Apple Cake Recipe (A French Classic)
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With tart apples baked into a buttery cake with just a hint of rum, this might be the best apple cake you’ll ever taste. It’s simple yet so satisfying—perfect for dessert, a cozy afternoon snack, or even breakfast (yes, it’s that good!).
The summer after my junior year of college, I worked as an au pair in Paris for a family with three little boys. My host mother, Valérie, loved to cook and often enlisted my help in the kitchen. Her apple cake recipe, with chunks of tart apples nestled in a tender and buttery rum cake, quickly became one of my all-time favorite desserts. Like many French desserts—think clafoutis, madeleines, or crepes—it’s incredibly simple to prepare.
Pair it with a cup of coffee in the afternoon or serve it for dessert topped with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s the kind of cake that works for almost any occasion. It’s especially lovely for fall holidays, when apples are at their peak—think Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, or a cozy weekend gathering. But since apples are available year-round, it’s just as fitting for Easter brunch, Mother’s Day, or anytime you need a dessert that feels special without being fussy.
“Last year I won first place in a state fair with this recipe…This year I won division champion in our county fair. It’s a total winner of a recipe!”
What You’ll Need to Make French Apple Cake
- All-purpose flour – Spooned and leveled for accuracy; provides structure without making the cake heavy.
- Baking powder & salt – The baking powder gives the cake lift, while the salt enhances the flavor and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter – At room temperature for proper creaming; creates richness and a tender crumb.
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the cake and helps create a light texture when creamed with the butter; a little extra sprinkled on top adds a delicate crackly crust.
- Eggs – Add structure, moisture, and richness; best at room temperature so they incorporate smoothly.
- Vanilla extract & dark rum – Add warmth and depth of flavor; the rum subtly enhances the apples without overpowering them.
- Baking apples – Peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch cubes; choose firm, slightly tart varieties that hold their shape in the oven, such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Braeburn, or Pink Lady.
- Confectioners’ sugar (optional) – For a simple, elegant finish just before serving.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Pro Tip: Using a whisk to thoroughly combine the dry ingredients ensures the baking powder is evenly distributed and the cake rises evenly.
Step 2: Cream the butter, sugar, and eggs. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
Step 3: Add the flavoring. Beat in the vanilla extract and rum. The mixture may look a little curdled at this stage, which is fine.
Step 4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.
Step 5: Add the apples. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the peeled and chopped apples. Folding in the apples by hand prevents the flour from over-developing gluten, ensuring a tender crumb while also helping the apple chunks stay intact.
Step 6: Fill the pan. Scrape the batter into a greased 9-inch springform pan (or a greased and lined 9-inch cake pan) and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Step 6: Bake and serve. Bake on the center rack of the oven for about 40 minutes until the top is golden and crisp. Serve warm or at room temperature, plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream—a dash of cinnamon would be a nice addition, too. The cake can be made up to 2 days ahead. Freeze for longer storage.
Pro Tip: Use a toothpick or cake tester for doneness. Because this cake is so apple-heavy, it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs; if you hit a piece of fruit, try a different spot to ensure the batter itself is fully set.
Video Tutorial
More Apple Recipes You May Like
French Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling over cake
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons dark rum
- 2 medium baking apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2½ cups; see note)
- Confectioners' sugar (optional), for decorating cake
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch (23-cm) springform or regular cake pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. If using a regular cake pan, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease again.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- 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 curdled at this point; that's okay. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chopped apples.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and even the top. Sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on a rack in the pan. Once cool, run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake. If using a springform pan, remove the sides. If using a regular cake pan, carefully invert the cake onto the rack, remove the parchment paper, then gently flip the cake over and place right-side-up on a platter. Using a fine sieve, dust with confectioners' sugar (if using). Cake can be served warm or room temperature, plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- When this baking this cake, it's important to use apples suitable for baking. Baking apples hold their shape when cooked, so the chunks of fruit won't turn into applesauce in the oven. Tart-sweet varietals such as Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Jonagold are all great options. Feel free to combine different varieties for a more nuanced flavor.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake is best enjoyed fresh but for up to 2 days. Store at room temperature in a cake dome or covered with foil. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I have already made an excellent review, however I forgot to add something. I did not use any rum in my recipe. I added an additional 1/2 Cup of apples.
Amazing! Everyone in my family loves it. I found the recipe easy to make and I had every ingredient on hand. It’s perfect for a last minute cake before dinner…. My husband prays there is some left for breakfast when I make it. I have made the recipe 8 times now and it has been a hit each and every time. Thank you!
Had a few granny Smith apples left to use and found this recipe. It was very easy to make and the house smelled wonderful while it baked the cake turned out perfect and I will definitely be baking it again. I did reduce the rum to 2 tablespoon just a personal preference I can already tell this will be a favorite to bake again and again
Very interested to try this recipe… but my husband and I are not fond of rum. Wondering if something like Apple Jack might be a a good alternative for the liquor… or can you suggest a better choice?
Hi Elizabeth, a few readers have commented that they’ve used Apple Jack and have enjoyed it. Bourbon would be another good alternative.
This was a really good, simple to make cake. I will make it again but I will omit the Rum and use apple juice or milk next time. The rum was too overpowering for me.
Love this recipe, it’s always very good. I follow it exactly but want to try 2 things. Could I do it in a square baking pan to cut it like squares and if so, what size and I how should I bake it you think. Other thing is would it be good to put a caramel glaze on it? Thx for your time.
Hi Marie, glad you like it! Yes, if you want to use a square pan, I’d probably go with the 9-inch square. The cake will not be as deep and will take less time in the oven, so keep a close eye on it. And I wouldn’t put a caramel glaze on before baking, but you could serve it with caramel sauce drizzled on top.
Absolutely perfect! I used a small batch spiced rum with honey/pecan flavors because I didn’t have dark rum. It’s delicious. This is one of the absolute best dessert recipes (and so easy!) I’ve found online. Thank you!
Really liked the cake, as did my wife. However, I baked the cake 20 minutes after the toothpick was clean and the cake did not brown very well. Was just beginning to brown. What did I do wrong?
Hi Greg, that sounds strange, particularly after 20 additional minutes. Did you bake the cake on the center rack in your oven? Did you decrease the sugar or make any adjustments to the recipe?
Hi, I love this recipe, it’s my favourite apple cake 😋. However, I had a cake in a little cafe in Edinburgh at the weekend that was very similar in texture, but the fruit was rhubarb and strawberry. Do you think I can simply substitute the apple for chopped strawberries and raw rhubarb? Should I part-cook the rhubarb first? Would those fruits make it too wet? I can’t find a recipe online for rhubarb and strawberry cake, so my first thought was to try to adapt your great apple cake recipe. Hope you can help?….
Hi Julie, so glad you like this! If you’d like to use a combination of strawberries and rhubarb, I’d recommend this strawberry cake instead, replacing half of the strawberries with rhubarb. Keep in mind I’ve never tried the cake with rhubarb, so it may take a little experimentation on your part. I’d love to hear how it turns out!
I have long loved this recipie but haven’t made it in a few years – made it again last night and it tasted overwhelmingly of rum! (I think i had forgotten that in the past i reduced it). Any chance the 3T is a typo? Other than that, such an incredible recipie! Such little work for SO much payoff.
Hi Lily, sorry you found the rum flavor to be overpowering! No, that’s not a typo – you can either reduce the rum a bit next time or replace it with apple cider, apple juice, or milk.
Easy to make and great flavor! My cake came out flatter (denser) and not as fluffy as the video. Any ideas on how to improve on this?
Hi Julie, because of all the apples, I would consider this cake to be on the dense side. And this cake definitely has a low profile, so you’re likely not doing anything wrong. 😊
Mine too, there must be an error in the recipe, I don’t think it has enough flour, the batter was so thin it leaked out of my spring form pan. I also weighed the ingredients.