It’s finally Fall, and I know what you’re thinking. “I want to get my apple on!” If you are feeling the same way, then this apple cake is for you! It combines all of your favorite fall flavors into one awesome dessert. The sweet glaze pairs perfectly with the hearty spiced cake. So go ahead and try this delightful Fall Apple Cake with Sweet Glaze that everybody will love!
Washington is the Evergreen State, but could easily be called the Apple State. Washington is home to more than 175,000 acres of orchards. Apples are hand-picked each autumn for year-round enjoyment, and here they are incorporated fresh from the tree into a yummy cake.
Best Washington Apples for Baking
- Braeburn // Concentrated flavor that maximizes the juiciness of the apple.
- Pink Lady // The perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors!
- Honey Crisp // This apple is a little bit higher in price, but the taste and the texture make it well worth the splurge!
- Gala // Mild and not overly sweet, this apple compliments almost any recipe.
- Granny Smith // Tangy and sweet with a firmness that holds up during baking and what I suggest for this cake!
My family is from Wenatchee, the “Apple Capital” of Washington state… and maybe the world. This family recipe is a variation of Versunkener Apfelkuchen, a traditional German dessert. Neufchatel cheese gives this cake a moist, dense texture, and the Granny Smith apples provide a tart kick. Top off the apple cake with a powdered sugar glaze for a little bit of sweetness.
This cake is fantastic for camping or river trips as it keeps well and tastes delicious the next day for breakfast. I have even used it for over-the-top french toast topped with slab bacon and a savory pecan creme.
Steps to Make a Fall Apple Cake with Sweet Glaze
- Heat 18 charcoal briquettes in your fire pit.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream together butter, sugar, vanilla, and Neufchatel cheese.
- Add in eggs.
- Fold in flour mixture.
- Season apples with allspice and sweeten them with sugar.
- Mix in apples.
- Grease an 8-inch Dutch oven and add batter.
- Place 12 briquettes on lid and 6 briquettes underneath.
- Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes, occasionally rotating the lid and charcoal.
- Make the glaze by combining powdered sugar and milk
- Drizzle over the cake and enjoy!
As this cake takes about 60 to 90 minutes to bake, it is always good to have some extra charcoal at the ready.
Love the tartness of apples in the sweetness of your dessert? Also, try these Apple Butter Sandwich Cookies with Candied Bacon Dust.
Fall Apple Cake with Sweet Glaze
Equipment
- 8 inch Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp butter softened
- 8 oz Neufchatel cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups Granny Smith apples peeled and chopped
- 3 tsp allspice
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Heat 18 charcoal briquettes.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time. Blend in flour mixture.
- Mix together apples, allspice, and 1/4 cup sugar. Fold into the cake batter. Pour batter into greased Dutch Oven.
- Place 12 briquettes on the lid of the Dutch Oven and 6 on the bottom. Bake for 1 hour, rotating the briquettes.
- Combine powdered sugar and milk. Drizzle on cooled cake.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @bewildeats on Instagram and hashtag it #bewildeats.
So tasty. Reminds me of the apple concoctions that my grandmother used to make.
Now this looks really good! Must try.
If you don’t have a dutch oven, how can you do this in the oven? Looks delicious.
Great question! You can use an 8 or 10-inch springform pan and bake in a traditional oven at 350 degrees.