Old Fashioned Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Icing
Some recipes just taste like home, and this Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Icing is one of them. With tender chunks of fresh apple, warm spices, and a dreamy, caramel-like frosting, this cake is everything cozy should be. It’s the kind of dessert that disappears fast at any gathering and has people asking for the recipe.
There’s something undeniably comforting about the smell of apples and cinnamon wafting through the kitchen. This Old-Fashioned Apple Cake is the kind of dessert that feels like a warm hug—rustic, simple, and packed with juicy apples and warm spices.
This cake is very similar to my Elvis Presley cake, which is an oatmeal spice cake. I use the same brown sugar frosting. Both are tender, soft and moist, but this version includes apples and walnuts and skips the oats. Both are sheet cakes, which are easier to make than layer cakes. Made in one pan, and easily spread the frosting over the top. Makes a large 9×13-inch pan, so perfect for a crowd. I love this transport tote to bring to gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Old-Fashioned Apple Cake:
- Simple ingredients, big flavour – You probably already have everything you need.
- Perfectly moist thanks to the chopped apples and oil.
- Topped with a rich, buttery brown sugar icing.
- A crowd favourite at potlucks, holidays, or casual family dinners.
- Even better the next day (if it lasts that long!).
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cake:
- All-purpose flour: the base. No special flours needed.
- Sugar: adds the sweetness.
- Baking Soda: helps the cake rise.
- Salt: flavour enhancer.
- Cinnamon: gives incredible flavour to complement the apples.
- Eggs: add to the cake’s structure.
- Apples: Use fresh, peeled, and diced apples. Granny Smith and Honey Crisp are my favourites, but you can also use Gala or other varieties.
- Walnuts: optional but a good addition.
- Oil: adds moisture.
- Vanilla: flavour enhancer.
For the Brown Sugar Icing:
- Butter or margarine: emulsifies the ingredients, creating a smooth and stable structure and adding richness and flavour.
- Brown Sugar: adds sweetness, richness and of course that brown sugar flavour.
- Milk: gives the right consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: flavour.
- Icing Sugar: helps create a smooth and creamy texture and acts as a thickening agent.
Instructions
Make the cake:
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, mix 3/4 cup of oil, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla until smooth.
- Stir in the dry ingredients just until combined.
- Fold in 3 cups peeled and chopped apples and 1/2 cup walnuts if using.
- Pour batter into the pan and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Prepare the frosting as the cake cools.
Make the Brown Sugar Frosting:
- Mix all ingredients except icing sugar in a small saucepan. Let it come to a boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add icing sugar to thicken. Stir vigorously to get rid of lumps. Spread on warm cake.
Tips & Variations
- Replace 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with 1/2 cup of brown sugar to deepen the caramel flavour in the cake.
- Most baking oils can be used in this recipe, I used melted coconut oil because it’s healthier, but you can also use canola, vegetable or even olive oil.
- Granny Smith and Honey crisp apples are my favourite to use in baking, but I’ve also used Gala apples if it’s all I have on hand. You can also use a combination for a depth of flavour.
- This cake actually tastes better the next day, so it’s a great make-ahead recipe.
Serve Old-Fashioned Apple Cake With:
- A hot mug of cider or coffee
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce
- Skip the frosting for a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or a dusting of icing sugar
Storage Tips
Best eaten within 3 days at room temperature. Can be stored covered for up to 1 week in the fridge.
This cake is comfort food at its finest—warm apples, rich spices, and that buttery brown sugar icing that melts in your mouth. Whether you’re baking for the holidays or just because, this old-fashioned favourite is guaranteed to impress.
Old Fashioned Apple Cake
This cake is comfort food at its finest—warm apples, rich spices, and that buttery brown sugar icing that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups flour all-purpose
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon ground
- ¾ cup oil coconut(melted), canola, vegetable or olive oil
- 1 ½ cups sugar granulated
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups apples peeled and diced
- ½ cup chopped walnuts optional
Brown Sugar Icing
- ½ cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups icing sugar sifted
Instructions
Cake
-
Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.
-
in a large bowl, mix 3/4 cup of oil, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla until smooth.
-
Stir in the dry ingredients just until combined.
-
Fold in 3 cups peeled and chopped apples and 1/2 cup walnuts if using.
-
Pour batter into the pan and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
-
Prepare the frosting as the cake cools.
Brown Sugar Icing
-
Mix all ingredients except icing sugar in a small saucepan. Let it come to a boil for 2 minutes.
-
Remove from the heat and add icing sugar to thicken. Stir vigorously to get rid of lumps. Spread on warm cake.
Recipe Notes
Eat within 3 days at room temperature or store covered in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Did you make this recipe?
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