Easy Irish Apple Cake

Name: Easy Irish Apple Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients: 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 3 tablespoons milk; 3 medium granny smith apples; confectioner's sugar, for dusting (optional); 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed

Jan 24, 2023 by Asha · This post may contain affiliate links · 40 Comments

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This farmhouse-style Irish apple cake is a tender cake with warm spices and baked apples, topped with a buttery streusel. The apples and cinnamon smell heavenly when you pull it fresh from the oven. It's easy to make, too. Serve it warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or have a slice for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

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Ingredients
Best apples to use in apple cake
Variations
Instructions
Equipment
How to serve it
Storage
Tips for success
📖 Recipe

The texture of this cake is somewhat similar to a coffee cake. In European fashion, it is not overly sweet. Some versions of this cake are quite dense and mildly flavoured, so are paired with a runny custard sauce. While I do love a good custard sauce, this version of mine is tasty enough to hold its own. Enjoy this cake for breakfast, brunch, with afternoon tea, or for dessert.

Apple orchards are abundant in Ireland's countryside. And during the fall harvest season many farmhouses have their own special version of this apple cake, also known as Kerry apple cake, made and on hand to serve any potential guests.

Traditionally, it was made in a pot on an open fire before ovens were common. But the ingredients of this baked version are still authentic and old-fashioned. This cake makes the perfect dessert to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Try my scrumptious apple blondies or a flavourful apple whisky sour for more apple-packed recipes.

A slice of Irish apple cake on a plate, showing the layer of juicy apples on top of tender cake.

Ingredients

Granny Smith apples
All purpose flour
Baking powder
Ground Cinnamon
Ground cloves
Salt
Unsalted butter - Even better if you can get your hands on some Irish butter. This butter is made from primarily grass-fed cow milk, resulting in butter that is richer in colour and flavour.
Granulated sugar
Brown sugar
Eggs
Pure vanilla extract
Milk - Whole or 2% milk is best.
Confectioner's sugar, optional for dusting

See the recipe card below for quantities.

Best apples to use in apple cake

I use Granny Smith apples. They are perfect in this recipe because they are tart, which balances with the sweet beautifully, and they hold their form well after baking without getting mushy.

Other options that would work well are Honeycrisp or Braeburn apples, however, they are less tart than Granny Smiths.

Variations

Add nuts - Chopped nuts are a wonderful addition to this cake. Walnuts or pecans are best for this.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F / 177°C and grease an 8" round springform cake pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set it aside for now.

Dry ingredients sifted into a mixing bowl.

Cream the butter and sugars together well until they are fluffy. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time, along with the vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients and milk intermittently. Make sure that it is completely mixed in, but be careful to not over-mix.

Spoon the thick batter into the pan and smooth it out, pressing it into the edges.

Batter spread along the bottom of a cake pan.

Peel your apples and cut them into ¼" (0.64cm) slices. Then cut the slices again for a chopped appearance. (See below.)

Scatter the apple pieces evenly on top of the cake batter. Use your hand to lightly press the apples slightly downwards into the batter.

Apple slices on top of the batter-filled cake pan.

Prepare the streusel topping in a medium bowl by combining the flour, brown sugar, a cinnamon. Then add the cubed butter and using your hand work it into the dry ingredients until it forms large crumbs. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the apples.

Streusel topping the apples inside the cake pan.

Put the cake in the oven and bake it about 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the centre of the cake. When it comes out clean the cake is ready. Don't get tricked by accidentally poking a juicy apple.

An Irish apple cake beside white flowers on a countertop.

Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes before removing. Serve warm or at room temperature. Dust the Irish apple cake with icing sugar immediately before serving, if desired.

Equipment

To make this recipe you will need the following:

8" round springform pan - You could use a 9" instead for a shorter cake, just remember to keep an eye on it while baking because it will take slightly less time.
Mixing bowls
Sifter
Kitchen scale or measuring cup set

8" round springform pan

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A slice of Irish apple cake topped with green flower buds.

How to serve it

Irish apple cake is delicious when served warm or at room temperature. Serve it:

Dusted with confectioner's sugar for a simple approach. This version is not too sweet and pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast or afternoon tea.
Drizzled with a sauce. Traditionally, the most popular to use would be a custard sauce, however, caramel and whiskey sauces are also used.
Warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Storage

Similar to coffee cakes, this Irish apple cake can be stored in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 3 days. If you live in a hot country, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and set out an hour before you intend to serve to bring it back to room temperature.

You can also freeze this cake in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, set on the countertop overnight.

An Irish apple cake decorated with a white flower.

Tips for success

Weigh to be sure - You should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar to get the best results. However, if you have to use a measuring cup rather than a kitchen scale, stir the ingredient to create air pockets then gently spoon it into the cup and level off the top. Do not scoop or you will get too much.
Don't overmix - As soon as you mix flour into any batter or dough it is so important to not overmix. If you do, you will lose the soft and delicate texture and make something that is dense and tough. Only mix until the flour has just been blended into the other ingredients.
Room temperature - Dairy and egg ingredients should be room temperature for this recipe. Cold ingredients simply won't combine properly to give you a smooth crumb, resulting in uneven lumps. Set them out an hour or two before you start.
Make streusel with your hands - Using your hands to form the streusel crumbs together will help you achieve the large crumble you're looking for.

📖 Recipe