Simple Spiced Apple Cake Recipe

The only thing better than an apple cake is a spiced apple cake, and if this recipe isn't proof of that, we don't know what is! Recipe developer Ting Dalton has brought us this wonderful spiced apple cake recipe, and it has all the flavors you might look for in a dessert. It's sweet, spicy, and has the perfect hint of freshness from the apples. And, when you serve it with the recommended dollop of whipped cream or ice cream, there's a perfect coolness that complements the flavors oh so well. "This cake is so delicious — the smells coming from the oven are so good," Dalton raves. "You've got a light sponge topped with sour and sweet apples and a touch of warming spices." 

So, what exactly makes this a "spiced" cake? Well, we have mixed spice to thank for that — though, if you live outside of the U.K., you might be unfamiliar with the ingredient. According to BBC, mixed spice is comprised of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground mace, ground cloves, coriander, and ginger. If you're able to source the blend at a grocery store, perfect! Otherwise, you can whip up your own mixed spice, which will add the perfect flavor balance to this decadent apple cake. 

Before you can jump into baking this spiced apple cake, you'll want to make sure you have the right ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sour cream, 3 apples (Dalton uses 2 Bramley apples and 1 granny smith), brown sugar, and of course that mixed spice blend, which truly takes this from an apple cake to a spiced apple cake. Remember, if you can't find mixed spice in the store, you can whip up BBC's recipe for it, which only requires mixing together a few different spices into one blend.

To get started on this recipe, first preheat the oven to 320 F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan. Line the pan with parchment paper as well. Now, turn your attention to the apples. Peel and core each of the 3 apples, then cut them into wedges. Next, place them in a bowl with the brown sugar and mixed spice. Give everything a thorough stir. Because the apples have natural moisture to them, the spice and sugar should stick to the apples pretty easily, as shown in the image. 

With your apples thoroughly sliced and spiced, you can move on to the cake batter itself. First, beat together the butter and granulated sugar — you can use either a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer. Once those ingredients are nice and fluffy, add in the vanilla and eggs a little at a time. Keep in mind that all three eggs should be lightly beaten together before you add them to the batter. Sift the flour and add it to the mix, then add in the sour cream. Continue to mix the batter until everything is thoroughly combined. You should have a nice, creamy batter once everything is mixed together — not too thick, but not too thin, either. 

Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, then arrange the apple slices on top, fanning them out into a circle. Pop the dish in the oven to bake for 1 hour, until the cake has risen and the apples are nice and golden. "60-65 minutes should be enough to cook this cake," Dalton notes. "The method of pricking the centre with a skewer won't work as the apples are wet. So give the tin a shake, and if the cake doesn't wobble, it's done." When the cake is indeed done, take it out of the oven and allow it to cool in the baking pan for at least 30 minutes. 

Once your cake has had time to cool, remove it from the pan, cut it into slices, and serve! "Serve this with thick cream or vanilla ice cream, [or] with a cup of tea," Dalton suggests. She also notes that this is "the perfect cake to serve to guests for tea or just as a treat. And [it's] a great way to use up apples." We love a win-win dessert!

As for leftovers, you have a few options. "You can freeze this cake for up to 3 months," Dalton explains. "Defrost thoroughly and warm through for 10 minutes in the oven." Or, if you want to keep the leftovers to eat within the near future, you can simply store them in an airtight container for 3 days. We hope this cake brings the perfect balance of sweet and spicy into your life!