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The Most Perfect French Apple Cake Recipe

This classic french apple cake recipe is a moist cake that is made with simple ingredients. It’s an easy recipe that is perfect for apple season.

I don’t need a reason to bake. Baking has been my happy place since I discovered my love for baking while caring for my newborn second son. Once I got the KitchenAid mixer all bets were off! What hand mixer?!

Today I’m sharing the perfect recipe for a french apple cake that I was able to make and taste last week at an event that was SO good I have to recreate it–right away!

Thank goodness it was a simple recipe! It’s one of those apple recipes that you will make again and again!

Earlier this week I shared about my awesome experience at The Brooklyn Kitchen at a cooking class with BOU. One of my favorite parts of that evening was the dessert, the French Apple Cake.

It was the perfect split between a pie and cake and it was full of delicious sweet apples that make it perfect for special occasions but especially Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The easy french apple cake is one of those apple desserts that you make year round.

It was my first time having this perfect French Apple Cake. The cake was a huge crowd pleaser! I am generally a fan of anything with apples, but what makes this awesome is that the apples are baked directly into the cake which makes it an entire experience!

What ingredients do you need for this easy french apple cake?

French Apple Cake Ingredients

cake flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
baking powder
salt
unsalted butter, at room temperature
 granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling over the top of the cake
eggs
vanilla extract
dark rum
baking apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Golden Delicious)
Confectioners’ sugar (optional), for decorating cake

I used Fuji Apples and light rum since we didn’t have any rum in the house and my mom was kind enough to bring me what she had.

This french cake is filled with delicious chunks of apple and it’s so good! Note that the cake batter of this rustic cake gets super thick because of the apple slices inside of it.

Traditional french apple cake is filled with crisp apples in this amazing cake. The kind of apples you choose is up to you!

Related: Easy & Old Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe!

This super moist and delicious yummy cake is perfect with a little whipped cream and/or a scoop of ice cream. When I made this lovely cake I got rave reviews from the family! You will need a sharp knife to cut this amazing afternoon snack.

What are some more delicious Apple Cake recipes to try?

The Most Perfect French Apple Cake Recipe
Yield: 6-8 Servings

The Most Perfect French Apple Cake Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

This amazing French Apple Cake is super easy to make. It's delicate and delicious and perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cake flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling over the top of the cake
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons dark rum
  • 2 sweet baking apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Golden Delicious)
  • Confectioners' sugar (optional), for decorating cake

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch springform or regular cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. Using a handheld mixer with beaters or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and rum. Don't worry if the batter looks grainy. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chopped apples.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool until just warm. Run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake and remove the sides of the springform pan if using. Using a fine sieve, dust with Confectioners' sugar (if using). Cake can be served warm or room temperature, with or without lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 201Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 42mgSodium 135mgCarbohydrates 39gFiber 1gSugar 27gProtein 2g

Did you make this recipe?

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calvinarast

Thursday 16th of July 2020

I include several teaspoons of cinnamon to the dry fixings since we're a major cinnamon family. Else, I follow your formula precisely.

Adela

Tuesday 31st of March 2020

This is such an amazing recipe. I’ve made it like four times and it’s perfect every time. I add a couple of teaspoons of cinnamon to the dry ingredients because we’re a big cinnamon family. Otherwise, I follow your recipe to the letter. Cheers and thank you.

Dawn

Tuesday 30th of April 2019

I love apple pie and this would be a nice change! As for what is my favorite dessert? I cannot even begin to answer that, I enjoy all desserts :)

I bet this would go well with any meal (not just a holiday) and I will have to try it before it gets too hot to have the oven on.

Andrea Eisen

Saturday 17th of November 2018

omg, this looks so good I kind of would love a warm out of the oven slice of it right now.

Dang.

YUM.

nicole

Friday 15th of December 2017

I absolutely love baking too, and this cake sounds delicious. I'm so delicious of your Kitchen Aid - those things look amazing!

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