Apple Cake Recipes: 14 Grandma Bakes That Beat Apple Pie, From Irish Custard Cake to the Invisible One

Apple cake recipes are having a big moment this fall, and it makes sense: no pastry to roll, no soggy bottom crust, and the same warm cinnamon smell that used to drift out of grandma-style kitchens every November. Bakers across America are searching for Irish apple cake, the Bolzano cake from the Italian Alps and the French invisible cake made of paper thin layers. Every one of them belongs to the big family of European apple cakes. We gathered the best apple cake recipes from Europe and from Southern church cookbooks, each one simple enough for a weeknight and pretty enough for Thanksgiving. Grab a bag of tart apples, warm up the oven and find the cake that might quietly replace pie at your holiday table this year..

Irish Apple Cake With Warm Custard Sauce

Of all the apple cake recipes in this collection, the Irish one feels most like a hug. It is a humble butter cake, rubbed together like scones, with tart apples tucked into the middle and a crunchy sugar top. In Irish homes it comes to the table still warm, with a jug of vanilla custard poured right over each slice. Tip: use firm, tart apples so the layer stays juicy but does not turn mushy. Serve it next to old-fashioned upside-down cakes and watch which plate empties first..

You will need: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup cold butter, 2/3 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 3 tart apples peeled and sliced, 2 tbsp coarse sugar; custard: 2 cups milk, 4 egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch springform pan. 2. Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt, then rub in the butter until it looks like crumbs; stir in sugar. 3. Beat eggs with milk and stir in to make a thick batter. 4. Spread half in the pan, layer the apples, then dot the rest on top and sprinkle coarse sugar. 5. Bake 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 6. For custard, heat milk, whisk it slowly into yolks and sugar, then stir over low heat until it coats a spoon (170F); add vanilla.

German Sunken Apple Cake (Versunkener Apfelkuchen)

In German kitchens, Sunday afternoon means coffee and cake, and this one shows up again and again. Apples are pressed into a tender lemon butter cake, either as scored halves or as neat wedges like the ones in this photo, and they sink as it bakes. A brush of warm apricot jam at the end gives the top a bakery shine. Tip: if you use halves, score them deeply but not all the way through so they open like flowers in the oven. Set it out with old-fashioned Christmas breads when friends drop by in December. Would you serve it warm or cold?

You will need: 1/2 cup butter softened, 2/3 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, zest of 1 lemon, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 3 tbsp milk, 4 small apples peeled, halved and cored, 2 tbsp apricot jam

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch springform pan. 2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in eggs one at a time, vanilla and zest. 3. Stir in flour, baking powder and milk and spread in the pan. 4. Score the rounded side of each apple half with thin lines and press them in, cut side down. 5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden. 6. Warm the jam and brush it over the top.

Bolzano Apple Cake, One of the Easiest Apple Cake Recipes

Searches for this mountain cake from South Tyrol have jumped more than 1,000 percent this fall, and one bite explains why. It is almost all apples, held together by just enough lemony batter to slice. Families in the Alps bake it with crisp local apples and dust it with powdered sugar, nothing more. Among easy apple cake recipes, this one is the most forgiving: slice the apples thin and the batter does the rest. Pair it with a pot of coffee and a plate of glazed apple fritters for a cozy autumn spread. Ready to try it?

You will need: 3 eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, zest of 1 lemon, pinch of salt, 5 medium apples (about 2 lb) peeled and thinly sliced, powdered sugar for dusting

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment. 2. Whisk eggs and sugar until foamy, then whisk in milk, butter and lemon zest. 3. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt until smooth. 4. Fold in the apple slices so every piece is coated, then pack into the pan. 5. Bake 50 to 55 minutes until golden and set in the center. 6. Cool, then dust with powdered sugar.

Apple Cake Recipes for a Crowd: German Streusel Sheet Cake

When German bakers need to feed a crowd, they reach for a sheet pan and make Apfelstreuselkuchen. A soft yeast base gets a thick layer of sliced apples and a buttery cinnamon crumble on top. It cuts into neat squares, which is why it shows up at church sales and family birthdays. Of all the big batch apple cake recipes, this one travels best to potlucks. Tip: keep the butter for the streusel cold so you get big, crunchy clumps. Add it to your church bake sale recipes and see how fast the squares vanish.

You will need: Dough: 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 cup warm milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 egg; topping: 6 apples peeled and sliced; streusel: 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2/3 cup cold butter cubed

How to make it: 1. Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt, then add milk, butter and egg and knead 5 minutes into a soft dough. 2. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled. 3. Press into a greased 9×13 pan and cover with apple slices. 4. Rub streusel ingredients together into large crumbs and scatter over the apples. 5. Let rest 15 minutes while the oven heats to 375F. 6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until the crumble is golden.

French Invisible Apple Cake (Gateau Invisible)

The French call it invisible because the batter almost disappears between dozens of paper thin apple slices. When you cut a piece, you see neat stripes, like the pages of a book. It looks fancy, yet it needs only one bowl and a sharp knife or slicer. Here is the honest secret behind the best layered apple cake recipes: let it cool fully, then chill it before slicing for clean edges. It is lovely with whipped cream, and if you like delicate layers, try our paper-thin French crepes next. Would your family guess how simple it is?

You will need: 4 large apples, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup milk, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, pinch of salt

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and line a loaf pan with parchment. 2. Whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla, then whisk in milk and butter. 3. Stir in flour and salt until smooth. 4. Peel, core and slice the apples paper thin, then fold them into the batter. 5. Layer the coated slices flat in the pan and pour any leftover batter over the top. 6. Bake 60 to 70 minutes until a knife slides through easily; cool, then chill before slicing.

Polish Apple Cake Recipes: Jablecznik With a Grated Crumble

Polish families have a clever trick for the top of their apple cake: freeze part of the dough, then grate it over the filling like cheese. The result is a short, crumbly crust above and below a thick layer of soft, cinnamon apples. It is the cake Polish grandmothers are known for at Christmas and name days. Tip: cook the apples first and drain them well so the bottom crust stays crisp. Slice it into bars and set it out beside Polish Christmas cookies for a sweet table everyone can graze. Have you tried the grating trick?

You will need: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup cold butter, 2 egg yolks, 3 lb tart apples peeled and chopped, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon

How to make it: 1. Pulse flour, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar and butter into crumbs, then add yolks and press into a dough. 2. Wrap one third and freeze 30 minutes; press the rest into a greased 9×13 pan and chill. 3. Cook apples with sugar and cinnamon 10 to 15 minutes until soft, then drain and cool. 4. Heat oven to 350F, spread apples over the base. 5. Grate the frozen dough evenly over the top. 6. Bake 50 to 60 minutes until golden; cool before cutting.

Southern Apple Cake Recipes: Apple Dapple Cake With Caramel Glaze

Southern apple cake recipes do not get much richer than apple dapple cake. It is a dense, moist tube pan cake loaded with chopped apples and pecans, then soaked with a warm brown sugar glaze while it is still hot from the oven. It has filled the pages of Southern church cookbooks for generations and still shows up at fall revivals and family reunions. Tip: poke the warm cake with a skewer so the caramel seeps deep inside. Serve it next to a pan of Texas sheet cake for a true Southern dessert spread. Will it make your reunion table?

You will need: 3 eggs, 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp vanilla, 3 cups chopped apples, 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans; glaze: 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup milk

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan. 2. Beat eggs, oil and sugar, then stir in flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla. 3. Fold in apples and pecans; the batter will be thick. 4. Spread in the pan and bake 60 to 75 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. 5. Boil butter, brown sugar and milk 2 to 3 minutes. 6. Poke the warm cake and pour the glaze over it; cool before turning out.

Swedish Apple Cake Recipes With Almonds and Vanilla Sauce

In Sweden, apple cake comes with a pitcher of cool vanilla sauce, and that pairing is hard to forget. The cake itself is a quick butter batter topped with apple slices, cinnamon sugar and toasted almonds. Swedish apple cake recipes are often stirred together in minutes when guests are on their way. Tip: arrange the apples in a tight ring so every slice gets plenty of fruit. It feels right at home in a Carl Larsson Christmas, served with coffee on a snowy afternoon. Which would you pick: vanilla sauce or a scoop of ice cream?

You will need: 1/2 cup butter softened, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/3 cup milk, 2 apples sliced, 1 tbsp sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup sliced almonds; vanilla sauce: 1 1/2 cups milk, 3 egg yolks, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch round pan. 2. Beat butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla, followed by flour, baking powder and milk. 3. Spread in the pan and arrange apple slices in a ring on top. 4. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and almonds. 5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until golden. 6. For the sauce, whisk hot milk into yolks and sugar, stir over low heat to 170F until thickened, add vanilla and chill.

1000 Layer Apple Cake Recipes Home Bakers Are Trying

The 1000 layer apple cake has been all over home baking feeds this fall, and it rewards a little patience. Dozens of thin cinnamon apple slices are stacked in a loaf pan with a light custard batter, baked slowly, then chilled overnight. Slice it and you get a tall block of glossy stripes. Of all the showy apple cake recipes here, this one is the best make ahead dessert. Tip: cover the pan with foil for the first 30 minutes so the top layers stay soft. If you love custardy bakes, our easy impossible pies make a fun next project. Up for the challenge?

You will need: 6 medium apples, 3 eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup milk, 4 tbsp melted butter, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of salt

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and line a loaf pan with parchment. 2. Whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla, then add milk and butter. 3. Stir in flour, cinnamon and salt. 4. Peel, core and slice apples very thin, coat them in the batter and stack them flat in the pan, pressing down. 5. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 45 to 55 minutes more until a knife slides through. 6. Cool, then chill overnight before slicing.

Russian Sharlotka, the Three Ingredient Batter Cake

Ask anyone who grew up in a Russian home about apple cake and they will mention sharlotka. The batter is just eggs, sugar and flour, beaten until thick and airy, then poured over a pan of chopped tart apples. It bakes into a light, almost spongy cake with a crisp sugary top. Tip: beat the eggs and sugar a full 8 to 10 minutes; that air is the only lift the cake gets. It is so easy that it belongs on any list of old-fashioned apple desserts for busy weeknights. Ready to give it a whirl?

You will need: 3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 4 tart apples peeled and cubed, 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional), powdered sugar for dusting

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch springform pan. 2. Toss apples with cinnamon and spread them in the pan. 3. Beat eggs and sugar on high 8 to 10 minutes until pale and thick. 4. Add vanilla and gently fold in the flour in two parts. 5. Pour the batter over the apples and bake 45 to 55 minutes until golden and springy. 6. Cool 10 minutes and dust with powdered sugar.

Apple Cider Donut Cake

If you love the cinnamon sugar donuts sold at fall orchards, this cake is your shortcut. Sweet, non-alcoholic apple cider is simmered down until it is thick and tangy, then stirred into a tender spice batter. While the cake is warm, you brush it with butter and roll the outside in cinnamon sugar, just like the real donuts. Tip: buy fresh sweet cider from the produce aisle or a local orchard. Bake it for dessert after one of our cozy apple cider dinners at a harvest party. Coffee or hot cider on the side?

You will need: 2 cups sweet non-alcoholic apple cider, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 3/4 cup butter softened, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 tsp vanilla; coating: 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon

How to make it: 1. Simmer cider until reduced to about 2/3 cup, then cool. 2. Heat oven to 350F and grease and flour a ring pan. 3. Beat butter and sugars, add eggs and vanilla, then mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk and reduced cider. 4. Bake 45 to 55 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. 5. Cool 10 minutes and turn out. 6. Brush the warm cake with melted butter and press cinnamon sugar all over.

Dorset Apple Cake, an English Teatime Classic

From the farms of southwest England comes Dorset apple cake, a rustic bake that is somewhere between a cake and a giant scone. Chunks of apple are folded into a brown sugar batter and the top gets a crunchy sugar crust. In Dorset it is often served warm, split open and spread with butter, or with a spoon of thick cream. Of all the apple cake recipes for beginners, this one is hard to get wrong. It deserves a spot among your most requested family recipes, served at an afternoon tea that feels like a trip abroad. Warm or cool, which way for you?

You will need: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup cold butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 3 tbsp milk, 2 large apples peeled and diced, zest of 1 lemon, 1 tbsp coarse sugar

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and line an 8-inch round pan. 2. Rub butter into flour, baking powder and cinnamon until crumbly, then stir in brown sugar. 3. Beat eggs with milk and stir in with the apples and lemon zest. 4. Spread in the pan and sprinkle with coarse sugar. 5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. 6. Serve warm.

Danish Old-Fashioned Apple Cake (Gammeldags Aeblekage)

This Danish favorite is called a cake, but it is really a layered dessert in a glass bowl, and no oven is needed for the apples. Soft vanilla applesauce is stacked with golden buttery crumbs and clouds of whipped cream, then finished with a dot of red currant jelly. Danish families make it every fall when apples are cheap and plentiful. Tip: toast the crumbs until deep gold and let them cool so they stay crunchy. It is a fun cousin to our no-bake icebox cakes and can be made the night before. Would it win a spot on your table?

You will need: 2 lb apples peeled and chopped, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups dry breadcrumbs, 3 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp red currant jelly

How to make it: 1. Simmer apples, sugar and water about 15 minutes until soft, then mash with vanilla and cool. 2. Melt butter in a skillet, add breadcrumbs and sugar and stir over medium heat until golden. 3. Spread crumbs on a plate to cool. 4. Whip the cream to soft peaks. 5. Layer crumbs, applesauce and cream in a glass bowl two or three times, ending with cream. 6. Dot with jelly and chill at least 1 hour; keep refrigerated.

Italian Apple Cake Recipes: Torta di Mele, Grandma Style

Every Italian nonna seems to have her own torta di mele, and they all share the same idea: a soft lemon cake full of apples, with a fan of slices on top. Some apples are diced into the batter and the rest are arranged in a pretty spiral. Italian apple cake recipes like this are served for breakfast as often as dessert. Tip: a thin brush of warm apricot jam keeps the top apples shiny for days. For more Italian home cooking, browse our Marcella Hazan recipes next. Breakfast or dessert, when would you eat it?

You will need: 3 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup milk, zest of 1 lemon, 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 3 apples, 2 tbsp apricot jam

How to make it: 1. Heat oven to 350F and grease a 9-inch springform pan. 2. Whisk eggs and sugar until pale, then whisk in butter, milk and zest. 3. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. 4. Dice 2 apples into the batter and pour into the pan. 5. Slice the third apple thin and fan it over the top. 6. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until golden, then brush with warmed jam.