Cinnamon Apple Fritter Cake

Updated: Jul 28, 2025 by christina.marsigliese · 64 Comments

This may be one of the best apple desserts on the planet. My Cinnamon Apple Fritter Cake just melts in your mouth with the softest texture and it tastes buttery and rich with apple cinnamon flavor just like a soft apple fritter, minus the deep frying! The buttery vanilla batter bakes up so tender and light with a thick layer of cinnamon apples through the middle and cinnamon sugar on top. I drizzle a quick vanilla glaze right over it like a traditional apple fritter and it is very addictive. Enjoy this cake for brunch, afternoon tea or for dessert and the aroma will fill your house with joy. It is a great cake to make any time of the year, and especially cozy during the Fall. If you love baking with apples, check out my Brown Butter Peach Crumb Cake, Brown Butter Caramel Apple Crumb Cake and my Lemon Blueberry Crumb Cake too!

cinnamon apple fritter cake sliced on cooling rack

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Soft and tender vanilla butter cake - this simple one-bowl cake recipe makes a very soft and tender cake that melts in your mouth.
Fresh apples - there's a layer of diced apples through the middle and they become soft and delicious as they bake into the cake.
Cinnamon sugar topping - the cinnamon sugar on top really makes this cake taste like an apple fritter.
No deep frying - this cake really does taste like an apple fritter without all the oil.
Vanilla glaze - this is the finishing touch to the apple fritter concept. It's just a quick 3 ingredient glaze.

INGREDIENTS FOR APPLE FRITTER CAKE

All purpose flour - unbleached all-purpose flour works great for tender butter cake.
Unsalted butter - this is a pure butter cake. I use unsalted butter, but salted butter also works if you reduce the added salt in the recipe.
Granulated sugar - simple granulated sugar keeps this cake soft and doesn't interfere with the clean apple cinnamon flavor. You'll also need granulated sugar for the cinnamon sugar topping.
Eggs - two large eggs will add nice structure for the butter cake.

cinnamon apple fritter cake in baking pan

Pure vanilla extract - vanilla is essential to make this delicious butter cake. I like this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.
Sour cream - use full fat sour cream to add richness and balance the flavor. It's almost like a sour cream donut! If you don't have sour cream where you live, read down below in my FAQ section for my substitution recommendations.
Milk - any type of milk will do. I prefer whole milk for baking. It should be at room temperature so measure it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking.
Apples- you must use fresh apples for this recipe. It really works with any kind of apple, but I prefer tart apples such as Granny Smith or Red Prince, which is what I used here.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1). Combine dry ingredients. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and whisk to blend evenly.
STEP 2). Blend in the butter. Add very soft butter and mix it in on low speed until broken down and it looks like crumbs. You can use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or you can use an electric hand mixer. You can also use your fingers to rub the butter in.
STEP 3). Combine wet ingredients. Combine eggs, sour cream, milk and vanilla in a medium bowl and whisk to blend well.
STEP 4). Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture to the bowl with the flour and beat on medium speed until very smooth. It will take about a minute. The batter should be creamy and thick.
STEP 5). Make the apple filling. Toss the diced apples with sugar and cinnamon so they are evenly coated.
STEP 6). Make the cinnamon sugar topping. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir to blend evenly.
STEP 7). Bake. Spread about two-thirds of the batter into the prepared pan (it will be a thin layer). Scatter the apples evenly over the batter spreading them out right to the edges. Place dollops of remaining batter over the apples and gently spread it out to cover them using an offset spatula. Sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar evenly on top and bake for 25-28 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for at least 1 hour before serving.

cinnamon apple fritter cake slices stacked on cooling rack

EXPERT BAKING TIPS FOR APPLE FRITTER CAKE

Use room temperature ingredients. Since this is a simple one bowl mixing method, it is important to have all ingredients at the same temperature (not cold!) in order to help them blend evenly together. Make sure the butter is very soft and the eggs are at room temperature.
Sift the dry ingredients. This is optional, but it will minimize the amount of mixing needed to combine the ingredients evenly so that you do not over-mix the batter. It will give you the best results for a finer texture crumb as well since the sieve will break up all the flour particles and help disperse the baking powder.
Do not over-mix the batter. It is important that the batter is smooth, but stop as soon as you get to that point. Over-mixing can lead to a gummy cake, although this particular recipe is pretty foolproof.

RECIPE FAQ

Can I make this apple fritter cake in advance?

You can make this cake the day before you plan to serve it and keep it covered overnight after it cools. If it is not too hot where you live, then you can store it at room temperature, but otherwise you can refrigerate it. It is still soft even after days in the fridge!

What is an apple fritter?

An apple fritter is a fried donut made from scraps of traditional donut dough that are pressed together with apples and tossed in cinnamon sugar or glazed.

What makes cake soft?

This cake is so soft because of the reverse-creaming mixing method. Blending soft butter into the flour coats the flour particles with fat so that they do not absorb as much moisture which would otherwise make them more prone to gluten development.

Why is my cake not fluffy?

If your cake turns out way too dense with a gummy layer, then it could be that you added too much flour (make sure to weigh it or spoon it into the measuring cup gently without packing it down), or that it is underbaked. The heavy apples in the middle will slow the baking time, so make sure that you always check with a skewer for doneness. Also, check the shelf life of your baking powder - it could be expired.

What causes cake to be dry and dense?

Too much flour and not enough sugar is the main reason why cake can turn out dry and dense. It is important to have the right proportions of liquid to dry ingredients for successful baking.

What can I use as a substitute for sour cream?

If you can't find sour cream where you live, you can also make this cake with full fat Greek yogurt or crème fraiche.

What type of apples are best for apple fritter cake?

This recipe works well with any type of apple, but my preference is for tart apples such as Granny Smith, Idared, Red Prince or Cortland.

Can I make this in a round cake pan?

Yes, you can make this in a 9-inch round cake pan and the baking time will be about the same.

How to serve apple fritter cake?

This cake is so delicious that I serve it with nothing else! It is best served warm, yet still absolutely delicious at room temperature. If you want to jazz it up, I'd suggest some lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream.

STORING AND FREEZING

How to store apple fritter cake?

This cake will keep well in an airtight container for 1 day at room temperature, and then keep it refrigerated for up to 5 days. To serve, pull it from the fridge about 20 minutes in advance.

Can I freeze apple fritter cake?

I do not recommend freezing this cake as the texture of the apples will be compromised - they will get quite mushy. This cake keeps well in the fridge, even if you choose to store it for 1 week.

If you love cake and fruit, check out these recipes!

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