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Easy Italian Apple Cake

This Italian Apple Cake, is a moist soft full of chopped apples anytime cake. The perfect fall cake that can be served for breakfast, brunch snack or even dessert. All it needs is a dusting of powdered sugar!

Apple cake on a black wire rack.


 

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.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Apples – medium apples chopped
  • Lemon juice – helps keep the apples from turning brown
  • Eggs – large room temperature
  • Sugar – granulated sugar
  • Yogurt – regular yogurt – room temperature
  • Oil – vegetable oil, I use sunflower or corn oil
  • Flour – all purpose flour
  • Corn starch – helps make the cake soft and tender
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Lemon zest

Why use room temperature ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter, which will help to create a light tender baked good.

How to make an Apple Cake

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. Then add the yogurt and oil, sift the flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda and salt directly into the bowl add the zest, beat until combined.

Fold in the apples, spoon into the prepared cake pan, sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of granulated sugar and bake until done. Check with a toothpick, if it comes out dry or with a few crumbs attached, the cake is done.

Let cool completely before removing from pan. Give it a real Italian touch and dust it with a little powdered sugar.

The best apples for baking

I personally like to use either a Fuji or Royal Gala although a Granny Smith if you like a tartness, or how about a Jonathon or Jonagold, Cortland or Honeycrisp, any of these apples are perfect for baking. Just make sure they are fresh and crisp.

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!!

  1. Most Italian cakes are made with oil instead of butter.
  2. The flour is always sifted with the baking powder.
  3. 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!
  4. The finished cake is rarely drizzled or frosted unless of course you are making a birthday cake or a Tiramisu.
  5. Most Italian cakes are dusted with powdered sugar.
  6. These types of cakes are often served at Breakfast and as a snack with an espresso.
  7. The perfect cake to serve when a friend comes to visit.
Cake on a wire rack with a slice on a black plate.

This cake can be made with one bowl, just sift your ingredients directly into the batter like all Italians do.

How to store an Apple Cake

Be sure to cool the cake completely in the baking pan then move to a wire rack. If you store it while it’s still warm, condensation can form inside the storage container, making the cake soggy.

Once the cake is completely cool, you can wrap the whole cake in plastic wrap, make sure to wrap it tightly to prevent air from getting in. Or you can wrap it with aluminum foil. Just make sure it’s tightly sealed to keep the cake moist.

If you have a cake keeper or airtight cake container, you can use that to keep the cake. These containers are designed to maintain the cake’s freshness.

This cake, as long as it doesn’t have a cream cheese frosting or any other perishable filling, can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days. But be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It should keep up to 2-3 days at room temperature.

If not your cake can be stored in the refrigerator. Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or foil before refrigerating. It will keep for up to 4-5 days in the fridge.

Can the cake be Frozen?

Yes this cake can 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 2-3 months in the freezer.

The frozen cake, should be thawed in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. The gradual thawing helps preserve the cake’s texture and flavor.

Before serving, if the cake was stored in the refrigerator or freezer, allow it to come to room temperature for the best taste and texture.

How to make the best Apple Cake

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, decided she could taste too much lemon.

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.

If you are like us one of the best things about Autumn is apple recipes from Apple Crumb Bread with Maple Caramel Sauce to Cinnamon Applesauce Cookies to a delicious Homemade Italian Apple Crostata and of course we can’t forget Homemade Apple Pie Cookies.

So if you are looking for a delicious Fall Apple Cake then I hope you give this a try and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

A slice of cake on a black plate.
Apple cake on a black wire rack.

Easy Italian Apple Cake

Rosemary Molloy
Italian Apple Cake, a moist soft full of chopped apples anytime cake.  A perfect Breakfast, Snack or even Dessert Cake.  
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Breakfast, cake, Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12 servings
Calories 268 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2-3 medium apples (chopped medium or large)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup regular whole yogurt (room temperature) (not flavoured)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil ( I use corn or sunflower oil)
  • 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ½ tablespoon lemon zest

For room temperature remove the ingredients from the fridge 45-60 minutes before using.

    EXTRAS

    • 2-3 tablespoons powdered / icing sugar (for dusting on the cake)

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C), grease and flour or spray a 9 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, salt and zest 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!

    Notes

    I personally like to use either a Fuji or Royal Gala although a Granny Smith if you like a tartness, or how about a Jonathon or Jonagold, Cortland or Honeycrisp, any of these apples are perfect for baking. Just make sure they are fresh and crisp.
    Be sure to cool the cake completely in the baking pan then move to a wire rack. If you store it while it’s still warm, condensation can form inside the storage container, making the cake soggy.
    Once the cake is completely cool, you can wrap the whole cake in plastic wrap, make sure to wrap it tightly to prevent air from getting in. Or you can wrap it with aluminum foil. Just make sure it’s tightly sealed to keep the cake moist.
    If you have a cake keeper or airtight cake container, you can use that to keep the cake. These containers are designed to maintain the cake’s freshness.
    This cake, as long as it doesn’t have a cream cheese frosting or any other perishable filling, can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days. But be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It should keep up to 2-3 days at room temperature.
    If not your cake can be stored in the refrigerator. Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or foil before refrigerating. It will keep for up to 4-5 days in the fridge.
    Yes this cake can 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 2-3 months in the freezer.
    The frozen cake, should be thawed in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. The gradual thawing helps preserve the cake’s texture and flavor.
    Before serving, if the cake was stored in the refrigerator or freezer, allow it to come to room temperature for the best taste and texture.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

    Updated from November 9, 2018.

    104 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Hi 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!

      1. Hi 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.

    2. 5 stars
      Thanks 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!)

      1. Hi Michelle, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it and my recipes. Glad you discovered me too! Have a wonderful Sunday.

        1. Hi Tal, yes you can substitute olive oil for vegetable oil in the recipe. I hope you enjoy it.

    3. 5 stars
      Hi 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

      1. Hi Denise, thanks so much great idea with tossing the apples. So glad you like it and the site. Have a great weekend. 🙂

        1. Hi 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.

    4. Love 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.

      1. Hi 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.

    5. 5 stars
      Hi 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.

    6. 5 stars
      I 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!

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