the apples are tender, and the center is baked through.
To check for doneness, insert a toothpick or wooden skewer into a cake section away from a large apple slice.
It should come out clean or with only a few moist crumbs.
10. Finish with the Grill Function
After the regular baking time, use the oven’s grill function for approximately 3 minutes to finish the surface.
Watch the cake closely during this step.
The grill function provides strong direct heat, so the surface can brown very quickly.
Do not leave the cake unattended during these final minutes.
11. Cool the Cake
Remove the finished apple cake from the oven.
Allow it to cool in the pan for a while before attempting to remove or slice it.
The cake is particularly tender while hot, so a short cooling period helps it settle.
12. Slice and Serve
Carefully remove the cooled or slightly warm cake from the pan.
Cut into slices and serve.
Enjoy it slightly warm for a comforting buttery apple dessert, or allow it to cool completely and serve alongside coffee or tea.
Tips for the Best Apple Cake
Use room-temperature eggs: The original recipe specifically calls for room-temperature eggs, which combine more easily with the other ingredients.
Cool the melted butter slightly: Melt the butter first, but avoid adding it to the eggs while it is extremely hot.
Slice the apples evenly: Uniform slices will soften more consistently during baking.
Don’t overmix: Once the flour has been added, mix only until the batter is smooth.
Use the correct pan size: A 19 cm baking pan helps give the cake its intended thickness.
Preheat the oven: The recipe calls for baking in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F).
Watch the grill carefully: The final 3 minutes under the grill can brown the surface quickly, so keep a close eye on the cake.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe uses a relatively short ingredient list while still delivering plenty of classic apple-cake flavor.
You need only 3 eggs, 75 g sugar, 100 g melted butter, 150 g flour, and 3 apples for the main structure of the cake, along with vanilla sugar and baking powder.
The generous apple topping keeps the cake fruity, while melted butter gives the crumb a rich homemade flavor.
Cinnamon and sugar on top add warmth and sweetness, and the brief grill finish provides an attractive final touch.
Most importantly, the batter and apples can be prepared in approximately 10 minutes, making this a convenient recipe for everyday baking.
Serving Suggestions
This buttery apple cake is delicious served on its own or with:
- Freshly brewed coffee
- Black or herbal tea
- A cold glass of milk
- Whipped cream
- Plain or Greek yogurt
- Vanilla ice cream
- Fresh fruit
For dessert, serve a slightly warm slice with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How to Store Apple Cake
Allow the apple cake to cool completely before storing.
Place leftover slices in an airtight container or keep the cake well covered.
Because it contains plenty of fresh apple, refrigeration is a good choice for longer storage.
Allow refrigerated slices to come closer to room temperature before serving if you prefer a softer texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many apples do I need?
You need 3 apples for this recipe.
Does the cake really take 10 minutes?
The 10 minutes refers to the approximate preparation time. The cake then needs to bake for 35 minutes at 180°C (356°F), followed by the specified 3-minute grill finish.
Why should the eggs be at room temperature?
Room-temperature eggs generally combine more smoothly with the other cake ingredients and are specifically called for in this recipe.
Why is melted butter used?
The 100 g melted butter gives the cake richness and contributes to its soft, tender texture.
How much sugar goes into the batter?
The cake batter contains 75 g (2.64 oz) sugar plus 8 g (0.28 oz) vanilla sugar.
An additional 3 tablespoons of sugar are used for sprinkling.
How much cinnamon should I use?
The original recipe doesn’t specify an exact cinnamon quantity, so add it according to your preferred taste.
Do I need to use the grill function?
The original recipe specifies 3 minutes on the grill function after baking to finish the cake. If using this step, watch the surface continuously because grill heat is intense and browning can happen very quickly.
How long does the cake bake?
Bake it in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for approximately 35 minutes, followed by the specified 3-minute grill finish.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Apple Cake is a simple but delicious homemade dessert filled with classic apple, cinnamon, vanilla, and butter flavors.
With 3 fresh apples, 3 eggs, only 75 g of sugar in the main batter, and 100 g melted butter, it produces a soft, tender cake with a generous fruity topping.
Prepare it in about 10 minutes, bake it in a 19 cm pan at 180°C (356°F) for 35 minutes, then finish with 3 minutes on the grill function, watching carefully.
Serve it slightly warm or completely cooled with coffee or tea for a simple and comforting homemade apple dessert.