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Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze (2025)

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A cozy, moist fall cake bursting with tart-sweet apples, warm spices, and topped with a gooey brown sugar glaze that’ll have everyone begging for seconds.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 1012 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice (optional)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 3 cups peeled, chopped apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • Butter and flour (or baking spray with flour) for greasing the pan
  • For the Glaze:
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and brown sugar until well combined.
  4. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture—don’t overmix.
  5. Gently fold in the chopped apples and nuts (if using). Pat dry juicy apples if needed.
  6. Grease a bundt pan thoroughly with butter and flour or baking spray with flour.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  8. Bake for 60–70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
  9. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack and cool another 10 minutes.
  10. While the cake cools, prepare the glaze: melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  11. Add brown sugar and stir until it looks like wet sand, then whisk in the cream and bring to a gentle bubble.
  12. Simmer for 3–5 minutes, whisking constantly. Add vanilla or bourbon if using.
  13. Let glaze cool slightly, then drizzle over the warm (not hot) cake.

Notes

Use a mix of sweet and tart apples for best flavor. Avoid soft apples like Red Delicious. If freezing, skip the glaze until ready to serve for a better finish.

  • Author: Sabella Sachi
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 65 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 38g
  • Sodium: 220mg
  • Fat: 26g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 17g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 58g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg