Description
This Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert that combines the warm spices of apple and pumpkin pie spice with tender apple slices and a crunchy cinnamon sugar topping. The cake is sweetened naturally with honey or maple syrup and enhanced with apple cider reduction and apple butter, making it perfect for cozy fall gatherings or a delightful treat any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/3 cup apple butter
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2-3 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice
Fruit
- 2-3 Honeycrisp apples, very thinly sliced
Topping
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, grated
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Reduce apple cider: Pour the apple cider into a saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until it reduces to about 1/2 cup. Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled reduced apple cider, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, honey or maple syrup, and apple butter. Stir well until fully combined.
- Add dry ingredients and apples: Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, apple or pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter. Fold in the thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples carefully. The batter will be thick at this point.
- Assemble in pan: Spread the batter evenly in your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare cinnamon sugar topping: In a separate bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and grated cold salted butter until the mixture forms clumps. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the surface of the batter in the pan.
- Bake the cake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the cake is just set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Serve: Serve the cake warm, optionally with salted honey butter (combine 6 tablespoons butter, 6 tablespoons honey, and a pinch of sea salt) for an extra indulgent touch. Enjoy!
Notes
- Salted Honey Butter: For a delicious spread, mix 6 tablespoons butter, 6 tablespoons honey, and a pinch of sea salt in a bowl.
- Pumpkin Spice Alternative: Make your own pumpkin pie spice by mixing 1/4 cup cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ginger, 2 teaspoons nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cloves, and 1 teaspoon allspice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/15th of cake)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
