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Apple Spice Cake Recipe

Apple Spice Cake Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 7 reviews

This Apple Spice Cake recipe is a moist and flavorful treat, perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, featuring fresh grated apples and apple cider for a tender crumb. Topped with a smooth cinnamon glaze, this cake is ideal for cozy fall gatherings or a delightful dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/3 cup apple cider (not apple juice)
  • 1/3 cup fresh apple, peeled and grated (moisture absorbed between paper towels)

Cinnamon Glaze Ingredients

  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides for easy removal after baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
  3. Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Scrape down the bowl edges as needed to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
  4. Mix in Vanilla: Add the vanilla extract and mix just to combine.
  5. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
  6. Alternate Dry Ingredients and Apple Cider: Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with the apple cider, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing gently after each addition.
  7. Fold in Grated Apple: Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the grated apple using a spatula. Be careful not to overmix to maintain a tender crumb.
  8. Transfer and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the center rack of the oven for 55 to 60 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
  9. Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then use the parchment paper to lift the cake out and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
  10. Make Cinnamon Glaze: In a medium bowl, sift the powdered sugar. Add the heavy cream or milk and ground cinnamon, whisking until smooth and lump-free. Adjust consistency by adding more powdered sugar if too thin, or more cream if too thick.
  11. Glaze the Cake: Drizzle the prepared cinnamon glaze evenly over the cooled cake, allowing it to set before serving.

Notes

  • Use fresh apple cider, not apple juice, for authentic flavor and acidity.
  • To prevent sogginess, drain moisture from grated apples by placing them between paper towels.
  • If you don’t have a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars by hand until fluffy for about 5 minutes.
  • Cover the cake with foil towards the end of baking if it browns too quickly to avoid a burnt crust.
  • The cinnamon glaze can be tailored for thickness according to preference by adjusting powdered sugar or cream.
  • Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple spice cake, spiced cake, fall dessert, cinnamon apple cake, apple cake with glaze, moist apple cake, holiday cake

Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/apple-spice-cake-recipe/