Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake

Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake

This easy apple cake requires only one mixing bowl and a handful of basic ingredients, but bakes up into a delightfully dense, moist cake you’ll want to make again and again. This cake leans more on the side of rich and gooey than light and fluffy, so it’s a natural partner to a scoop of ice cream. We suggest using gala, Fugi, or honeycrisp apples as they’ll hold up well in the cake and lend a pleasant apple flavor—you could even use a mix of all three! Keep in mind, this cake bakes up dark in color (baking in a dark pan will enhance this) due in part to the brown sugar and the amount of cinnamon in the batter. Check in after 25-30 minutes in the oven; if your cake’s edges are browning quickly, go ahead and loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil for the remainder of the cake’s bake time.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter

    1 stick

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 apples

    peeled and thinly sliced, about 5 cups

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F

  2. 2

    Place the butter in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl; microwave in 20-30 second intervals until melted. Mix in the granulated and brown sugars. Add the sour cream, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla; whisk until all is combined. Add the apples to the bowl; stir to coat completely in the butter mixture.

  3. 3

    Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, and salt over top of the apple mixture; mix well until all of the flour is absorbed. Pour the batter into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. 

  4. 4

    Bake 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake tests clean. Loosely cover with aluminum foil halfway through baking if the cake appears to be browning too quickly. Cool 15 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake

Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake

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About this Recipe

Craving a comforting, homemade treat without the kitchen chaos? This Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake delivers a delightfully dense and moist cake that's incredibly simple to whip up, making it a perfect anytime dessert you'll want to make again and again. The true brilliance of this recipe lies in its stunning simplicity: everything comes together effortlessly in just one bowl, relying on a handful of basic pantry staples you likely already have on hand. Despite the minimal fuss, you'll be rewarded with a profoundly rich, beautifully dense, and exceptionally moist cake that tastes far more complex than its easy preparation suggests. Prepare for a truly indulgent experience. This apple cake leans into a rich, gooey texture rather than a light and fluffy one, making each bite deeply satisfying. You'll find plenty of tender, sweet apple pieces throughout, especially when using recommended varieties like Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp apples. These specific types are chosen because they hold their shape beautifully during baking and lend a distinct, pleasant apple flavor to the cake. Don't be surprised by its deep, inviting color; the brown sugar and generous amount of cinnamon in the batter naturally contribute to a dark hue, which can be further enhanced by baking in a dark pan. It's a rustic, deeply flavorful cake. Feel free to get creative with your apples! While Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp are recommended for their texture, you could even use a mix of all three to add complexity to the apple flavor profile within the cake. This dense, comforting cake is a natural partner for a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream, making it an ideal dessert for a cozy evening or a casual gathering.

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