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Autumn Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Autumn Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A moist 9-by-13-inch apple cake filled with cinnamon, finely chopped apples, and pecans or walnuts, finished with a smooth cream cheese frosting. This generously sized dessert serves 12–16 people.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple Cake
  • 3 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 1/2 cups Granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups Neutral vegetable oil, such as canola
  • 3 Large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 3 cups Peeled, cored, and finely chopped apples
  • 1 cup Chopped pecans or walnuts
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 ounces Full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 3-4 cups Confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1-2 tablespoons Milk or cream, only if needed

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium bowl.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until the flour disappears. Do not overmix.
  5. Fold in the finely chopped apples and nuts. The batter will be thick.
  6. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 45–55 minutes, until the center is set and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool the cake in the pan for about 15 minutes, then transfer it to a rack and cool completely before frosting.
  9. For the frosting, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the vanilla, then gradually beat in the sifted confectioners’ sugar, adding 1–2 tablespoons of milk or cream only if needed.
  10. Spread the frosting over the completely cooled cake. Refrigerate briefly if you prefer a firmer frosting before slicing and serving.

Notes

Choose firm, slightly tart apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn, or use a combination. Chop the apples fairly small, avoid overmixing, and cool the cake completely before frosting so the cream cheese icing does not melt or slide.