Golden Delicious Apple Cake

Freshly baked apple cake topped with sliced Golden Delicious apples and cinnamon sugar, cooling on a wire rack, waiting to be sliced.

4.43 from 7 votes

Topped with tender slices of Golden Delicious apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, this moist, old-fashioned apple cake bakes up with a soft crumb and buttery crust. Simple, lightly sweet, and perfect for brunch or dessert.

Prep Time20

Cook Time30

Total Time50

Course: Baking

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Lynne Webb

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk

For the topping:

1 large Golden Delicious apple
2 tablespoons butter melted
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F and generously butter a 9-inch round cake pan.
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the chilled butter and toss to coat with flour. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir just until no dry flour remains. The batter will be thick, don’t overmix. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Peel, core, and thinly slice the apple (about 1/8 inch thick). Arrange the slices in a spiral pattern over the batter, gently pressing them in as you go.
Brush the apple slices with melted butter. Combine the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the apples.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake pulls away from the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.

Notes

Tips for Success

The key to moist cake with a soft crumb is even heating while baking. Here are a few tips to help you get the best results.

Use an oven thermometer to ensure accurate temperature; uneven heat can cause doming or dry edges.
For the most even results, try using cake strips, fabric bands soaked in cool water and wrapped around your cake pan. They help prevent doming and over-browning.

Storage Tips

Store cooled cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, wrap tightly in plastic and foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat, warm slices in a 350°F oven wrapped loosely in foil for about 10 minutes, or microwave individual pieces for 15 to 20 seconds.
Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

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