Cardamom Cake Recipe with Fresh Apples Recipe
This easy apple cake recipe is super moist and delicious, with a crispy crackly top and the best apple flavor. Make it in one bowl with only 20 minutes of hands-on time before baking.
How to Make the Best Cardamom Cake Recipe with Fresh Apples
This cardamom cake with fresh apples is the perfect balance of warm spices and juicy fruit, creating a moist, tender crumb that keeps beautifully for days. The signature crispy, crackly sugar topping and tender apple slices make this cake look and taste like you spent hours in the kitchen—but it takes just 20 minutes of hands-on prep time.
What makes this cake truly special is how easy it is to prepare. Everything comes together in one bowl, and the apples release their natural juices as the cake bakes, creating an incredibly moist interior. The ground cardamom adds a subtle sophistication and warmth that elevates this simple apple cake into something truly memorable. It’s the kind of homey dessert that’s perfect for casual gatherings, afternoon tea, or whenever you need a little something sweet.
Serve this cake warm or at room temperature, perhaps with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The flavors actually improve slightly as the cake cools, making it an excellent choice for baking ahead of time. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just treating yourself, this cardamom apple cake delivers big on flavor with minimal fuss.
Cardamom Cake Recipe with Fresh Apples
This easy apple cake recipe is super moist and delicious, with a crispy crackly top and the best apple flavor. Make it in one bowl with only 20 minutes of hands-on time before baking.
Ingredients
Cake
Topping
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare an 8-9-inch spring form pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the bottom and all sides of the pan.
- Cut the apples thinly (¼-inch thick) and set aside.
Batter
- In a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment), whip butter, olive oil, and sugar until it's a light and creamy mixture.
- Whisk in the eggs one at a time, and the vanilla. Sprinkle in the baking powder, salt, and cardamom and whisk well, then mix in the flour until well combined.
- Fold in ⅔ of the sliced apples, saving the last third for the top. (Save the reddest apple slices for the top.) The batter will be thick and "apple-y"—don't worry, the apples will reduce while baking.
Baking
- With a rubber spatula, spoon batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
- Arrange the remaining apple slices on top, leaving generous spaces of bare batter. Sprinkle batter and apples with 2 tablespoons of sugar for a delicious crust.
- Bake on the middle rack for 50-60 minutes, until puffed, deeply golden, and a toothpick comes out clean. Check at 45 minutes and lightly tent with foil if getting too dark.
- The cake is done when it doesn't jiggle in the center and the internal temperature is at least 208°F.
- Let it cool completely on a wire rack. Run a knife around the edges before removing the sides of the pan.
Notes
- For the best results, use baking apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, Honey-Gold, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, or Red Delicious (approximately 4 inches in diameter).
- No need to peel the apples, though you can if you prefer.
- You can substitute cinnamon for the cardamom if desired.
