Easy Irish Apple Cake Recipe – Moist & Delicious

Traditional Apple Cake Recipe – Irish, Easy & Full of Flavor

Jun 11, 2025 6:40 AM

Did you know you can bake a delicious homemade apple cake in just an hour? The apple cake is a moist, flavourful Irish classic. This tender cake is made with baked apples paired with delicious toppings.

People enjoy it on various occasions like St. Patrick’s Day, birthdays and even occasionally as a fall dessert. You can have it for breakfast, as an afternoon tea treat, or even as a dessert after dinner.

All you need are a few wholesome ingredients and a pinch of cinnamon spice to make this family-friendly treat. In this article, you can find the simplest apple cake recipe to enjoy bakery-style results.

The Irish Apple Cake

As soon as the harvest season arrives in Ireland, everyone wants to bake the traditional Irish apple cake. The old-fashioned recipe is still popular. However, some families have added their personal touch.

The streusel topping and apple placement can vary. Some people like apples sliced in layers, while others prefer them diced into the batter. The tradition is to serve the apple cinnamon cake with powdered sugar or custard sauce. To add a modern touch, a Whiskey Caramel Sauce is prepared to make the moist apple cake even more delicious.

The Irish Apple Cake Vs Apple Pie

The apple pie is a fresh apple dessert made with layers of pastry with a jam-like apple filling. The apples melted into sugar to make them soft and sweet. The filling is also very loose. It’s the crust that keeps it all together.

The apple cake is a sponge-like dessert also made with apples. The apples are mixed into the batter, making them a part of the cake. The cake holds its shape even when sliced. It’s just like a marble or basic sponge cake.

If you like traditional Irish food, try Irish recipes for Thanksgiving or explore what people enjoy during Christmas in Ireland.

Apple Cake Recipe

This apple cake recipe only takes around an hour. You need 20 minutes to prepare and another 40 minutes to cook. However, before we jump into the making process, let’s have a look at the equipment you need.

Equipment

There are no special tools involved to make this easy apple cake. You just need the following equipment:

Food scale
A large bowl and a wooden spoon to mix
Knife sharp enough to peel the apples
A cake tin to put the batter inside
Oven

Once you have this ready, get all your ingredients in one place.

Ingredients

The ingredients required to make this simple apple cake are listed below.

300 g flour
15g baking powder (also known as bicarbonate of soda in some recipes)
150 g sugar
3 eggs
100 g butter
1 dl milk
4 small apples or two large cooking apples
Grated lemon rind or a few drops of lemon juice

Steps To Make The Best Apple Cake

The cinnamon apple cake is so easy to bake, even for those who have no baking experience.

Grease the tin

Your tin should be greased properly with butter. You can take a standard 8-inch (20 cm) tin of any shape. Keep it aside to settle.

Mix sugar and butter

Take a large bowl and add softened butter and sugar to it. Mix it with a wooden spoon until it is creamy. There shouldn’t be any large clumps of butter.

Add eggs and milk

Now, crack the eggs one by one and mix them into the batter. Pour the milk and mix it with the eggs. You can add some lemon juice or zest.

Add flour and baking powder

After adding the wet ingredients, add flour and baking powder. Mix everything until all ingredients come together to form a heavy, sticky dough.

Add apples

Peel and slice your apples into thin, even slices. Just fold the slices into your mixture.

Add to the tin

Once your batter is ready, transfer it evenly into the greased cake tin.

Add sugar

Take a spoonful of white granulated sugar to sprinkle over the top.

Bake the Cake

To bake the cake, preheat the oven at 180°C (350°F). Place the tin for 40 minutes. Make sure the top is golden. Let the cake cool before serving it.

Amazing storage tips

To extend the shelf life of your cake, you can use the following tips and tricks.

Room Temperature

Use foil or an airtight container to keep the cake at room temperature. The flavour and texture will stay good for up to 3 days.

Refrigerator

When the cake has cooled down, wrap it to place it in the fridge. The cake will take an hour at room temperature to restore its texture.

Freezer

If you freeze your cake, it can last for up to 3 months. Make sure you cool it first. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil, followed by placing it in a freezer-safe container.

Conclusion

This apple cake recipe is proof that you don’t have to be a skilled baker to enjoy a sweet treat. This easy recipe brings together simple ingredients to make the most delicious cake without any fancy equipment. The Irish classic is so moist and tender that it will be the highlight of your occasion. Try this family-favourite recipe to make your fall season even more special. Beware, it might just become your new favourite!

FAQs

Traditionally, tart cooking apples are used to bake an Irish apple cake, like Bramley or Granny Smith. These apples can hold their shape beautifully. People also use the ones from Cortland, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Jonathan. Use crisp, non-floury apples for best results.

Yes, you should peel all the apples before adding them to the batter. However, this is entirely up to your personal preference. After peeling, you can either slice the apple or dice it.

According to the traditional apple cake recipe, apples aren’t cooked. They are just added to the batter to make a dough. The apples bake along with the rest of the cake.

It is advised that apples should be cut at the last minute. This will ensure a better texture and colour. If you prep them too early, they will darken and dry out quickly. You should also fold the apples quickly into the batter to ensure the moisture is retained. However, soaking apple slices in lemon water and storing them in an airtight container can preserve them overnight.