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by Sarah Thomas-Drawbaugh July 17, 2020
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This skillet Dutch apple cake recipe is one of the best apple cake recipes of all time. It’s moist, delicious and very easy to make. Growing up, my family had a cabin in rural Pennsylvania. This specific area was home to an Amish community who were known for being gifted at a number of things, including their baked goods.
Overtime, my Mom was able to get her hands on a version of their delicious apple cake recipe. Growing up, she would make this cake for us and every time it was so incredible. I made a few Healthyish tweaks to make it my own.
For example, the original recipe did not call for vanilla, but I added some because I love the warm vanilla flavor. Also, I swapped out the shortening for unsalted butter. Lastly, I increased the sugar from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup for just a touch more sweetness. The end result is the best Dutch apple cake recipe of all time.
Table of Contents
About this Skillet Dutch Apple Cake Recipe
The crumb in this cake is light, flaky and moist. It is NOT a sweet cake, which is why I think it has been so popular. The cake really gets most of its sweetness from the apples. Making it perfect for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee. You can also enjoy it as a snacking cake throughout the day, or simply as a traditional dessert.
Perfect for any occasion, this apple cake is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Best when served warm from the oven. Top with ice cream, or powdered sugar for the ultimate treat.
Tips for Perfect Dutch Apple Cake
- When prepping the dry ingredients be sure to sift the flour. Sifting the flour is what gives this cake its light, fluffy texture. As tempting as it may be, DO NOT skip this step.
- It is equally as important that you cut the butter into the sifted flour, baking powder, salt and cane sugar. You can use a fork OR two knifes, but just make sure there a no big lumps of butter. You want it fully incorporated. I find using a fork works best.
- Be sure to use one honey crisp and one granny smith apple in this recipe. Mixing these two apple varieties gives this dish the ultimate flavor. You should peel, core and slice the apples thin. This allows the apples to soften when baking. You can also dice the apples, for a fun twist. Just make sure they are about the size of a dime or nickel so they soften properly.
- Also, only add one layer of apples on top of the batter. There can be some overlap if you slice them, but one layer is all you need.
Important Pan Information
Cast Iron Skillet – You can use a 10-inch cast iron skillet for this recipe. Be sure to spray it with non-stick baking spray before you add the batter and apples. Bake the cake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Personally, I prefer using the cast iron skillet vs. the spring form pan.
Spring Form Pan – Alternatively, you can use a 9-inch spring form pan for this recipe. Make sure the bottom is locked in place to prevent leaks. I always add a baking tray on the rack beneath my spring form pan, as I find it almost always leaks some juice from the apples. Placing the baking tray on the rack beneath the spring form pan prevents the oven from smoking. Be sure to spray the spring form pan with non-stick baking spray before you add the batter and apples. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Storage
Store leftover cake covered on the counter for two to three days. You can enjoy it at room temperature or warm it in the microwave.
Looking for more recipes?
- Easy Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cornbread Pudding
The BEST Dutch Apple Cake
Yield: 9 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes mins
Cook Time: 40 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
This Dutch apple cake recipe is one of the best apple cake recipes of all time. It’s moist, delicious and very easy to make.
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5 from 4 votes
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Ingredients
Dutch Apple Cake
- 1 + ¾ cups AP flour, all purpose flour, sifted
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cane sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, soft, 4 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup 2% milk
Apple Topping
- 2 medium apples, peel, core and slice thin – granny smith / honey crisp
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Equipment
1 10 inch cast-iron skillet or 9-inch spring form pan
3 mixing bowls
1 whisk
1 fork
1 spatula
Instructions
Preheat the oven 375 degrees.
Grease a 9-inch cast iron pan. Set it aside.
Apple Topping
Peel, core and slice one granny smith and one honey crisp apple. Add it to a large mixing bowl, toss it with cane sugar, light brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix well. Set aside.
Dutch Apple Cake
Sift the AP flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, baking powder and cane sugar. Mix with a whisk.
Next, add the soft butter to the flour mixture. Using a fork OR two knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture. Be sure there are no large lumps and the butter is well incorporated.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine the milk, egg and vanilla. Whisk well.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients and gently fold everything together. The batter will be sticky.
Pour the batter to the prepared cast iron skillet. Spread it out evenly. Add the sliced or diced apples and gently press them into the batter. Be sure you only add one layer of apples. Some overlap with the sliced apples is ok, but one layer works best.
Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and serve slightly warm.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 248kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 293mg, Potassium: 119mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 237IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 124mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 248
posted in: Dessert Recipes, Snack Recipes
6 comments Leave a Comment »
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Leave a Reply
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Marsha — Reply
What type of apples do you use?
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Sarah Thomas-Drawbaugh — Reply
one granny smith and one honey crisp!
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Sam — Reply
I made this over the weekend just as a little breakfast treat. It was delicious and I love how good it made the whole house smell. I will definitely be making this again come the fall.
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Sharron Furniss — Reply
Great Apple Dutch cake, guests really enjoyed this treat and the house smelt scrumptious and homely.
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Zipporah — Reply
So fully, flavorful and delicious!! Perfect with my cup of espresso 🙂
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Lori — Reply
I don’t normally bake but made this because I had everything on hand. This was really good, not sweet, and goes excellent for breakfast with coffee.
