Description
A moist and tender Irish apple cake with warming spices and tart apples, perfect for cozy gatherings or a comforting treat with tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free option)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk (or dairy-free milk plus 1 tsp lemon juice)
- 3 medium tart apples (Granny Smith or Bramley), peeled, cored, and chopped
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (to toss with apples)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (to toss with apples)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round or 8×8-inch square cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Toss chopped apples with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Beat softened butter and 1 cup sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds and halves respectively, mixing gently and folding with a spatula to avoid overmixing.
- Fold the prepared apples gently into the batter.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the surface.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Bramley for best flavor and texture. Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake tender. Let the cake cool on a wire rack to prevent sogginess. Buttermilk can be substituted with dairy-free milk plus lemon juice. The cake tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of cake
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Irish apple cake, apple cake recipe, moist apple cake, cinnamon apple cake, easy apple cake, cozy dessert