Apple Spice Cake
This Apple Spice Cake is moist, tender, and warmly spiced—perfect for fall entertaining. It’s simple enough to bake on a whim yet feels special enough to serve for a cozy dinner party or holiday table.
Servings: 12 servings
Equipment
- 9-inch round or square cake pan a 10–12 cup Bundt pan also works for a more decorative presentation
- Mixing bowls at least one large and one medium
- whisk
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp chef’s knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¾ cup neutral oil such as canola or vegetable
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk room temperature
- 2 cups peeled cored, and finely diced apple (about 2 medium apples)
- ½ cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round or square cake pan (or line with parchment for easy removal).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- In a large bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and combined.¾ cup granulated sugar, ¾ cup light brown sugar, ¾ cup neutral oil, 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Stir in half of the dry ingredients, then add the buttermilk. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients just until combined -- do not overmix.½ cup buttermilk
- Fold in the diced apples and nuts, if using.2 cups peeled, ½ cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack. Cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar or drizzling with glaze.