Apple Fritter Cake
Apple Fritter Cake with a sweet powdered sugar glaze is a simple loaf cake that will remind you of your favorite apple fritter. This easy cake has layers of moist vanilla cake, tart apples with lots of cinnamon and sugar for a easy and delicious dessert!
Apple desserts are perfect for fall holidays and get togethers but don’t wait for a special occasion to try this apple fritter cake. It’s so simple, you can make it any day of the week! You might also like this easy carrot cake for a simple dessert.
Ingredients for Apple Fritter Cake Recipe
For Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- Brown Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon
For Cake
- Butter
- Granulated Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Buttermilk – If you don’t have buttermilk, substitute by adding about 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice with whole milk to create 1/2 cup.
For Apple Filling
- Granulated Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon
- Baking Apples: Granny Smith Apples are best, honey crisp or gala apples will also work.
For Icing
- Powdered Sugar
- Cream or Milk
Just take me to the recipe! You will find the full recipe card with ingredients and instructions at the very bottom of the post. Otherwise read on for the step by step photos.
How to Make Apple Fritter Cake
- Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Add butter and sugar to a mixer bowl and beat together with the paddle attachment. Mix in vanilla and one egg at a time until blended. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Add half of dry ingredients mixture to batter and mix at medium speed. Add buttermilk and then remaining flour mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Peel and dice the apples. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and toss to combined.
- Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with non stick cooking spray.
- Layer half of cake batter into pan and spread evenly. Top with half of apple filling. Sprinkle the cinnamon brown sugar mixture.
- Repeat with remaining cake batter, apple mixture and then cinnamon sugar mixture. Swirl the top of the batter with a knife.
- Bake for about 60 to 65 minutes.
- Remove cake to a serving platter.
- Mix powdered sugar and cream together until smooth.
- Drizzle sweet glaze over warm cake, slice and serve.
Recipe Notes for Apple Fritter Cake
- What Kind of Apple to use for Baking: Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji Braeburn, Jonathan or honeycrisp apples are all great baking apples.
- Will Apple Pie Filling Work? If you don’t have fresh apples, canned apple pie filling will work. Just dice the apples before layering in the cake.
- What Size Pan to Bake Apple Fritter Cake: I am using a 9 x 5 loaf pan. A 9 x 9 inch square baking pan will also work but baking time will be less.
- Add-ins: Chopped pecans or walnuts can be mixed in with the cinnamon sugar apples. Raisins or dried cranberries are also great additions.
- Storage: Wrap cooled cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 4 days.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This recipe comes from The Easy Cake Cookbook, by Amanda Couse. It is the ultimate guide for cake lovers who are big on taste―but short on time. If you’re a busy home baker or a cake-loving beginner, this cake cookbook offers friendly, fail-safe advice so you can bake fast and flavorful cakes whenever you have the craving.
You will find coffee cakes, bundt cakes, snacking cakes, skillet cakes, little cakes and toppings. This is a great cookbook for home bakers and inspiring cooks.
The book is available for pre-order on Amazon.com NOW and officially launches on December 3, 2019. Check out more of Amanda’s amazing recipes at Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt.
Grab a copy along with my favorite Silverstone Loaf Pan and you are ready to bake! If you are a cinnamon lover, you will also love this easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake.
More Apple Dessert Recipes to Try
Fried Apple Hand Pies are one of the most delicious desserts that I’ve ever made. The flakiest fried pie dough wrapped around tender apples and drenched in powdered sugar icing. They are beyond irresistible.
Fresh Apple Cake comes from my mom’s recipe box. This cake is super easy and incredibly delicious. A great cake to bake and share for the holidays.
Easy Apple Cobbler is and old fashioned dessert just like grandma would make. Top it off with vanilla ice cream for a family favorite dessert.
Apple Upside Down Cake is super easy and incredibly delicious. This cake is a must- try for apple lovers!
Easy Apple Crisp is great for busy weeknights. A super simple dessert that the entire family will love. Serve it warm from the oven and top it with vanilla ice cream.
If you love fall spiced desserts, this Pear Cake with brown sugar icing is another favorite. Easy enough for any day of the week and delicious enough for entertaining.
Why You will Love this Apple Fritter Cake Recipe
- Nostalgic Dessert: If you love the flavor of homemade apple fritters, this delicious apple fritter cake is sure to remind you of the great taste of your favorite old fashioned doughnut.
- Easy Recipe for Any Occasion: This tender cake is so simple to make with pantry ingredients and fresh apples. It is a great dessert for any day of the week and great with a cup of coffee. It’s a great dessert for special occasions or to bake and share for the holidays.
- Favorite Apple Dessert: Apple desserts are perfect for the fall season but we make this cake all year long. It is one of our most requested recipes and a real crowd pleaser. A must-try if you are looking for a delicious apple fritter coffee cake.
Try this Apple Fritter Cake Recipe for a weekend brunch, an easy weeknight dessert or for your next holiday get together. It’s a simple recipe and so delicious!
If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a five star review, and be sure to help me share on Pinterest!
Apple Fritter Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CINNAMON SUGAR
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
FOR THE CAKE
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
FOR THE APPLES
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 3/4 cups chopped peeled baking apples
FOR ICING
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons cream or milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- For the cinnamon sugar, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- For the cake, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, then add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until each egg is incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients
and buttermilk to the butter-sugar mixture in the large bowl, alternating back and forth between the two, starting and ending with our and beating on medium speed. - Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula and stir in any unmixed bits of batter.
- 5. For the apples, in another medium bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Add the apples and toss until the apples are coated with the cinnamon sugar.
- Add half of the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Add half of the apples in a layer and gently push them down into the batter. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar over the apples.
- Repeat, adding the remaining batter, apples, and cinnamon sugar. Use a skewer to swirl it all together.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 60 to 65 minutes.
- Mix powdered sugar and cream together in a small bowl until smooth.
- Place cake on a serving platter and drizzle warm cake with icing.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.
This look delicious. Hubby will love this for sure.
Thank you
Thanks Colleen!
Can these be made ahead of time? I’ve been looking for a bed recipe for Christmas that I can add to my cookie gift baskets to go along with my other goodies. Any ideas on how to do it? Thanks!
Hi Vicky,
You could bake a day or two in advance, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator. I have not tried freezing this cake, so I’m not sure how it would do.
~ Milisa
These is a delightful bread/ cake. Everyone that’s tasted it loves it. From the oldest to the littles. I’m made it a few times now.
Hi Elsie,
So glad y’all are enjoying it!
~ Milisa
Has anyone tried using canned apple pie filling in this recipe?
Hi Ana,
I haven’t tried that. I could work but I would chop the apples and mainly use the apples and not the “filling”. I hope that makes sense.
~ Milisa
My family loved this recipe. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Kara,
I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it!
~ Milisa
I absolutely love this recipe! I make a double and bake them in mini loaf pans, they’re always a huge hit.
Hi MaryAnn,
So glad you are enjoying it!
~ Milisa
Could you tell me how many small loaf pans and how long you cook them for.
#3 says brown sugar, but all ingredients are white or granulated will you clarify?
Hi Betty,
The ingredients are broken up into sections – at the top is the cinnamon sugar: 1/3 cup brown sugar + 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. That is for step 3. I hope that helps.
~ Milisa
In the recipe it just says loaf pan – is it a 9″ x 5″ or 8 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ pan. It makes a big difference.
Hi Heather,
It is a 9 x 5, I will update the recipe card.
Thanks,
Milisa
Thanks for your quick response. Looks delicious! I will be making this recipe tomorrow.
Hi Heather,
I hope you enjoy it!
~ Milisa
Currently in the oven gonna be great
I made this and it was very dry. When I tested it for doneness, the knife continued to come out wet, so I had to cook it longer than the recipe called for. I thought that might be the reason for the dryness. Did anyone else have this problem? I ended up throwing it away. 🙁
I found this happening with a couple of loaf recipes and turns out it was the calibration on my oven. Once I fixed that I haven’t had this issue anymore!
I made this recipe. Quite easy but so delicious! Thanks
Hi Des,
So glad you enjoyed it!
~ Milisa
I Just got your Recipe, Can’t wait to make this Recipe
How many apples? I have re-read the recipe over and over and do not see how many apples the recipe calls for. Please advise, I would like to try this recipe this weekend.
Thank you
Hi Veronica,
The recipe card is at the very bottom of the post with all of the measurements. You can also use the jump to recipe button at the top of the page to take you there. This recipe uses 1 3/4 cups of diced apples.
~ Milisa
I found the apples! I have so many “ads” on my page, the measurement was buried.
Yes the adds are terrible! It is like playing a game, trying to get rid of all of them!
Can the buttermilk be substituted?
Can the buttermilk be substituted
You can make your own with a dash of lemon juice and milk, then let it sit for 5 minutes until it thickens.
For the icing, 2 tablespooons of milk seems like a lot of liquid for 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Should it be 2 teaspoons?
Hi Katie,
You are right, I will correct that.
~ Milisa
I don’t have buttermilk. What can I substitute?
Hi Kim,
You can make a buttermilk substitute by adding about 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice with regular milk to create 1/2 cup.
~ Milisa
I can’t find what temperature the oven should be on 350, 375
Hi Jenny,
It’s 350°.
~ Milisa
This looks lovely. Could you please give the ingredients list in grams?
Seeing the salt and baking powder in the recipe I wonder if I can use self rising flour instead?
Hi Amber,
I think that will work just fine.
~ Milisa
So….don’t do that lol. That was the only difference in the recipe and it collapsed a bit in the center, i tried it as the recipe states and it was absolutely perfect!
Hi Amber,
I’m sorry that didn’t work out, I really thought it would. Thanks for coming back to let us know for sure.
~ Milisa
Great recipe! Family loved it, both hot/fresh and as leftovers straight from the fridge. Great apple & cinnamon flavor!
Hi Natalie,
So glad y’all enjoyed it!
~ Milisa
Hi Milisa,
What type of baking apples work best?
Hi Yvonne,
Granny Smith apples, honey crisp or gala apples are my favorites for this recipe.
~ Milisa
This was so delicious! I made modifications for pan size, gluten-free, and sugar alternatives. Couldn’t believe how moist it was. Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
It was so easy and so delicious
Hello your cake looks wonderful. I would like to know if I can add raisins and walnuts. Thanks Rta
Hi Rita,
I haven’t tried that but I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work. I think it would be delicious. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.
~ Milisa
Hi Milisa I will let you know. I just love apples with walnuts and raisins.
That was a brilliant cake, everyone loved it, thank you from the UK
Hi Teresa,
So glad y’all loved it!
~ Milisa
This apple fritter cake is an absolute delight! The perfect combination of the moist vanilla cake with the sweet and tangy apples creates an amazing taste that I can’t get enough of!
This is a recipe I’ve made many times and I always get asked for the recipe when I share. It’s so easy and delicious!
This bread tastes amazing. Made exactly as directed, but I lost a potion of my bread batter in the oven as the pan overflowed. Did anyone else use have this problem? I went back and double checked al. My ingredients and temp. Everything was correct. As delicious as it looks s I don’t know that I want to try again
Yes this happened to me as well!
Hi Lisa,
I’m sorry your cake cooked over in the oven, that is frustrating. I use a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan to make it.
~ Milisa
I would like to mix the apples into the batter. Do you see a problem with that?
Hi Audine,
I haven’t tried that but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Let me know how it turns out.
~ Milisa
I baked this at 325 degrees in my electric oven.
Baked 15 minutes
Rotated pan
Baked 15 minutes longer
Placed a foil tent loosely over it bake 5 additional minutes
Or until tooth pick comes out clean.
Very moist and tasty
I dusted it with powder sugar
Well I completely messed this up. Kinda. I used a 9 by 13 pan 🤦🏼♀️. Cooked it 30 min. Excellent overall. Didn’t realize it till I reread the recipe. 9 by 5 loaf pan. But it all worked out Thanks
Glad it turned out!
~ Milisa
Honey, I’m 71 years old. This is the best apple Fritte..cake I have ever eaten. Thank you so much 💓
Hi Betty,
That makes my day! I am so glad you enjoyed this apple fritter cake and I appreciate you stopping by.
~ Milisa
I wanted this to be so good.
It turned out awful. All you can taste is eggs and burnt cinnamon. I followed everything to the recipe except buttermilk as we are dairy free. I’m glad others liked it. I’ll never make it again.
You do realize that buttermilk serves a purpose beyond adding dairy? You can’t just omit entire (and important) ingredients and then have the audacity to blame the recipe when it fails.
This Apple Fritter Cake looks amazing! I love how simple the recipe is, and I can’t wait to try it out. The step-by-step instructions make it so easy to follow. Thanks for sharing!