There is just something about the smell of warm apple and cinnamon swirling through the kitchen that makes everything feel cozy, isn’t there? If you are anything like me, you want that warmth without spending hours fussing over complicated equipment. That’s why I developed this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake**. Seriously, ditch your heavy mixer for this one! You just need one big bowl and a wooden spoon. My job as an educator is to make baking accessible, and this cake is the absolute proof that you can achieve the softest, most tender crumb with minimal effort. Trust me, this is the most reliable, no-mixer **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** you will ever make. It’s forgiving, flavorful, and perfect for any time you need a little homemade comfort.
When you finish baking this, I want you to feel that rush of confidence. I’ve loaded up these instructions so you know exactly what to look for every step of the way. Keep an eye out for my tips on getting that perfect crisp topping! If you’re planning a lazy weekend brunch, you can find tons of other simple breakfast recipes over here to start your day right.
Why This Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake Works Every Time (E-E-A-T)
I hear you! Sometimes you just don’t have the time for a fussy recipe, but you still want that amazing homemade dessert taste. This delicious **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** is your answer. It truly comes together in under an hour total—prep, bake, and cooling included! It’s one of my absolute go-to simple dessert recipes when guests drop by unexpectedly.
Key Benefits of Our Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
The reason this cake is so dependable lies in its simplicity. We rely on basic things you probably already have sitting in the pantry. It’s the best **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** recipe because it delivers maximum cozy flavor with minimum fuss. You absolutely don’t need any fancy gadgets to make this perfectly.
- It uses everyday pantry ingredients, so you can whip it up on a whim.
- Seriously, no mixer required! Just a bowl and a spoon—how easy is that?
- Fresh apples guarantee a soft, wonderfully moist crumb that stays tender for days.
Essential Equipment for Your Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
Getting the right tools out beforehand is the first step to making sure this cake goes smoothly. I want you to feel prepared, not rushed! Since this is designed to be simple, we’re not pulling out a dozen specialty items here. A few basic pieces are all you need for this reliable bake.
Honestly, if you can find two mixing bowls, you’re halfway there. Everything else is pretty standard kitchen gear. Setting everything out before you start mixing is what I call ‘mise en place,’ and it prevents those little frantic moments when you realize you need the measuring cup you just used!
- 8-inch Round Cake Pan: This is the perfect size for getting that lovely height on our cake. Make sure it’s nicely greased and lined with paper so cleanup is a breeze.
- Large Mixing Bowl: This is where all the dry stuff and the apples are going to meet the wet ingredients. A nice big one helps keep the flour from escaping when you stir it!
- Separate Small Mixing Bowl: We use this one specifically for whisking those eggs and liquids together before they join the main batter. Keeping them separate ensures nothing gets overworked.
- Wooden Spoon: Don’t even think about grabbing the electric mixer for the main part of this batter! The wooden spoon is key for gently folding everything together without developing too much gluten.
- Wire Rack: Absolutely necessary for cooling. You need air circulation underneath the cake so the bottom doesn’t get soggy while it rests before the glaze goes on.
Gathering Ingredients for the Best Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
Okay, let’s talk essentials! This is where we prove how easy this is. We are dividing our ingredients into three simple groups: the main cake batter, that crunchy cinnamon topping we talked about, and the super quick glaze that goes on last. See? No chaos required!
Because we are focusing on reliable results, please try to be precise with your measurements here. This is key to making sure this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** turns out perfectly tender every single time. If you need some quick baking projects you can do with younger helpers, check out some beginner ideas here that are great for little hands.
Ingredients for the Apple Cake Batter
Remember to peel and roughly chop up about one large apple. You want those chunks in there for texture!
- 1.5 cups Plain flour (that’s about 210 grams)
- 2 teaspoons Baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 3/4 cup Caster sugar (150 grams)
- 1 cup Red apple, peeled and roughly chopped (about 1 large apple)
- 2 Large eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Vegetable oil (120 ml flavourless oil works great too)
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (120 ml)
Cinnamon Topping Ingredients
This topping gets beautifully crackly when it bakes. It adds such a lovely textural contrast to the soft cake underneath!
- 1/4 cup Caster sugar (50 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Butter, melted
Simple Sugar Glaze Ingredients
The most important thing here is sifting that icing sugar! If you don’t sift it, you’ll end up with little hard lumps in your beautiful glaze.
- 1/4 cup Icing sugar or powdered sugar, sifted (30 grams)
- 1.5 tablespoons Milk (You might only need 1 tablespoon, just add slowly!)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
This is where the magic happens, and I promise it’s incredibly quick! Since we aren’t using a mixer, keep your movements gentle but deliberate. We only have 50 minutes total for this entire delicious bake, so let’s get organized. If you need some quick ideas for snacking while this bakes, I have a whole list of easy snacks right here!
Preparing the Pan and Dry Ingredients
First things first: get that oven warming up! You need to preheat it to 180 C (350 F) standard, or 160 C (320 F) if you’re using a fan-forced setting. While it heats, grab your 8-inch round pan, grease it well, and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. This is your insurance policy against sticking!
In your large mixing bowl, combine all your dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Now, toss in those chopped apples and give it a quick stir. Just a brief mix so the flour coats the apples lightly. This tiny step helps stop them from sinking later.
Mixing Wet Ingredients and Combining Batter
Over in your *separate* bowl, you’ll whisk the wet stuff. Just break up those two eggs, add the vanilla, oil, and Greek yogurt. Whisk it fast until the yolks are broken and it’s just combined. Don’t whisk it into a big froth; we don’t need extra air here.
Now, pour those wet ingredients right into the big bowl with the dry mix and the apples. Use your wooden spoon and mix gently. I mean it—do not over mix! As soon as you don’t see streaks of dry flour anymore, stop stirring immediately. A few lumps are totally fine. Overmixing gives you a tough **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake**, and we want tender!
Applying the Cinnamon Topping and Baking
Time for that crunchy layer! In the small bowl, mix the topping sugar, cinnamon, and the melted butter. It should look a bit crumbly and wet. Sprinkle this mixture evenly right over the top of the batter in the pan. Don’t press it down; let it sit right on top.
Pop it into that preheated oven for approximately 30 to 35 minutes. Keep an eye on it. You know it’s done when a skewer poked into the center comes out clean. Then, transfer the whole thing onto a wire rack to cool completely before you even think about glazing it!
Making and Applying the Final Glaze
Once the cake is totally cool—and this is important, or the glaze melts right off—we make the finish! Just mix that sifted icing sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk in a bowl. Stir it until it looks smooth and drippy. If it looks like thick paste, slowly splash in that second tablespoon of milk until it drizzles nicely off your spoon when you lift it up.
Drizzle that beautiful glaze all over the top. You can make decorative lines or just let it drip down the sides naturally. That’s it! You nailed one of the best **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** recipes out there!
Tips for Success with Your Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
Baking is always better when you feel like you’re cheating a little bit, right? These little tips are the secret sauce that takes this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** from being just “good” to being the recipe you brag about. These are the things I learned watching bakers much smarter than me, and they really help you avoid any baking hiccups. I want you to feel totally prepared to make this again and again. If you’re looking for more simple baking ideas while you’re here, my post on recipes that are easy for kids might inspire you!
Choosing the Right Apples for This Cake
You might think any apple works, but trust me, the variety matters when you’re baking them into a cake. We don’t want mush! You need an apple that holds its shape during that 35 minutes in the oven. Granny Smith is my go-to choice because it stays firm and has a lovely tartness that just sings next to the cinnamon.
If you can’t find Granny Smiths, look for Honeycrisp or Fuji. If you use something softer, like Macintosh, they tend to break down completely and turn your moist cake into something more like apple-flavored mush. Rough chopping them, like we did in the instructions, helps them keep their chunky texture, too.
Avoiding a Dense Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
This is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your cake is soft and fluffy, not like a hockey puck! The moment you add the wet ingredients to the dry, you have to stop stirring as soon as they come together. Seriously, stop when you see a few streaks of flour still clinging on.
That flour will mix in during the next step when you gently spread the batter into the pan. If you overmix, you’re activating the gluten in the flour too much. And gluten, while great for bread, is the enemy of tenderness in a delicate cake like this. Overmixing equals density, and we want light and springy!
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Your Homemade Desserts
One of the best things about this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** is that it actually tastes better the next day! The spices have a little time to mingle with the apples and the syrup from the glaze soaks in just a bit more. It’s one of those rare homemade desserts that improves with a little nap.
But, because it has fresh fruit and a glaze, you need to store it correctly to keep it fresh and safe. If you need some other easy recipes that are great for making work lunches ahead of time, pop over and check out my slow cooker and easy Crockpot dinner ideas!
Storing Your Cake for Serving Later
Since this cake has oil and yogurt, it stays moist for a while, but the glaze is the main factor here. If you’ve added the glaze, you should cover it tightly with plastic wrap or put it under a cake dome. Store it on the counter at room temperature for up to two days. Honestly, I find the texture stays best when it’s not totally chilled.
If you need it to last longer than that—maybe you made it for a big event—then move it to the refrigerator. Make sure it’s wrapped very well, or the cold air will dry out those lovely apples. It should be good in the fridge for about four or five days this way.
How to Reheat a Slice Perfectly
I know sometimes you just want that warm, straight-out-of-the-oven experience, even if it’s the next afternoon! Don’t worry, reheating a slice is simple and brings the moisture right back. This works great if your cake developed a slight crust from fridge storage.
Forget the microwave if you can help it; it can make things rubbery fast. The best way is to zap it for just 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave. You just want it warm, not steaming hot. Or, if you are feeling fancy, pop a slice on a small baking sheet in a toaster oven at about 300°F (150 C) for about five minutes. Sprinkle a tiny drop of water on the plate before microwaving if you want extra insurance against dryness!
Common Questions About Making an Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
When I share this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** recipe on social media, I always get the same great questions! It’s totally normal when tweaking a recipe to fit your pantry or schedule. Since this cake is so versatile, it’s easy to adapt, but let’s cover the main concerns so you can bake with total confidence. If you’re trying to pin down other fast ideas, I have a whole collection of easy lunch ideas that help speed up the week, too!
Can I use other fruits instead of apples in this Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake?
Oh, you absolutely can! This batter is quite sturdy and very forgiving, which is why it works so well for substitutions. If you don’t have apples, pears are a wonderful swap—use the same amount and follow the same chopping instructions. You could even try firm stone fruits like plums or firm peaches if they are in season!
Just keep in mind that you might need to adjust the sugar slightly based on the fruit’s natural sweetness. If you swap, you might want to explore my other easy cookie recipes sometime, as fruit swaps there are usually even easier!
Is this cake suitable for quick dessert recipes?
It’s beyond suitable—it’s practically designed for it! We’re looking at about 15 minutes of prep time and only 35 minutes in the oven. That means from deciding you want cake to having it cooling on the rack, you are looking at about 50 minutes total. That clock time makes it one of my favorite simple dessert recipes for weeknights. If you need a quick dessert idea that doesn’t involve baking, I have a few other suggestions bouncing around, but none of them smell as good as this!
What is the best way to serve this cake for a crowd?
Since this is baked in a standard 8-inch round pan, it easily serves 8 people, but if you have a big group wanting dessert, it’s simple to scale up! If you double the recipe, switch to a 9×13 pan and continue with the cinnamon topping. Because of its sturdy yet soft texture, it holds up beautifully when sliced and served on a platter.
For a crowd, I skip the drizzle glaze entirely because it can get messy stacked on a plate. Instead, just add an extra teaspoon of cinnamon to the topping mixture and serve big wedges with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of lightly whipped cream. It’s perfect for those gatherings where you need easy desserts for a crowd without a lot of fuss!
Author Bio: Sarah Bennett on Creating Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
Sarah Bennett is a Culinary Educator and Visual Storyteller at Top Chicken Eats. From her Seattle kitchen, she creates approachable recipes that turn everyday baking into something joyful and achievable.
I love sharing these simple techniques because I believe everyone deserves to feel successful when they step into the kitchen. Making an incredible, flavorful cake shouldn’t require a special degree or hours of labor. Baking is meant to be joyful, and this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** really captures that spirit. You can always see more about my teaching philosophy and check out my main page right over at the Top Chicken Eats About section!
Nutritional Estimates for This Simple Dessert Recipe
Now, I need to confess something important right upfront. All my recipes are built for incredible flavor and feel-good baking, not counting calories! You won’t find exact, guaranteed nutritional breakdowns here because, honestly, trying to calculate that perfectly is nearly impossible when everyone uses slightly different size apples or slightly different brands of yogurt.
The ingredients in this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** are pretty straightforward—flour, sugar, oil, yogurt, and fruit—but those amounts change based on how you buy them. What I can promise you is that this is a comforting, homemade dessert, and you should enjoy it! If you’re looking for our official stance on numbers and relying on generalized data, you can check out our full disclaimer here: for disclaimers on nutritional data.
Based on standard ingredient amounts, for a single slice (if you manage to cut yours into 8 perfect pieces!), you are generally looking at:
- Calories: Likely somewhere in the 300–350 range.
- Fat: Mostly from the oil and yogurt, so expect moderate levels.
- Carbohydrates & Sugar: These will be the highest, coming mostly from the flour, sugar, and the natural apple sweetness!
So, view this as a delicious indulgence rather than a strict diet recipe. The joy of baking something wonderful from scratch far outweighs worrying about tiny variations in numbers. Bake it, share it, and don’t forget to come back and tell me how much you loved making this simple dessert!
Share Your Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake Creations
Okay, you’ve navigated the mixing, you’ve smelled that incredible cinnamon filling the air, and now you have a gorgeous, tangy, sweet cake sitting on your counter! What happens next? You have to tell me about it!
Baking is so much better when it’s a conversation. I truly want to know how this **Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake** turned out for you, especially if you tweaked the apple variety or adjusted the glaze thickness. Did you catch that perfect crackle on the topping? Don’t be shy!
Rate This Simple Dessert Recipe
If this cake made your week instantly cozier, please consider giving it a quick star rating right here on the page—five stars if it’s officially in your rotation now! Those ratings help other beginner bakers feel confident enough to try it out. It’s the fastest way to give back to the community!
Leave a Comment and Share Your Experience
Scroll down to the comment section below and leave me a note. Tell me what you served it with—a scoop of vanilla ice cream? A strong cup of coffee? I read every single comment, and getting feedback helps me make these recipes better for everyone. If you had any little hiccups, let me know what they were so I can explain the trick to fixing it next time!
Tag Us On Social Media!
This is my favorite part! If you snap a picture of your finished cake—maybe it’s sitting out for brunch or you’re sneaking a slice while the kids aren’t looking—please share it on Instagram or Facebook and tag us!
When you share, use the hashtags #EasyAppleCinnamonCake so I can easily find your beautiful work. And while you’re browsing for more comfort food, don’t forget to check out my contact page if you have any specific questions I didn’t cover here or if you just want to say hello!
Keep baking, keep experimenting with these simple dessert recipes, and know that you just successfully made one of the best, easiest apple cakes around!
Easy Apple Cinnamon Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F) standard or 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Add the chopped apple and stir briefly to combine.
- In a separate bowl, add eggs, vanilla, oil, and yogurt. Whisk briefly just to break up the egg yolks.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and gently mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Do not over mix.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
- To make the cinnamon topping, combine the topping sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Mix together until lumpy and wet. Sprinkle this mixture over the cake batter.
- Bake the cake for approximately 30 to 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze, mix the sifted icing sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk. Stir until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add the extra tablespoon of milk. Drizzle the glaze all over the cooled cake.