Apple Fritter Cake with Glaze is a delicious dessert recipe that combines apple with cinnamon in a tender cake. This cake is a fun twist on traditional apple fritters that make it easier to share. Whether you enjoy it as a breakfast cake with a warm drink or as a dessert, your taste buds will be happy.
An apple fritter is my favorite old fashioned doughnut. They are the one donut that I will always look to find. When the idea of making them into a cake sounded too good to pass up. Close your eyes as the cake is baking and the smell will remind you of a walk through crisp leaves, pumpkin patches, and sweater weather. Give it a try in your kitchen!
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Try some of our other favorite cakes: Pumpkin Honey Bun Cake, Pina Colada Poke Cake, Lemon Blueberry Sheet Cake, or Southern Punch Bowl Cake.
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What do I need to make Apple Fritter Cake?
Apple Cake
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- all purpose flour
- sour cream
- vanilla extract
- unsalted butter
- applesauce
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- ground cinnamon
Apple Filling
- apples
- granulated sugar
- cornstarch
- brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- water
FAQs
Apple Fritter Cake is a delicious, moist cake that incorporates the flavors and ingredients of a traditional apple fritter. It typically features chunks of fresh apples, cinnamon, and a sweet glaze, making it a perfect dessert or breakfast treat.
Yes, you can freeze the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bring to room temperature before serving.
Top Tips
- The type of apple you choose is important. Choose firm, tart apples like Pink Lady, Honeycrisp apples, Gala apples, or Granny Smith apples. They are more likely to hold their shape and give a good contrast for the sweeter cake.
- Dice the apples as evenly as possible, to ensure they cook at the same rate.
- The cake batter will be thick to help hold the apple pieces in place, so they do not sink to the bottom.
- Do not overmix the batter or the cake will be too dense.
- Apple Fritter Cake is best served warm. Reheat a slice in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
- Store in covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.
How to make Apple Fritter Cake
- Make the filling. In a medium saucepan, combine diced apples, granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, water, and cornstarch. Heat over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, or until apple soften and filling thickens. Remove from stove and cool.
- In a small bowl, mix ½ cup brown sugar with ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13" baking pan with nonstick spray. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine ⅓ cup butter and granulated sugar, until creamy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add eggs, vanilla extract, and applesauce, mixing until well combined.
- In a medium or large bowl whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon). Add sour cream and dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Combine until just combined - do not overmix.
- Spread half of the batter into the bottom of prepared baking dish.
- Spread the apple mixture on top of the batter. Sprinkle about ⅔ of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
- Cover with the remaining batter and the other ⅓ of the brown sugar and cinnamon mix. Bake 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- When the cake is almost done, gather the glaze ingredients. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a small or medium bowl, until smooth.
- While cake is hot, poke about 30 holes in it. Pour the sweet glaze over the hot cake.
- Let cake cool for about 20 minutes for the glaze to set. Serve warm and enjoy!
Apple Fritter Cake Recipe with Glaze
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 cups apples, peeled, cored, diced
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 teaspoon water
Apple Cake
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
Cinnamon Sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Apple Filling
- Make the filling. In a medium saucepan, combine diced apples, granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, water, and cornstarch. Heat over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, or until apple soften and filling thickens. Remove from stove and cool.
Cinnamon Sugar
- In a small bowl, mix ½ cup brown sugar with ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Apple Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13" baking pan with nonstick spray. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine ⅓ cup butter and granulated sugar, until creamy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add eggs, vanilla extract, and applesauce, mixing until well combined.
- In a medium or large bowl whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon). Add sour cream and dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Combine until just combined - do not overmix.
- Spread half of the batter into the bottom of prepared baking dish.
- Spread the apple filling on top. Sprinkle about ⅔ of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
- Cover with the rest of the cake batter and the other ⅓ of the brown sugar and cinnamon mix. Bake 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- When the cake is almost done, gather the glaze ingredients. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a small or medium bowl, until smooth.
- While cake is hot, poke about 30 holes in it. Pour the sweet glaze over the hot cake.
- Allow cake to rest for about 20 minutes for the glaze to set. Serve warm and enjoy!
Anonymous
how much sour cream?
Jill Lockridge
1 cup of sour cream or plain yogurt. Thank you for catching that! I hope you enjoy the cake!
Anonymous
Thank you! Making it tonight...
Jill Lockridge
Wonderful! Would love to hear how you liked it!
Kymm
Above under Apple Cake step 2 you may want to correct the sentence. Unless you meant to say "Add eggs, vanilla extract, and eggs. Mix until combined."
I think you meant the second egg to be applesauce. Or not. However, I made the cake, for my husband and he loved it. Thank you!
Jill Lockridge
I definitely meant applesauce, thank you for catching that. I have fixed it. I'm so glad your husband loved it! That is wonderful to hear!
val
can sweet butter be use for this recipe, and if so i much.
Jill Lockridge
Hi! I just went to look at my butter in the refrigerator and it says "Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter." Use 1/3 cup sweet butter in the recipe. Hope this helps and you enjoy the cake!