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    Home » Breakfast & Brunch » Easy Italian Apple Cake

    Easy Italian Apple Cake

    Published: Oct 18, 2020 · Modified: May 7, 2021 by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Total time to make this recipe: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Taking up a slice of apple cake from the tray

    A soft and easy apple cake which is part of our Italian tradition. Every grandma bakes an apple cake in fall and even though the recipes may all be slightly different, they're always super soft and full of apple slices.

    This is probably the most baked cake in Italy, it's so easy to make that even people who cannot cook an egg are able to make it (I have proof!). And rarely Italians search for Apple cake recipes, everybody has their mom's or grandma's recipe.

    It has a very nostalgic feeling of childhood. That's probably why we love it so much. A slice of warm apple cake is the perfect breakfast, with a Cappuccino.

    Hand sprinkling powdered sugar on top of the cake
    two slices on a plate with a fork

    How to make this Italian Apple Cake

    The classic Italian apple cake has a soft sponge bottom and a thick layer of apple slices nicely arranged on top like a crown. But I prefer to add all the slices in the batter. This way it will be much moister and flavorful in every bite. The slices only on top become chewy so I never like much that version.

    You may also be surprised by the absence of cinnamon in this cake.
    Even though cinnamon is readily available in Italy, it's not part of our traditional cuisine and not used very often in cakes.
    Our ancient and traditional recipes mostly have only vanilla and citrus zest as flavorings. Maybe even a pinch of nutmeg.

    Baking this cake is super easy as you only need a large bowl. There is no particular attention to how the ingredients are mixed or their temperature. It always comes out good!

    Which apples should I use?

    You can use whichever apples you prefer! There is no right or wrong here, it all depends on your taste.

    My favorite apple is the Fuji because is very sweet and juicy, other similar apples are the Gala and the Honeycrisp. Here you can find more information on the different apple varieties.

    Check this article on how to store apples for winter, so you can make this cake even after the season is over.

    How to store it

    This cake will keep its moisture and softness for 3-5 days if kept at room temperature and in a closed container. I use this handy cake clear container (affiliate link) to store all my cakes (and transport them too if you bring it over to friends or family).

    two slices of italian apple cake on a plate in front of the cake
    overhead photo of 2 slices on a plate and the cake on a tray

    The Recipe

    If you like this recipe, check also these other desserts recipes:

    • Healthy Chocolate Pecan Banana Bread
    • Castagnaccio, Tuscan chestnut cake
    • Cantucci, Traditional Tuscan Biscotti
    • Raspberry Chocolate mini Bundt cakes
    Taking up a slice of apple cake from the tray

    Italian Apple Cake

    A soft and moist apple cake full of apple slices. A classic Italian cake that every mom and grandma bake. It's super easy to make!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Author: Jessica Montanelli

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
    • ¾ cup Sugar, I use brown sugar
    • ½ cup Unflavored Vegetable Oil, like Canola, Avocado or Peanut
    • ½ cup Milk, I use half&half
    • 1 tablespoon Baking powder
    • 3 Eggs
    • 1 lb Apples, 4-5
    • ¼ teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
    • A pinch of Salt

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F.
    • Peel and core the apples, then cut in half and slice thinly with a mandoline slicer. Add the lemon juice to the apples and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, mix the flour with a baking powder energetically with a whisk to remove all lumps. Then add all the other ingredients together and mix well with the whisk until you get a smooth batter.
    • Add the apples to the bowl with the batter and mix with a spoon.
    • Grease and dust with flour a 24 cm (9”) springform pan, then pour the cake batter and the apples in.
    • Bake in the middle rack of the preheated oven for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If the cake starts to brown too quickly, cover with aluminum foil and move to a lower rack.

    Notes

    This cake will keep its moisture and softness for 3-5 days if kept at room temperature and in a closed container.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 325 kcal | Carbohydrates: 43 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 16 g | Saturated Fat: 12 g | Cholesterol: 63 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 26 g

    Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Have you tried this recipe?Snap a photo and tag @jess.cookingmydreams or use the hashtag #cookingmydreams!

    If you like this recipe, you can leave a comment and a star rating to support me. ★★★★★
    Thank you so much!

    I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that if you click on a product link, I may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you, and as always I only recommend products I trust!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rodolfo Salhus

      December 11, 2022 at 11:47 pm

      Very nice cake .

      Reply
    2. Fran

      October 31, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      Can this cake be frozen?

      Reply
      • Jessica - Cooking my Dreams

        October 31, 2020 at 7:23 pm

        Hi Fran, Yes you can absolutely freeze this cake for about 2 months. You can then thaw it at room temperature overnight. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Marlene

      October 30, 2020 at 6:04 pm

      Love this recipie. Made it. Keep coming with recipies

      Reply
      • Jessica - Cooking my Dreams

        October 30, 2020 at 6:55 pm

        Thank you so much Marlene! I'm glad you like it 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm an Italian who moved to the Netherlands with a true passion for food, travel, and everything handmade. I love to experiment, learn new skills, and share my knowledge about everything I do!

    This blog is my perfect escape to search for my path towards happiness. :)

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