Easy Apple Cake Recipe (2024)

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Published on Updated on May 31, 2023

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Easy Apple Cake Recipeone of the easiest cakes you’ll ever make and one of the best! It’s a traditional Russian apple cake, otherwise known as an apple sharlotka, made with just 4 simple baking staples and fresh apples.

It’s a tender sponge cake that is light and airy on the inside and golden on the outside and the oven does most of the work. If you can mix a simple cake batter you can make this cake!

WhenYOUmake Apple Cake Recipe please tag us on@munchkintimeblogon Instagram, we would LOVE to see your creation!

Easy Apple Cake Recipe (1)

I love making this during apple season when I’ve got a bunch of apples to use up. There are times when I just don’t want to bake a pie, so that’s when I turn to this quick and easy recipe.

It’s a humble cake that can be eaten as is or with a simple dusting of powdered sugar. It’s the perfect year-round recipe. In the fall and winter months, we enjoy the aroma of freshly baked apple cake and will have a slice for breakfast with tea or coffee.

In the summer we love it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert or as a snack cake in the afternoon any day of the week.

There is never a wrong time to whip up this incredible apple cake because it’s way too easy not to!

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Ingredients for Apple Cake Recipe

We use a ton of eggs in this apple sharlotka cake because it’s what gives the cake its very tall rise!

  • Green apples: Granny Smith apples are a great choice. They’re tart and not too sweet and can withstand the heat of the oven and still keep their shape. Peel, core, and slice the apples.
  • Organic eggs: I prefer organic free-run or free-range eggs, but that’s a personal preference. You can use whatever large eggs you have on hand.
  • Organic sugar: As with the eggs, I say organic because that’s what I prefer. Any granulated white sugar will do. It’s used to sweeten the cake. This cake relies on the whipped eggs to help it rise, the sugar helps to stabilize the eggs allowing them to do their job.
  • Vanilla extract: Adds amazing flavor to this cake.
  • All-purpose flour: As with any baking recipe, it’s important to measure the flour correctly! The texture of this cake is what shines.
  • Butter or oil: Needed to grease the pan
  • Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioner’s sugar, this is an optional way to garnish your cake just before serving. I love the rustic presentation of this cake with or without the sugar!

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How to Make this Russian Apple Cake Sharlotka Recipe

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the eggs and sugar together. You can also use an electric mixer for this, but keep in mind you’ll be beating the eggs on high for about 10 minutes. You want the batter to be light in color and doubled in size.Easy Apple Cake Recipe (4)

Step 2: Whisk in vanilla extract and flour. Do not overmix. You want to keep the light airy consistency of the whipped eggs.

Easy Apple Cake Recipe (5)Easy Apple Cake Recipe (6)Step 3: Arrange the apple slices in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Then, pour in ⅓ of the batter to cover the apples, followed by another layer of apple slices. Repeat again until you have a total of 3 layers of apples.

Easy Apple Cake Recipe (7)Step 4: Bake for 60-90 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the apple cake. Allow it to cool in the pan before removing it to serve. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired. Enjoy!

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Recipe Tips

  • Be sure to grease the baking pan and line it with parchment paper on the bottom. The only source of moisture and fat is from the eggs and it’s not enough to ensure the cake won’t stick to the pan.

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  • To make sure your parchment paper fits the pan, trace the bottom of the pan onto the parchment paper. Then cut it out so that it can rest directly on the bottom.
  • A springform pan is great for making this apple cake recipe. Since this cake rises up tall, it’s got high walls to contain it.
  • Bring your eggs to room temperature ahead of time. Cold eggs take even longer to whip!

FAQs

What are the best apples to use for sharlotka cake?

I love Granny Smith apples, but that’s just me! You can use any variety of apples you like, whether they’re red or green, tart or sweet. Some great options are Gala apples, Ambrosia, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or golden delicious.

You can use one type or a few different types, it’s up to you.

Can I make this apple cake recipe ahead of time?

This is definitely a cake you want to enjoy immediately. I’d say you should make it no more than 4 hours ahead of time and then enjoy as much of it as you can because it won’t keep for long!

How to store leftovers?

If you happen to have any left, wrap it in plastic wrap and keep it on the counter. It’ll stay fresh until the next morning for breakfast.

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Russian Apple Sharlotka Cake - Super Easy Apple Cake Recipe

Love Keil

Super Easy Apple Cake Recipe also known as a Russian Apple Cake Sharlotka. It is fluffy, light and perfect for using up all of those yummy apples in the fall.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Fall Dessert, Sweets, Treat

Cuisine American, Russian

Servings 8 slices

Calories 400 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • First, grease 9 inch. baking pan with butter and line it with parchment papper. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350F.

    Easy Apple Cake Recipe (11)

  • Now, lets make apple cake batter, in a mixing bowl combine 8 eggs an 2 cups of sugar. Using hand or stand mixer, whisk on high for about 10 minutes or until double in size and the batter is light color.

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  • Whisk in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 cups of flour.

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  • In a baking pan, lay out apple slices to cover the bottom of the pan. Then, pour in 1/3 of the batter to cover the apples. Lay out another layer of apple slices following by batter, repeat one more time. Total of 3 apple layers.

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  • Bake for 1 - 1 1/2 hour or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the Sharlotka cake. Let it cook in the cooking pan, then carefully remove it from the cooking pan and dust it with powdered sugar. Cut a slice and enjoy with a cup of hot tea.

    Easy Apple Cake Recipe (15)

Notes

Hi! All content & images are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish Russian Sharlotka Apple CakeRecipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 82gProtein: 9gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 64mgPotassium: 157mgFiber: 2gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 268IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Q. –DoYOU like this Apple Cake Recipe?

Let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!

ThankYOUforYOURComment, Share & Recipe Review!

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Quote of the Day

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Happy Baking!

6 Comments

  1. Easy Apple Cake Recipe (18)

    Rae

    November 20, 2023 at 8:29 PM·Reply

    Easy Apple Cake Recipe (19)
    I love this recipe! It turned out exactly like your picture on the first try. My family from Russia said smelling and easing this cake reminder them of their childhood. All the nostalgia!! <3 Thank you!

    • Easy Apple Cake Recipe (20)

      Munchkin Time

      November 21, 2023 at 6:28 AM·Reply

      Awww, thank you Rae! I am so happy to hear this! This is the best recipe review ever!!!

  2. Easy Apple Cake Recipe (21)

    ashok

    January 21, 2021 at 7:54 PM·Reply

    Easy Apple Cake Recipe (22)
    My Family Loved it. I am definitely sharing Guys, Thanks For sharing this Great Recipe. this recipe and this website with my friend. Hope they also love it. Thank you again for sharing such a great recipe.

  3. Easy Apple Cake Recipe (23)

    Britwtnay

    December 5, 2019 at 7:04 PM·Reply

    Hiya! This looks delish, I have lots of apples to use up, so I am going to give this a try this weekend! Ill let you know how it goes 🙂

  4. Easy Apple Cake Recipe (24)

    Liz

    August 13, 2019 at 1:56 PM·Reply

    Easy Apple Cake Recipe (25)
    This cake is so perfect!! I was looking for something with apples beacuse I wanted it to feel like a fall dessert (without having to make pie.) Thank you for sharing!

  5. Easy Apple Cake Recipe (26)

    Suzy

    August 13, 2019 at 11:53 AM·Reply

    Easy Apple Cake Recipe (27)
    This sounds amazing! I love how simple the ingredient list is! Saving this for apple season that is coming up soon!

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Easy Apple Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the best apples for baking a cake? ›

Bon Appetit says the best apples for baking are Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Mutsu, Winesap, Pink Lady (Cripps Pink) but they also use Granny Smith often. They've listed several apples that have already been mentioned that are crisp and either sweet or tart.

What is the secret to baking a moist cake? ›

Seven Bakery Secrets to Incredibly Moist Cakes Every Time
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

What is a secret ingredient for cakes? ›

To summarize, applesauce is a secret weapon for creating moist and healthier cakes. Its natural sweetness and moisture make it a great substitute for high-fat ingredients like oil or butter. So go ahead, embrace the power of applesauce and elevate your cakes to new levels of deliciousness!

Can you use eating apples instead of cooking apples in a cake? ›

You can use any eating apples that are in season, or any that you have to hand, but my favourites are Cox's Orange Pippins and Braeburn apples for flavour.

Can honeycrisp apples be used for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

What 4 apples are best used for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What does adding applesauce to cake do? ›

Applesauce acts much like the fat. It keeps the flour protein from mixing completely with the wet ingredients and forming a rubbery, dense texture. This is what does applesauce do in baking.

What makes a cake more moist, oil or butter? ›

Why does oil give cake superior texture? Butter is 18% water, so when the batter is baked, some of its liquid evaporates. Replacing the water from the butter with oil means there's more fat left in the cakes to ensure tenderness.

Why do you put water in the oven when baking a cake? ›

It provides moisture.

The steam from the water bath creates a moist environment inside the oven. This is important for delicate bakes like cheesecakes, souffles, terrines, and chiffon cakes. Without added moisture, the surface tends to dry out while the inside is still expanding, which leads to unsightly cracks.

Which 2 ingredients help the cake to rise? ›

Firstly, you need to mix your baking powder/bicarbonate of soda through your flour before you add this to the mixture. These two ingredients are the most common raising agents in baking, so I've focused on them here (also make sure they are in date!).

What makes a cake not to be fluffy? ›

Room Temperature Butter / Don't Over-Cream

Most cakes begin with creaming butter and sugar together. Butter is capable of holding air and the creaming process is when butter traps that air. While baking, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy cake. No properly creamed butter = no air = no fluffiness.

What is mystery cake made of? ›

The mystery with this cake is the secret ingredient that seems to give a subtle warmth alongside the fruit, nuts and spices. Also sometimes called Conversation Cake, because discussing what the secret ingredient might be can start one, the surprising addition to this cake is a can of condensed tomato soup.

Should you peel apples before baking? ›

peel your apples. While the debate on whether or not to peel your apples seems never-ending, it really comes down to a matter of personal choice. Unpeeled apples will add a bit of color and texture to your pie, but they may prevent the apples from melding together when baked.

Are Gala or Fuji apples better for baking? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

Are Gala apples good for baking apple crisp? ›

Under the simple butter-sugar-flour-and-oat topping is the apple filling scented with cinnamon. Our test kitchen says baking apples, like Rome or Cortland, are the best varieties to use for apple crisp, but Empire, Gala, or Braeburn apples are also good in this recipe.

What apples are good for baking and applesauce? ›

The following apples are great choices for your next batch of homemade applesauce.
  • Cortland.
  • Golden Delicious.
  • Gala.
  • McIntosh.
  • Granny Smith.
Nov 18, 2022

Are pink lady apples good for baking? ›

Why Are Pink Lady® Apples Good for Baking? Pink Lady® apples make such great baked apples because of the natural sweetness you get in every apple. The juicy fizz you get from Pink Lady® apples is intensified when baked, giving you delicious results every time.

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