What is German Apfelkuchen?
German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen) is a traditional German dessert that’s simple and delicious. It’s made with fresh apples and a delicious soft cake. It’s moist, lightly spiced with cinnamon and topped with powdered sugar.
This cake is a favorite recipe in Germany because it’s very easy to make and has very comforting flavors. It’s perfect for a cozy afternoon or for a family gathering.
It’s great all year but it’s even better in the fall when apples are in season. If you love the sweet, warm flavors of apple and cinnamon, this cake is definitely a must try!
Why I Love This Recipe
This German Apple Cake is simple and very comforting! It’s very easy to make with just basic ingredients, that propably you anlready have in your kitchen. And the apples make it so moist and delicious.
The cake is soft and perfect. You can serve it warm with whipped cream or at room temperature with tea. It’s always a hit.
It’s great for dessert, birthdays, or any time you want a dessert. Once you make it, you willl want to bake it again and again!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions for German Apple Cake
Apples: Choose firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. They keep their shape when baking and add just the right amount of tartness. Fuji or Gala apples work good too, but they make the cake a bit sweeter.
Vegetable Oil: This keeps the cake moist and light. If you want a richer flavor you can also swap it for melted butter.
Eggs: They hold everything together and give the cake the structure.
White Sugar: Sweetens the cake and balances the tart apples. If you like a deeper flavor, you can mix in a little brown sugar. It adds a hint of caramel.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla adds that subtle sweetness we all love. try using vanilla bean paste for even more flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: Be sure to measure it properly. For a softer crumb, you can use cake flour instead.
Ground Cinnamon: Brings a warm spiced flavor. Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice if you want more flavor.
Baking Soda: Helps the cake rise and keeps it nice and fluffy. Make sure your baking soda is fresh—it loses its oomph if it’s been sitting in the pantry too long!
Salt: Don’t skip this tiny but mighty ingredient—it enhances all the flavors in the cake and ties them together.
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowl: To combine the ingredients.
- Electric Mixer: Helps mix the batter smoothly.
- Wooden Spoon: For stirring the ingredients together.
- 9×13-inch baking pan or 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan. For baking the cake.
- Wire Rack: For cooling the cake after baking.
Step-by-Step Instructions for German Apple Cake
- Prepare the batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour a 9×13-inch cake pan. In a large mixing bowl mix together vegetable oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract until it’s smooth. In another bowl, mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
- Combine ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until smooth.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan or a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan. If using a springform pan, the cake may need 5–10 extra minutes of baking time. Top it with apples. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a wire rack before serving.
- Serve: when it’s cooled, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar. Serve it at room temperature or slightly warm with a cup of tea or coffee!
Expert Tips for Perfect German Apple Pie
- Choose the Right Apples: Firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are best as they won’t turn mushy during baking.
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix until just combined to prevent the cake from becoming tough.
- Let the Cake Cool: Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack before dusting with sugar to avoid melting the powdered sugar.
- Pan Size: This recipe can be baked in either a 9×13-inch baking pan for a thinner cake or a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan for a taller cake. If using a springform pan, check for doneness after 45 minutes and add additional baking time if needed.
Serving Suggestions
This cake pairs with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or Italian vanilla gelato. It’s also delicious alongside a warm drink like apple cider or a cup of hot coffee.
For an extra touch drizzle the cake with caramel sauce before serving. And if You love German cakes I highly recommend trying out this Bee Sting Cake!
Make-Ahead and Storage
This cake can be made ahead and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep it fresh cover the cake with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. If you want to keep it longer, refrigerate the cake for up to a week.
You can also freeze individual slices for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw the slices at room temperature or warm them slightly in the oven.
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Moist German Apple Cake Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Moist German Apple Cake is a family favorite dessert made with fresh apples, cinnamon, and a moist, dense cake base. It’s topped with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar and is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup apple sauce (or natural yogurt)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 large apples, peeled and sliced
For Topping:
- 2 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the vegetable oil, apple sauce, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix the batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until smooth. Don’t overmix the batter.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch cake pan or a 9-inch (23 cm) and assemble the apple slices on top of the cake (You can also gently fold in the apple slices with a wooden spoon into the batter). Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Don’t bake for too long, because it can get dry.
- Dust with sugar: Once the cake has cooled, dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Notes
You can substitute vegetable oil with melted butter for a richer flavor.
Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to maintain texture after baking.
For a more moist cake, mix in half of the apple slices into the batter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Calories: 201
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Nutrition information
This website gives estimated nutritional information, which might change depending on the ingredients used.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use a different type of apple?
Yes! Any firm apple like Fuji, Gala, or Braeburn will work well in this recipe.
How can I store this cake?
This cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. To keep it fresh, cover with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container.
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes, this cake is perfect for making ahead. You can store it at room temperature or freeze it in slices for later.
So this recipe uses the same 9×13 pan for single, double or triple recipe ? Also look like a round pan was used in the picture
Great question! 😊 The 9×13-inch pan is for the 1x recipe as written.
If you double the recipe, I recommend using two 9×13-inch pans or one larger sheet pan. For a triple batch, you’ll need three 9×13-inch pans or an equivalent larger baking pan.
You’re also right that some of the photos show the cake baked in a round pan. You can make this recipe in a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan as well, but the cake will be thicker and may need a few extra minutes of baking time.
I hope that helps, and happy baking! 😊