This is the best apple cake recipe made with fresh apples, and sour cream and topped with a nutty crumb. With each bite, you will enjoy a moist, tender crumb, tangy apple pieces, and a fragrant, crunchy topping.
You might have already noticed, I love making cakes with fresh fruit. Try my sponge apple cake, pear and chocolate cake, or apricot cake.
About my apple cake recipe
Having European roots and living in America, makes me always want to create unique recipes that are made with simple ingredients and taste incredible.
One beautiful fall day, I was craving some apple cake. But I wanted it to be with unique textures and flavors. After a few tries, I came up with the best cake (at least for those who have already tried it).
My husband usually does not like desserts with apples, but he loved my version of apple cake.
The batter is made with sour cream, which makes the cake tender, moist and rich. And the pistachio crumble topping with cardamom adds a unique twist to this easy dessert.
This apple cake is great as a holiday dessert or to bring on a potluck. It is also so easy to make, that I like making it during regular days to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.
Ingredients
This is the ingredients description for the cake and for the pistachio cardamom topping. For the full list of ingredients please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
For the apple cake
- Apples: it is best to use both sweet and tart apples. For example Granny Smith and Gala. Or semi-sweet ones such as honey crisp, or Fuji.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour. You can also use gluten-free flour if needed.
- Salt: just a little bit to balance the taste.
- Baking powder: sour cream and apples are heavy, so besides beaten egg, you will need some baking powder for the cake to rise.
- Sugar: I used granulated sugar.
- Eggs: preferably at room temperature.
- Oil: vegetable oil or light olive oil works.
- Sour cream: full fat, room temperature.
- Vanilla extract: for flavor.
For the pistachio crumb topping
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour
- Rolled oats: you can skip oats and use just flour.
- Pistachios: shelled, unsalted roasted pistachios nuts. If you do not have pistachios, use other nuts.
- Brown sugar: added for sweetness.
- Cold butter: This gives the crumb texture and a buttery taste.
- Spices: I used Cardamom and Cinnamon.
- Salt: to balance the taste
How to make the best apple cake
The batter comes together quickly, so make sure you preheat the oven to 350 F and have a 9-inch square pan ready.
- Step 1. Make the crumble topping. Coarsely chop the pistachios. In a separate bowl, combine flour, rolled oats (if using), brown sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Add cold butter cubed to the flour mixture. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the dry ingredients so the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Fold in chopped pistachios. Cover with plastic wrap and place the prepared crumb topping in the fridge for now.
- Step 2. Rinse, peel, and core the apples. Chop them into small cubes. Set aside.
- Step 3. In a large mixing bowl, add eggs and salt. Beat with an electric mixer briefly. Add the sugar and beat for about 3-4 minutes until the mixture has a light color and almost doubles in size. Add sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix it now with a rubber spatula or a whisk until combined.
- Step 3. In a second large bowl. Combine flour and baking powder. Add to the wet ingredients, gently mixing it all with the spatula using folding moves, so the eggs do not fall.
- Step 4. Fold in chopped apples into the batter, distributing them evenly.
- Step 5. Grease the sides of the pan with butter or oil. I also like to place some parchment paper at the bottom. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
- Step 6. Distribute the chilled crumb at the top of the cake. Place the cake on the center rack of the preheated oven oven and bake it at 350°F for about 45-55 minutes. The cake should be golden brown and the toothpick inserted in the center of the cake should come out clean.
- Step 7. Take the cake out of the oven and let the cake cool down in the pan for at least 30 minutes. Use a butter knife to go around the cake to ensure it comes out easier. Open up the springform pan and transfer it to the wire rack to cool down completely. You can also serve it warm.
Finishing tip
If you decide to skip the crumble topping, dust the cake with powdered sugar once it cools down.
What type of cake pan I can use to make this cake
I think that choosing the right baking pan for making a cake is important. For example, for this cake, I do not recommend using any baking pan that is bigger than 9 inches unless you double the ingredients.
If you bake it for the family or a potluck, I prefer to bake it in the 9-inch square pan. For the birthday or anniversary, I recommend using a 9-inch round springform pan. You can also use the bundt pan.
When you use a different pan, the baking time will need to be adjusted. Always check if the cake is done by inserting a cake tester or toothpick in the center of the cake.
Recipe tips
- For best results, peel the apples before adding them to the cake.
- When you add the flour, gently mix the batter.
- Your oven may work differently, so you may need to adjust the baking time.
- Store cooled down cake at room temperature for up to 1-2 days or in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Frequently asked questions
I recommend using both sweet and sour apples (for example Granny Smith and Gala) or semisweet ones, such as Fuji or Honey Crisp. It is also better to use firm apples that hold their shape after cooking.
I recommend peeling apples when making a cake. Apple skin can add too much chewiness to the tender apple cake texture.
You can reduce from 1 cup to ¾ cup if you prefer a less sweet taste. Do not reduce it anymore, as it will affect the taste and texture of the cake.
Yes, you can use the same amount of melted butter instead of vegetable oil.
📖 Recipe
The Best Apple Cake
Equipment
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 square 9x9 pan or 9 inch round cake pan
- 2 large bowls
- 1 medium bowl
- 1 Measuring Cup
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
Pistachio cardamom topping ingredients
- ½ cup pistachios, unsalted shelled
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ cup rolled oats or the same amount of flour
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom use ½ for more fragrant taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
Apple cake ingredients
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar or ¾ for less sweet cake
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Pistachio cardamom topping instructions
- Using a sharp knife chop the pistachios coarsely. You can also use a food process to do so.
- In a medium bowl, add ¼ cup all purpose flour , ¼ cup rolled oats, ¼ cup dark brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon . Whisk to combine.
- Add 4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed to the mix. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using your hands or pastry cutter until you have coarse crumbs.
- Fold in the pistachios and place the crumb topping in the fridge while you are making a cake batter.
Apple cake instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the pan with oil. Line the bottom of the 9 inch square pan with parchment paper, if you plan to slice the cake in the pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour and 2 teaspoons baking powder. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add 3 eggs and ¼ teaspoon salt. Beat briefly with electric mixer just to combine. Add 1 cup sugar and continue beating on high for about 4 minutes or until the mixture becomes lighter in color and nearly doubles in size.
- Add ½ cup sour cream, ¼ cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract . Beat again just until combined.
- Add the flour and baking powder mix to the bowl with wet ingredients. Mix the batter gently with silicone spatula or a whisk, just until combines.
- Fold in about 1.5 cups diced apples. Pour the batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with the pistachio crumb topping and bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Mine takes 36 minutes.
- Let the apple cake cool down for 5 minutes, slice and enjoy.
Comments
No Comments