Italian Apple Cake, a moist soft full of chopped apples anytime cake. A perfect Breakfast, Snack or even Dessert Cake. All it needs is a dusting of powdered sugar!
Italian Apple Cake
I once asked the Italian what in his opinion was National Cake of Italy. He promptly answered “Ciambellone”, with my kids nodding their heads in agreement.
What is an Italian Ciambellone?
If you translate the word Ciambellone you have “Big Donut”, or in other words a Bundt Cake. Simple as that.
So what does this Apple Cake have to do with a Ciambellone? Well this is basically a Ciambellone with apples. And believe me everyone knows how to make an Apple Cake in Italy.
Be sure to watch the Video!
What makes this Apple Cake Italian?
I actually got this recipe years ago from a friend. So to start this is an Italian Cake because it’s an Italian’s Recipe!!
- Most Italian cakes are made with oil instead of butter.
- The flour is always sifted with the baking powder.
- 90 percent of the time lemon is an added ingredient. Just as it is in this Apple Cake. And because Italians cannot live without lemon!
- The finished cake is rarely drizzled or frosted unless of course you are making a birthday or Tiramisu.
- But most are dusted with powdered sugar.
- These types of cakes are often served at Breakfast and as a snack with an espresso. The perfect cake to serve when a friend comes to visit.
This cake can be made with one bowl, just sift your ingredients directly into the batter like all Italians do.
This Cake can also be frozen, just make sure to completely cool the cake and wrap it tightly in plastic then place in an airtight freezer bag. The cake will keep up to 3 months in the freezer.
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Since I have a few extra people in the house this week, I decided to make the cake a couple of times. The first time I made it with 3 apples and chopped on the larger size and I used the juice of half a lemon.
My eldest daughter who is not a big lemon lover, only on her fish and in her water! And never in a dessert. Crazy I know.
More Delicious Apple Recipes
Apple Crumb Bread with Maple Caramel Sauce
Homemade Italian Apple Crostata
So I decided to make a second cake with only two apples and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. She obviously preferred the second where the rest of us preferred the first.
So you decide more apples and more lemon juice or less? Enjoy!
Easy Italian Apple Cake
Italian Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium apples (chopped medium or large)
- Juice from half a lemon (or 1 tablespoon if you want less lemon taste)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup regular yogurt (not flavoured)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use corn oil)
- 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch salt
- zest 1/2 lemon
- 2-3 tablespoons powdered / icing sugar (for dusting on the cake)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C), grease and flour a nine inch (23 cm) bundt pan (a cake pan would work too).
- In a medium bowl add the chopped apples and sprinkle with the lemon juice.
- In a large bowl beat the eggs and sugar until creamy and light approximately 3-4 minutes. Then add the yogurt and oil, sift the flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda and salt into the bowl add the zest then beat until combined.
- Fold in the apples, spoon into the prepared cake pan, sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of granulated sugar and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes (check for doneness with a toothpick). Let cool completely before removing from pan. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Enjoy!
Janis says
January 19, 2019 at 1:12 amAbsolutely delicious! Made using sour cream and a tad of milk. So moist and light! My Italian husband just loved it. This is a recipe I will use often for family and friends. This time I was looking for a recipe to use the 3 apples I found in the fridge
Rosemary says
January 19, 2019 at 5:27 pmHi Janis, thanks so much, so glad you both liked it, have a great weekend.
Noriko says
January 15, 2019 at 9:13 pmHi Rosemary,
I had some apples at home and was looking for an apple cake recipe to use them. So I gave it a go tonight and it became delightfully delicious. I did not have powder sugar and the cake is without it at the end, but it was still wonderful. A perfect combination of sweetness, a hint of lemon and apple sourness. Usually my husband is not an easy one to satisfy (for him cakes are too sweet or not enough sweet), but even he was happy and liked this cake! Thank you for this recipe and I will definitely make it again and again!
Rosemary says
January 16, 2019 at 8:39 pmHi Noriko, Thanks so much, so glad you both enjoyed it.
Lynda says
January 12, 2019 at 3:42 pmCan I use sour cream instead of yogurt Lynda
Rosemary says
January 12, 2019 at 4:49 pmHi Lynda, yes you can although you should probably add a couple of tablespoons of milk, since sour cream is thicker than regular yogurt and be sure to use regular sour cream and not low fat. Hope that helps.
Michele says
January 5, 2019 at 11:08 pmThanks for this fabulous recipe. It is the perfect combination of sweet and tart, and a lovely, lighter alternative to heavily iced cakes. I will be making this one again. (I love all of your recipes. Very happy to have discovered you recently!)
Rosemary says
January 6, 2019 at 9:32 amHi Michelle, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it and my recipes. Glad you discovered me too! Have a wonderful Sunday.
Liz says
November 24, 2018 at 4:54 pmI love apple desserts and I’ll be making this cake again and again!! Delish!
Rosemary says
November 24, 2018 at 5:16 pmHi Liz, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend.
Tal says
May 2, 2019 at 9:09 pmCan i use olive oil in this recpie?
Rosemary says
May 2, 2019 at 9:53 pmHi Tal, yes you can substitute olive oil for vegetable oil in the recipe. I hope you enjoy it.
Aimee Shugarman says
November 24, 2018 at 2:09 pmThis cake is incredible. Baking AGAIN for CHristmas!
Rosemary says
November 24, 2018 at 5:17 pmHi Aimee, thank you and so glad you liked it. 🙂
Denise says
November 24, 2018 at 12:15 amHi Rosemary, I have made this cake 4x. It comes out lovely every time. I tossed apples with cinnamon and brown sugar and lemon juice for 2 of the cakes Delish. Thank you so much for a wonderful site
Rosemary says
November 24, 2018 at 7:34 amHi Denise, thanks so much great idea with tossing the apples. So glad you like it and the site. Have a great weekend. 🙂
L says
December 30, 2018 at 8:08 pmHow much brown sugar and lemo did you use ?
Would love to try with a mixture of the ingredients you used
Thanks
L
Rosemary says
December 30, 2018 at 8:22 pmHi L, I’m sorry but I didn’t use brown sugar. And I used the juice of 1/2 a lemon about 2 tablespoons. Hope that helps. Happy New Year.
Charlene Westman says
November 22, 2018 at 5:45 pmGreat recipe, made it and was a big hit. I will be making it again for sure.
Rosemary says
November 22, 2018 at 7:50 pmHi Charlene, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Robin Blackburn says
November 18, 2018 at 10:42 pmLove the sound of this recipe! If I were to make this in a cake pan rather than a Bundt, will I need to alter the baking time to allow for the centre to cook?
Thank you.
Rosemary says
November 18, 2018 at 11:08 pmHi Robin, I would check it after 35 minutes with a tooth pick in the centre and if isn’t dry then leave for another 5 and check again. Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes.
Tina rossi says
November 15, 2018 at 2:03 amFantastic love ur recipes
Rosemary says
November 15, 2018 at 2:22 pmHi Tina, thanks so much, glad you love them. Have a great day.
Chuck Adkins says
November 13, 2018 at 11:52 amGreat taste and an easy recipe steps to follow!
Rosemary says
November 13, 2018 at 4:58 pmHi Chuck, thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it.
Evangelia says
November 11, 2018 at 12:39 pmHi Rosemary. I am living in Athens and i would like to tell you congratulations for your amazing blog. I just made the apple cake and it was perfect. Thanks a lot for the recipe.
Rosemary says
November 12, 2018 at 2:43 pmHi Evangelia, thanks so much so glad you like the blog and the apple cake. Have a great week. 🙂
Taryn says
November 10, 2018 at 5:07 pmSuch an amazing cake! Thanks for the recipe.
Rosemary says
November 10, 2018 at 7:17 pmHi Taryn, thanks so much. Have a great weekend.
Stef says
November 10, 2018 at 1:46 pmI love that there is lemon in the cake! Apples and lemon go so well together. And, simple cakes like this are my favorite. No need for frosting!
Rosemary says
November 10, 2018 at 2:11 pmHi Stef, thanks so much and yes the combination of lemon and apples is so good. Have a great weekend.
Vanessa says
November 10, 2018 at 8:58 amThanks so much for the recipe it looks amazing.
Rosemary says
November 10, 2018 at 9:05 amHi Vanessa, thanks so much I hope you enjoy it.
Carol says
November 10, 2018 at 8:57 amThanks so much for the recipe, I made this last night and it was so good. My whole family loved it.
Rosemary says
November 10, 2018 at 9:05 amHi Carol, thanks so glad you all enjoyed it, have a great weekend.