There’s nothing like the rich, comforting aroma of an Apple Dapple Cake baking in the oven. This old-fashioned cake is brimming with fresh apples, warm spices, and a hint of caramel sweetness, making it the ultimate fall dessert. Moist, dense, and packed with tender apple chunks, it’s the perfect treat for cozy nights, family gatherings, or holiday tables.

I first discovered this recipe from my grandmother, who made this cake every year when apple season rolled around. Now, it’s become a family tradition, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. Let’s jump in and see why this cake is so loved!

Why You’ll Love This Apple Dapple Cake

This cake is pure comfort food, and it has all the qualities to make you fall in love from the first bite. Here’s why you’ll find yourself reaching for seconds:

Perfectly Moist and Tender: Thanks to the juicy apples and oil-based batter, this cake stays incredibly moist, with a soft crumb that melts in your mouth.

Warm Fall Flavors: With a blend of cinnamon, vanilla, and a caramel glaze, the cake is bursting with cozy flavors that make it ideal for autumn.

Great for Gatherings: This cake serves beautifully at family gatherings or potlucks. It’s rustic yet impressive, and everyone will want the recipe!

Easy to Make: With no fancy techniques needed, this cake is simple to prepare. Just mix, bake, and pour on the glaze for a show-stopping dessert.

Once you taste it, this cake might just become your favorite way to enjoy apples – an irresistible treat that’s perfect any time of year.

Ingredients Notes

Each ingredient in this Apple Dapple Cake plays a special role in achieving the perfect texture and flavor. Here’s what you’ll need and why.

Apples: Choose a firm, slightly tart variety like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. These apples hold up well during baking, providing a great texture and balancing the cake’s sweetness.

All-Purpose Flour: The flour forms the base of this cake, giving it structure while keeping it soft. For best results, measure the flour accurately by spooning it into the cup and leveling off.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds that warm, inviting aroma and enhances the flavor of the apples. Feel free to add a dash of nutmeg or allspice if you like a spicier cake.

Vegetable Oil: Using oil instead of butter keeps the cake moist and gives it a tender crumb. If you want a hint of flavor, you can use a mild olive oil or melted coconut oil.

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds depth and a hint of molasses that complements the apples perfectly. It also helps create a slightly caramelized flavor.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla rounds out the flavors, adding a touch of sweetness and warmth to the batter.

Walnuts or Pecans: These add crunch and a lovely, nutty flavor. They’re optional, but highly recommended for a more complex texture.

For the Caramel Glaze, you’ll need butter, brown sugar, and a splash of heavy cream. This topping creates a rich, buttery finish that seeps into the cake and adds that classic caramel taste.

How to Make This Apple Dapple Cake

Creating this Apple Dapple Cake is as easy as mixing, baking, and glazing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to bring this cozy dessert to life.

Prepare the apples: Start by peeling, coring, and chopping your apples into small chunks. You want the pieces to be bite-sized for an even distribution throughout the cake.

Mix the dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. This helps to evenly disperse the leavening and spices.

Combine wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the oil, whisking until the mixture is smooth and well blended.

Fold in apples and nuts: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Then, add the chopped apples and nuts, stirring until they’re evenly distributed in the batter.

Bake: Pour the batter into a greased and floured Bundt pan (or a 9x13 baking dish). Bake at 350°F for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Make the caramel glaze: While the cake bakes, prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with brown sugar and cream over medium heat. Stir until smooth and slightly thickened, then remove from heat.

Glaze the cake: Once the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack. Pour the warm caramel glaze over the cake, allowing it to soak into the warm cake.

The result is a cake that’s perfectly spiced, richly flavored, and ready to impress! Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee.

Storage Options

This cake is perfect for making ahead and tastes even better the next day. Here’s how to store it to keep it fresh.

Room Temperature: Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. The glaze helps keep the cake moist, so it stays delicious for a while.

Refrigerator: If you need to keep it longer, cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to a week. Let it come to room temperature or warm it slightly before serving.

Freezing: To freeze, wrap individual slices or the whole cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then drizzle on some extra caramel sauce for added moisture.

Variations and Substitutions

This Apple Dapple Cake is wonderfully versatile. Here are some ideas to adapt the recipe to your liking.

Add raisins: For extra sweetness and texture, fold in half a cup of golden or regular raisins. They pair wonderfully with apples and spices.

Swap the nuts: While walnuts and pecans are classic, hazelnuts or almonds would add a unique twist and crunchy texture.

Use different spices: Try adding a bit of ground ginger, allspice, or even cloves to enhance the spiced flavor of the cake. A hint of cardamom would add a unique, aromatic note.

Make it dairy-free: Substitute coconut cream in the glaze for a dairy-free version that still has a rich, creamy texture. Use a neutral oil like avocado if you’re looking to avoid butter.

Add a cream cheese frosting: If you prefer a different topping, a light cream cheese glaze or frosting can be drizzled over the cooled cake. This adds a nice tangy contrast to the sweet caramel.

No matter how you enjoy it, this cake is sure to impress with its comforting flavors and rustic charm.

Conclousion

There you have it! This Apple Dapple Cake is an old-fashioned delight that brings together all the best flavors of the season. From the tender apples to the sweet caramel glaze, it’s a dessert that’s truly hard to resist. Enjoy a slice warm with a dollop of whipped cream, and let this delicious cake be a new family favorite.