I actually wasn’t planning on making an apple cinnamon cake.
The plan was to bake my Pear Upside Down Cake for a friend who was visiting. I ordered pears through Instacart, feeling productive and efficient…and then my shopper decided pears and apples were basically interchangeable. It’s my fault for using Instacart, clearly.
To be fair, it wasn’t the wildest substitution I’ve ever received. One time I ordered jalapeños and got jalapeño seeds instead. As if I was going to postpone dinner for the next three months while I waited for them to grow.
So, apples it was.
Honestly, one thing that will always get me baking is having fruit—or really any ingredient—that I know I won’t eat on its own. Suddenly I’m searching my pantry, preheating the oven, and convincing myself that cake is the most responsible option.
And if you’re making an apple cake, there’s one natural direction to go: cinnamon. Well…cinnamon and cardamom, because I firmly believe apples and cardamom deserve more time together.
I wanted something cozy but uncomplicated. No making caramel, no multiple bowls of toppings, no fussy techniques. Just a simple layer of brown sugar, apples, and warm spices in the pan, topped with a soft, buttery cake batter. As it bakes, the butter and brown sugar melt into the apples, creating a lightly caramelized topping with hardly any extra effort.
The result is a cake that’s tender, warmly spiced, and just sweet enough to enjoy with your morning coffee without feeling like you’re eating dessert for breakfast. (Although I fully support having it after dinner with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, too.)
One of my favorite things about this apple cinnamon cake is that it feels just a little more special than a loaf cake but doesn’t require much more effort. Arranging the apple slices only takes a few extra seconds, and once the cake is turned out, it looks like you spent far longer in the kitchen than you actually did. It’s one of those recipes that’s easy enough for a quiet weekend at home but pretty enough to bring to brunch or share with friends.
It’s one of those recipes you can throw together in under an hour, fills the kitchen with the smell of cinnamon, and somehow makes an ordinary morning feel a little slower and cozier.
So thank you, random Instacart shopper. You accidentally gave me my new favorite breakfast cake. 🍎☕
Apple Cinnamon Cake
Ingredients
For the Topping
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 apples, (halved, cored, and sliced into ⅛-inch slices)
For the Cake
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ cup whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare the Pan
- Line the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan (or springform pan) with parchment paper.
- Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom directly to the pan. Aim for a roughly even layer here.
- Arrange the apple slices over the mixture in any pattern you choose. I recommend overlapping them slightly so every slice of cake gets plenty of apple. I would also put slices along the perimeter of the pan as well.
Make the Cake
- In a large bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.
- Gradually add the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom into the bowl. Add milk. Mix until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly over the apples and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serving
- Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Place a serving plate over the pan and carefully invert the cake in one confident motion. Lift off the pan and gently peel away the parchment paper to reveal the caramelized apple topping.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. It's delicious on its own or with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a cup of coffee!
Notes
