Description

This Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake is a moist and flavorful fall dessert, bursting with warm spices and tender Honeycrisp apples. With a reduced apple cider base, a touch of coconut oil, and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping, this cake delivers a perfect balance of sweet and spice. Ideal for cozy gatherings or an indulgent snack, it’s a quintessential autumn treat that fills your kitchen with inviting aromas.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 1/2 cups apple cider
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
1/3 cup apple butter

Dry Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2-3 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice

Add-ins and Topping

2-3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
6 tablespoons cold salted butter, grated
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
Reduce apple cider: Pour the apple cider into a saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let it simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until it has reduced down to about 1/2 cup. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled reduced apple cider, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, honey or maple syrup, and apple butter. Stir until all wet ingredients are well incorporated.
Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing the batter.
Fold in apples: Gently fold the very thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples into the batter. The batter will be thick and studded with apple slices.
Prepare topping and assemble: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and grated cold salted butter until a clumpy sugar mixture forms. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the surface of the cake batter.
Bake the cake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cake is just set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally with honey butter for added richness and sweetness. Enjoy the comforting fall flavors!

Notes

This cake is wonderful served warm and is perfect for autumn gatherings due to its cozy spice profile and apple accents.
Be careful not to overbake to keep the cake moist and tender.
Honey butter pairs excellently to enhance the sweetness and texture; simply mix softened butter with honey to taste.
Use Honeycrisp apples or any crisp tart apples for best texture and flavor.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/15 of cake)
Calories: 374
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 55g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 30mg