Description
This Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake is a moist, spiced dessert made with a reduction of apple cider, cinnamon, and tender slices of Honeycrisp apples. Topped with a buttery cinnamon sugar crumble, it’s perfect served warm with honey butter for a comforting and flavorful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup apple cider
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- ⅓ cup apple butter
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2-3 tsp apple or pumpkin pie spice
Fruit
- 2-3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
Topping
- 6 tbsp cold salted butter, grated
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the cake.
- Reduce apple cider: Pour the apple cider into a saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the cider has reduced to about ½ cup. Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled reduced apple cider, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, honey or maple syrup, and apple butter. Stir until all the wet ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients: Into the wet mixture, add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which could make the cake dense.
- Fold in apples: Gently fold in the thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples into the batter. The batter will be thick due to the fruit and flour content.
- Spread batter in dish: Evenly spread the thick batter into the parchment-lined 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Prepare topping: In a small bowl, mix the grated cold salted butter, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon together until you get a clumpy sugar mixture. This will create a crunchy, flavorful topping.
- Add topping and bake: Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar butter mixture evenly over the surface of the cake batter. Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cake is just set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally with honey butter to enhance the sweet cinnamon and apple flavors. Enjoy your cozy apple cake!
Notes
- Use Honeycrisp apples or other firm apples like Granny Smith or Fuji for best texture and flavor.
- If you prefer, substitute honey with maple syrup for a vegan-friendly option.
- For extra moisture, you can serve with a dollop of honey butter or whipped cream.
- Make sure not to overmix the batter once the flour is added to keep the cake tender.
- The reduced apple cider intensifies the apple flavor inside the cake.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/15 of cake)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
