This Easy Swedish Apple Cake is perfect for fall! It’s a warm, spiced dessert featuring tender apples and a fluffy cake that’s super easy to whip up.
Whenever I bake this cake, my house smells like autumn! It’s great with a scoop of ice cream on top—because let’s be real, everything’s better with ice cream. 🍏🍰
Ingredients & Substitutions
Apples: Use tart apples like Granny Smith for the best balance of sweet and sour. If you can’t find those, Honeycrisp or Braeburn apples are great alternatives. They add a nice flavor, too!
Lemon Juice: This helps prevent the apples from browning. If you need a substitute, a splash of vinegar or even orange juice can work, but the flavor will be slightly different.
Granulated Sugar: You can reduce the sugar to 3/4 cup if you prefer a less sweet cake. Alternatively, you could use coconut sugar or a sugar substitute if you’re watching your sugar intake.
Butter: Unsalted butter is ideal, but you could use margarine or coconut oil if you prefer. Just note that it might change the texture slightly.
Milk: Any milk works well here, so feel free to use almond milk or oat milk if you’re dairy-free!
How Do I Get the Perfect Texture for My Cake?
For a light and fluffy cake, the key is creaming the butter and sugar properly. Make sure to cream them together until they’re pale and fluffy—this incorporates air into the mix, helping the cake rise nicely.
- Start with softened butter for easier mixing.
- Don’t rush adding eggs—add one at a time and mix until blended.
- Mix the dry ingredients separately first to ensure even distribution of baking powder and spices.
- When adding dry and wet ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake.
Baking it until just set is crucial. A toothpick should come out clean, with a few moist crumbs sticking to it—this indicates a perfect texture without being dry!
Easy Swedish Apple Cake
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Cake:
- 4 medium tart apples (like Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups (160g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (120ml) milk
For Serving (Optional):
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
How Much Time Will You Need?
This Easy Swedish Apple Cake takes about 15 minutes of prep time and 45-50 minutes of baking time, plus a little cooling time. So, in total, you’ll need around 1 hour and 15 minutes to have this delicious cake ready to enjoy!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your cake will bake evenly. While the oven is heating, take a 9-inch (23cm) round cake or springform pan and grease it with butter and flour to prevent sticking.
2. Prepare the Apples:
In a bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice. This will help keep them from turning brown and adds a nice zing to the flavor. Set the apples aside for now.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until it’s light and fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer for this step, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the Eggs:
Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Make sure to mix well after each addition until everything is combined smoothly.
5. Mix Dry Ingredients:
In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. This step helps to evenly distribute the baking powder and spices in the flour.
6. Combine Ingredients:
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter-egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients, mixing just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cake dense.
7. Layer the Batter and Apples:
Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out evenly. Layer half of the sliced apples over this batter. Then, spread the rest of the batter on top and finish with the remaining apple slices, pressing them lightly into the batter.
8. Bake the Cake:
Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. It’s ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the apples are soft.
9. Cool the Cake:
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps to set the texture!
10. Serve and Enjoy:
If you like, dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar for a lovely presentation. Serve it warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s a perfect treat for fall!
Enjoy this comforting Swedish Apple Cake that beautifully showcases the sweetness of autumn apples wrapped in a soft, spiced cake!
FAQ for Easy Swedish Apple Cake
Can I Use Different Types of Apples?
Absolutely! While tart apples like Granny Smith are recommended for their balance of flavor, you can use Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or any firm apple variety you enjoy. Just be mindful that sweeter apples may yield a sweeter cake.
Can I Make This Cake Gluten-Free?
Yes, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular flour. Make sure the blend contains xanthan gum or add it according to package instructions to help achieve a similar texture to traditional cake.
How Should I Store Leftovers?
Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want it to last longer, you can refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to wrap it well before freezing!
Can I Add Nuts or Other Ingredients?
Yes, feel free to add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra crunch! You can also mix in raisins or cranberries for a twist. Just be sure to adjust the amount of apples slightly if adding extra ingredients to balance the flavors.