Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe - This Easy apple cake with Apple Crisp Topping and a Bourbon Caramel Glaze is a super tasty dessert recipe that is sure to hit the spot.
This is the best dessert recipe. It's a new twist on my Mom's Old Fashioned Recipe. We added fresh apples and cinnamon, Crisp Topping, and a Bourbon Caramel Glaze. Irresistibly delicious!
If you're looking for more apple desserts, check out our to die for Apple Crisp Recipe, or our Healthy Apple Muffins Recipe. They're both super tasty.
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Food is Love
I created this new dessert recipe in honor of my Mom, who has gone on to be with the Lord and my husband Russ, who is still with me after 25 years.
When I miss my Mom, I often reach for her old recipe box and look through her vintage recipes searching for something familiar and comforting. This time, I landed on my all time favorite cake recipe: my Mom's Irresistible Chocolate Chip Cake. This Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe is a new twist on her basic recipe. Minus the chocolate, but with my husband's favorite flavors of Apple Crisp and Bourbon.
Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
Enough about why I love this recipe. What's important is why you'll love it. And why all your friends and family will love it. If you love apples, crisp topping, and caramel sauce, you'll love this recipe.
This recipe has all the classic flavors of apple crisp, paired with a perfectly delicious cake and topped with a decadent bourbon caramel glaze. Here's how it works...
First you have a the perfect combination of two desserts, apple cake and apple crisp, baked into one. Then, while the cake is still warm, it is gently brushed with a sweet and spicy bourbon caramel glaze so that the glaze soaks in, creating a delicious coating.
The secret to this Recipe... is the Bourbon Caramel Glaze. It's everything! Not into bourbon? Make a non-alcoholic version by omitting the Bourbon altogether. The basic caramel glaze is just as tasty. I mean, who doesn't love caramel?
Ingredients
Batter Ingredients:
- Salted butter
- Granulated sugar
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Sour cream
- Large eggs
- Pure vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Golden delicious apples, chopped.
Substitution Suggestion: May substitute Jonagold (much like Golden Delicious), Honeycrisp (sweet and crisp), or Granny Smith (tart apple) for Golden Delicious. Use your favorite variety.
Apple Crisp Topping Ingredients:
- Brown sugar - Firmly packed and measured.
- Quick oatmeal - The smaller, softer grained quick 1-minute oatmeal works better here than rolled oats.
- All purpose flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Salted butter, cubed and cold.
Caramel Glaze (Caramel Sauce) Ingredients:
- Salted butter
- Heavy cream
- Brown sugar
- Pure vanilla extract
- Bourbon (optional) - Buffalo Trace is the house bourbon around here.
Equipment
- Bundt Pan or Tube pan
- Large Bowl
- Medium Bowl
- Dry Measuring Cups
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Rubber Spatula
- Pastry Cutter
- Hand Mixer
- Rotary Grater
Pro Tip: This rotary grater is a total time saver. I never use any other type. It's the only grater you'll ever need. It grates fruit, vegetables, or cheese.
How to Make It
Make the Batter:
1. Preheat the Oven to 325°F. Place oven rack to center position and pre-heat the oven to 325°F.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy and butter is pale yellow in color.
3. Add Flour and Next 5 Ingredients. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until blended. Increase to medium speed and mix for 3 minutes.
4. Fold in Chopped Apples and Cinnamon. Toss chopped apples with cinnamon to coat evenly. Fold the mixture into the batter.
5. Prepare Bundt Pan. Coat the inside of a bundt pan with a thin layer of butter.
6. Batter into Pan. Pour batter evenly in bundt pan. Set aside.
Make the Apple Crisp Topping:
7. Combine Dry Ingredients. In a separate bowl, place brown sugar, oatmeal, flour, cinnamon, and a little nutmeg and stir until well combined. Cut in butter. With a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients, until the butter is the size of green peas and distributed evenly throughout the topping.
8. Spread Topping. Spread the apple crisp topping evenly over the top.
Bake.
9. Bake. Bake at 325°F for 60 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. It is done when the toothpick comes out dry. Let it rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Glaze.
10. Plate. If using a bundt pan, place a plate or cake stand upside down onto the bundt pan. For best results, grab the edges of the bundt pan and grip it to the plate or stand. Holding both together, gently flip the cake to the upright position and un-mold it from the bundt pan. Don't worry. It's easier than it sounds!
Variation: This apple cake may be made in a 9 x 13 baking pan instead of a bundt pan. In this case, leave it in the pan, and drizzle the bourbon caramel glaze on top.
11. Make Bourbon Caramel Glaze. In a small pan, bring butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar to a gently boil, stirring continuously to dissolve the sugar. Stir for 1 minute. Then, turn off the heat. Stir in Vanilla and Bourbon (optional).
12. Glaze. While the cake is still warm, gently brush the bourbon caramel glaze over the top, allowing the glaze to soak in. Reserve the extra glaze for serving.
Recipe FAQS
Golden Delicious are the go-to variety for this tasty dessert recipe. See our breakdown of the best apples for baking and cooking.
Apple cake does not need to be refrigerated. It will keep at room temperature for 3-5 days.
Apple cake can be frozen either whole or in slices in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious fresh apple cake warm with an extra drizzle of bourbon caramel glaze on top. My husband said he’ll take his after dinner with an Old-Fashioned. I’ll eat a couple of slices for breakfast with a cup of coffee!
There you have it. Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe, made with fresh apples and pantry staples. It's as easy as that! We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty dessert recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!
xo ~ Seanna
More Apple Recipes
More Apple Cake Recipes
- French Apple Cake - From Jenn Segal over at Once Upon A Chef.
- German Apple Cake Recipe - Apfelkuchen - From Helene over at MasalaHerb.com.
- Torta di Mele - Italian Apple Cake - From Andrea over at The Petite Cook.
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📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- rotary grater
- pastry cutter
Ingredients
Apple Cake Ingredients:
- ½ cup 1 stick salted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups chopped golden delicious apples See Substitution Note
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apple Crisp Topping Ingredients:
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup quick oatmeal
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup 1 stick salted butter, cubed and cold
Caramel Glaze Ingredients:
- ½ cup 1 stick salted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons bourbon optional (See Bourbon Brand Note)
Instructions
Make the Apple Cake:
- Preheat Oven to 325°F.
- Cream Butter and Sugar. Cream butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy and butter is pale yellow in color.
- Add Flour and Next 5 Ingredients.Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until blended. Increase to medium speed and mix for 3 minutes.
- Fold in Chopped Apples and Cinnamon. Toss chopped apples with cinnamon to coat evenly. Fold the mixture into cake batter. (See Pro Tip Note)
- Prepare Bundt Cake Pan.Coat the inside of a bundt pan with a thin layer of butter.
- Cake Batter into Bundt Pan. Spread cake batter evenly in bundt pan. Set aside.
Make the Apple Crisp Topping:
- Make the Crisp Topping.Combine Dry Ingredients.Place brown sugar, oatmeal, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl and stir until well combined. Cut in butter.With a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients, until the butter is the size of green peas and distributed evenly throughout the topping.
- Spread Crisp Topping Over the Apple Cake. Spread the crisp topping evenly over the top.
Bake and Plate the Cake:
- Bake. Bake at 325°F for 60 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. Cake is done when the toothpick comes out dry. Let cake rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
- Plate the Cake.If using a bundt cake pan, place a cake plate or cake stand upside down onto the bundt cake pan. Grab the edges of the bundt cake pan and grip it to the cake plate or stand. Holding both together, gently flip the cake to the upright position and un-mold the cake from the bundt cake pan. Don't worry. It's easier than it sounds! (See Variation Note)
Make the Bourbon Caramel Glaze:
- Make Bourbon Caramel Glaze. In a small pan, bring butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar to a gently boil, stirring continuously to dissolve the sugar. Stir for 1 minute. Then, turn off the heat. Stir in Vanilla and Bourbon (optional).
- Glaze the Cake.While the cake is still warm, gently brush the bourbon caramel glaze over the cake, allowing the glaze to seep into the cake. Reserve the extra glaze for serving.
Notes
Substitution Suggestion:
May substitute Jonagold or Honeycrisp for Golden Delicious Apples.Brand of Bourbon:
We used Buffalo Trace Bourbon in this recipe.Variation:
This apple cake may be made in a 9 x 13 baking pan instead of a bundt cake pan. Bake the cake for 45 minutes. In this case, leave the cake in the pan, and drizzle the bourbon caramel glaze on top.Serving Suggestions:
Serve with an extra drizzle of bourbon caramel glaze on top. My husband said he’ll take his after dinner with an Old-Fashioned. I’ll eat mine for breakfast with a cup of coffeeFreezing and Storage:
Apple cake does not need to be refrigerated. It will keep at room temperature for 3-5 days or it can be frozen either whole or in slices in an airtight container for up to 6 months.Nutrition
Did you love this recipe? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Seanna's Kitchen and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and subscribe my Newsletter for ALL the latest recipes! We'd love to hear from you!
Diane W
This is the most delicious cake! The glaze is so good I want to start putting it on everything!! Thank you for this recipe. I can see myself making it again and again. It turned out amazing!
Seanna
Thank you so much Diane! I’m so happy to hear you like it! Made my day my friend!
Debi
I love this cake! The best part is the bourbon caramel glaze! 🙂
Seanna
Thanks Debi! The glaze is everything. With or without the bourbon!
Jessica Robinson
This cake is absolutely to die for!! Such great flavors and easy to make!
Seanna
Oh my goodness Jessica. Thank you!!
Russ B
I'm not a big cake eater but this cake is AMAZING!!
Seanna
Thanks Hon. Transportable Apple Crisp! lol