Best Apple Cake Recipe With Cream Cheese Frosting

This old-fashioned Fresh Apple Cake recipe is all the bits I cherish about fall—apple picking, chunky sweaters, cinnamon sticks, and crackly orange leaves—turned into a warm hug of a dessert and slathered with dreamy caramel cream cheese frosting.

Old fashioned fresh apple cake with frosting

When I think about the perfect fall day, I envision crimson leaves against icy blue skies, backyard football games, and piping hot mugs of cider.

Of course, my perfect fall day also necessitates a big, warm slice of one of my freshly-baked healthy apple recipes. Something frosted. Or glazed. Or ice creamed. Or frosted AND ice-creamed.

Fresh apple cake with cream cheese frosting, you are that apple something of my eye!

This fresh apple cake is a moist, rich spice cake studded with hunks of tart apple and bits of toasted walnuts.

It is scented with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and is the kind of homey, comforting dessert we all need right now.

The frosting is something special too. Thanks to a shortcut ingredient, it tastes like it's made with caramel sauce, a perfect pairing with apple cake, BUT no making of actual caramel is required.

My trick? Brown sugar. Its warm notes make the cream cheese frosting taste like caramel, but it comes together far more quickly and easily.

Translation: easy apple cake = apple cake you are eating sooner rather than later. YES.

Moist, spiced apple cake with caramel cream cheese frosting and walnuts.

What Are the Best Apples to Use in a Fresh Apple Cake?

For the best fresh apple cake, use firm, flavorful apples like Granny Smith, Cortland, Honeycrisp, or McIntosh. These more firm varieties will hold up well during baking, and their more pronounced flavor will ensure the cake lives up to its apple-icious name.
As with my Baked Apple Slices, I love using a combination of two kinds of apples for a slight variation in texture and flavor.
As with this Gluten Free Apple Crisp, I do suggest that you peel apples for apple cake, because it will help create a better, smoother texture. (Apples used for a more rustic recipe, like these Hasselback Apples don't need peeling.)

How to Make Fresh Apple Cake

Behold, a perfect and reliable apple cake recipe! It's scratch-made and ready to be slathered in cream cheese frosting.

This cake is supremely moist and apple packed. Once you try it, you will never be tempted to make a fresh apple cake with cake mix.

The Ingredients

Apples. Sweet, juicy, and beloved by all. Their flavor blends beautifully with the warm spices, brown sugar, and vanilla. Plus, apples are packed with fiber and Vitamin-C, making them a healthy addition to this cake recipe (see more health benefits here).
White Whole Wheat Flour. I used white whole wheat flour in this cake for a wholesome, whole grain twist.
Walnuts. For a toasty, nutty crunch.
Spices. Cinnamon + nutmeg + allspice = the trifecta of cozy, fall goodness.
Brown Sugar + Granulated Sugar. A combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar provides the ideal amount of sweetness and the right texture.
Eggs + Greek Yogurt. Critical components for moisture and fluffy cake texture.
Vanilla. The perfect complement to the warm spices and apples.
Cream Cheese Frosting. But not just any cream cheese frosting. CARAMEL cream cheese frosting. This fresh apple cake is special, and it deserves a special topping to match. This delicious frosting is made from reduced-fat cream cheese, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar.

The Directions

Toast the nuts for 8 to 12 minutes, then chop them. Whisk the dry ingredients together.
In a stand mixer, cream together the wet ingredients. On low speed, add the dry ingredients. Fold in the apples and part of the walnuts.
Bake the apple cake for 35 to 45 minutes at 325 degrees F.
Prepare the frosting, then spread it onto the cake once it has cooled. Finish with toasted walnuts. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

Apple Cake with Coconut and Pecans. Swap pecans in place of walnuts, and add a sprinkle of both pecans and toasted coconut on top. New topping, same warm, happy fall feeling.
Fresh Apple Cake without Walnuts. Simply omit the walnuts. You could also swap in 1/3 cup of dried cranberries.
Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze. Swap the cream cheese frosting for a simple caramel glaze. Whisk together 3 cups brown sugar, 1 cup light cream, and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, stir in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce. Skip the cream cheese frosting, and top your cake with this Apple Cider Caramel Sauce. (I also used it on this Gooey Caramel Apple Cake.)
Fresh Apple Cake with Vegan Caramel Sauce. Looking for a vegan caramel sauce instead? Top this cake with my No Cream {Vegan} Caramel Sauce.

Or give this delicious Applesauce Cake a try!

How to Store Fresh Apple Cake

I've found that fresh apple cake does need to be refrigerated for freshness, particularly with the addition of the cream cheese frosting.
To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 5 days. Let come close to room temperature prior to serving. (I find it tastes even better and more moist on day two!)
To Freeze. Apple cake is freezer-friendly. Freeze (frosted or unfrosted) cake for up to 1 month in an airtight freezer-safe storage container. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Do not thaw at room temperature or the cake may become soggy.

More Recipes to Use Fresh Apples

Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Crockpot Applesauce
Apple Bread
Vegan Apple Crisp
Apple Chips

Recommended Tools to Make this Cake

Baking Pan. Perfect for making this moist fresh apple cake recipe
Baking Sheet. The ideal tool for toasting nuts and roasting vegetables.
Stand Mixer . If you plan to make cakes often, a stand mixer is a wonderful investment.

Every fall, I like to treat myself to at least one indulgent apple dessert, and this apple cake is a favorite. It's my grown-up way of experiencing the same unabridged autumn bliss I did as a kid diving into a pile of leaves (but less itchy).I hope you love it as much as we do!

For the Apple Cake:

3/4 cup walnut halves
1 2/3 cups white whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs at room temperature
1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups peeled and 1/4-inch-chopped apples about 2 medium apples—choose a firm, flavorful variety such as Granny Smith, Fuji, McIntosh, or Cortland

For the Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting:

6 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese at room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Place the rack in the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9×9-inch or 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper so that it overhangs two of the sides like handles. Lightly coat the parchment with nonstick spray. Set aside. Place the nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking pan. Bake until toasted and fragrant, about 8 to 12 minutes. Do not walk away during the last few minutes (this is when nuts love to burn). Immediately transfer to a cutting board. Coarsely chop and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the white whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, stopping in between each to scrape down the bowl. Beat in the Greek yogurt and vanilla extract. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing just until evenly moistened. Fold in the apples and 1/2 cup of the toasted chopped walnuts. The batter will be very thick.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and with the back of a spatula, spread it evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges are light golden brown, about 35 to 45 minutes. The baking time will vary depending upon the moisture content of your apples. The center of the cake will still feel soft but should spring back just a little when touched. Check at the 35-minute mark. If your cake isn't done but the top is browning more quickly than you would like, loosely tent it with foil, then continue baking as directed. When it's done, place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
To make the frosting: In a mixing bowl or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt and beat until blended. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating just until combined. Increase the mixer speed to high. Beat 1 additional minute or until smooth. Spread the frosting generously onto the cooled cake. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the top. Slice generously and serve.

TO STORE: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. (I find it tastes even better and more moist on day two! Let come close to room temperature prior to serving.)
TO FREEZE: Freeze (frosted or unfrosted) for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Serving: 1 slice (of 12) Calories: 321 kcal Carbohydrates: 37 g Protein: 6 g Fat: 17 g Saturated Fat: 8 g Cholesterol: 62 mg Fiber: 3 g Sugar: 25 g

Join today and start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite projects and tutorials.

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

MacAdie Traves