In my house, fall really (really) starts when I get around to making this apple cake . When my husband and I first started dating, he took me to meet his parents, where I sat down and helped my mother-in-law make her apple cake, and I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s a super easy recipe, but I really like it because it’s a cake that doesn’t have icing, and because it’s packed with fruit, I kinda look at is as a healthier version of dessert. Kinda. When it’s all done I slather it with butter and I’m good to go. Bonus points go to the fact that you get to eat it warm – because it’s way too good to wait! Wanna learn how to make it? Then you’re in luck, because my mother-in-law shared her recipe with me, and I’m gonna hook you up with the most delicious apple cake recipe you’ve ever put in yo’ mouth!
Easy Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup raisins (I like golden raisins best)
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced (I like Golden Delicious best)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a wet measuring cup (the glass kind, or a small bowl) mix together the oil, water and eggs until it’s all combined (well as best as possible.)
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a mixing bowl) combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Once this mixture is well-combined, run the mixer on slow and gently pour in the wet mixture until all is combined. Fold in the apples, pecans and raisins. Spread the mixture evenly into a 9×13 pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray (or use butter). Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.
Once the cake is finished, serve it slightly warm. Add a cup of coffee and it may or may not be breakfast some days. (Ok, it definitely is – it’s like muffins, cake-style, folks!)
Like this apple cake recipe? Find more ideas in my recipes gallery!

Easy Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup raisins I like golden raisins best
- 4 medium apples peeled, cored and diced (I like Golden Delicious best)
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a wet measuring cup (the glass kind, or a small bowl) mix together the oil, water and eggs until it's all combined (well as best as possible.)
-
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a mixing bowl) combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
-
Once this mixture is well-combined, run the mixer on slow and gently pour in the wet mixture until all is combined. Fold in the apples, pecans and raisins.
-
Spread the mixture evenly into a 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray (or use butter). Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.
Tough choice for a fall dessert-must have apple pie but pumpkin bars with lemon frosting are a favorite too.
I love pumpkin pie!!
Pumpkin pie FROM SCRATCH with a mountain of whip
Cream and hot coffee….hmmm
I LOVE warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Thanks for this opportunity.
Apple crisp is my favorite.
I love apple cake and make it at least once a week during the fall.
I have to admit, my favorite fall dessert is pumpkin pie, with whipping cream of course!
My fave is apple crisp and homemade apple pie.
Apple dumplings straight from the oven!
I tweeted at https://twitter.com/erin_kaven/status/507505166493700096
Warm apple fritters. yummo!
For me, it is cranberry apple pie with crumb topping (which translates to lots of butter!)
The apple cake for breakfast with a cup of coffee sounds like a slice of heaven! I’m definitely going to make this recipe!
What a hard decision! I associate seasons with smells so anything that smells like cinnamon or pumpkin is good. Pecan praline cheesecake or cranberry streusel coffee cake are two of my favorites, but I cannot wait to try this apple cake recipe.
That cake looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it.
Pumpkin pie!
My favorite fall dessert is pumpkin cheesecake!
I definitely think apples when I think of fall! I’m not really into pumpkin…. My favorite apple dessert…not sure. Apple Pie Bars are awesome! So is Apple Cake w/ butter sauce! So are Apple Dumplings!
Gingerbread – warm with a little whipped cream just screams fall to me.
I love love love apple pie in the fall….or anytime for that matter! Apple dumplings, warmed, with cinnamon ice cream is a special fall treat too!
Apple crisp…still warm…With vanilla ice cream! 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity!
My fave is apple pie!! YUM!
Pumpkin pie bars
While pumpkin pie is a *very* close contender- there is something about candy corn in the fall that just brings pure joy to me. And, yes I mean the original orange, yellow, and white variety! =D
I love love spicy pumpkin pie! I guess I love pumpkin bread too…
Sweet Potato Casserole is the best dessert for the fall in my opinion.
Anything pumpkin! Bread, muffins, donuts it doesn’t matter! Oh and fresh made applesauce – still warm!
Any kinda homemade berry pie!! Now I’m hungry!!!
I love fall!!! And pumpkin bars or muffins with cream cheese frosting…… yum!
Pecan pie is my favorite fall dessert!
i like apple pie
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/507558487111397376
I would have to go with Pumpkin Pie.
My favorite fall dessert is apple pie.
Pumpkin Pie! I’ll definitely try this cake out too! Thank you!
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/507561697259712512
My fave fall dessert is pumpkin frappe
Tweeted https://twitter.com/AdorableSweetp1/status/507564117549281281
I confess – it’s apple pie. But your apple cake looks awesome!
I have many favorites. Sweet potato pie is probably my favorite homemade dessert. Haagen Daaz icecream is my favorite store bought dessert.
Pumpkin bread pudding is my fall favorite! I can just smell the pumpkin, cinnamon, and raisins now…….
Apple cider donuts are the best! Love to get them while pumpkin picking.
My favorite fall dessert is my every season dessert. Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
Pumpkin pie please —YUM!!!
Apple pie
Baking with the children during the Fall is my favorite time. Our top contender is pumpkin bread while eating doughnuts from the cider mill.
Here’s my tweet: https://twitter.com/connsean71/status/507578120653004800
I tweeted about giveaway – https://twitter.com/AlinaConn/status/507578256074473472
My mamas pecan pie!
mmm– I’d have to say Pumpkin Cheesecake or Sweet Potato pie!!! Yummmm!!!
My favorite fall dessert is pumpkin crunch. But this apple cake sounds wonderful! I love apple anything.
Pumpkin Muffins or almost anything with pumpkin in it!!
Sweet potato pie. Yummy.
Pumpkin pie with walnuts and whipped cream!!!!
Apple Cider Donuts
My favorite fall desserts is Apple Cider doughnuts.
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/507607509419294720
I love cream cheese swirled pumpkin bread and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.
I like apple pie and apple butter brownies.
I love pumpkin pie!
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/507640872725270528
Has to be my mom’s pumpkin bread! She’s been gone for 8 years, but every time I bake this I feel like she is right there with me. Thanks!
Anything with apples, pumpkin or caramel. Yum!!
Apple crunch dump!!
My favorite Fall dessert is pumpkin pie.
My favorite fall desserts are Apple Pie and Apple Caramel Cheesecake.
M favorite fall dessert is a pumpkin spice glazed nut bread I make every year. So delicious.
I shared to my twitter: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/507664832401666048
Apple Crumb Pie! Thanks for the chance to win.
I loooove pumpkin or pecan pie.
I love my mom’s pumpkin bars!
I love the Impossible Pumpkin Pie recipe….because I don’t care for pie crust. I know I would love this recipe too instead of an apple pie. TFS! 🙂
Warm homemade sour cream French apple pie with a big dollop of ice cold homemade vanilla custard ice cream – definitely a delicious, rich, luxurios, eye rolling, mouth watering, taste bud dancing fall dessert
We love anything apple around here Apple Pie and Apple Crisp are my favs
I love the pumpkin crisp I make and the pumpkin banana bread that is made around this time of year.
My all time favorite fall dessert is apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream! yum!
I tweeted under twitter id @yarbr012: https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/507703323198496769.
I love a good apple pie or pecan pie!
The scent of Dutch Apple Pie fills my kitchen, and the anticipation of the first bite fill my senses.
Pumpkin pie, alllll day everyday!
AAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! SWEET POTATOE CASSEROLE ….TY
I love all things apple… Apple cake, pie, muffins. If you make it, I eat it! Thanks for the recipe – sounds and looks delish!
Pumpkin cream cheese muffins!!!!!!!!
My favorite fall dessert is pumpkin pie.
I eat low-carb. I make a fantastic lc, sugar-free cranberry cheesecake! Oh my! Other than that, I have a recipe for lc pecan pie bars. Anything gooey, gooey, gooey!
I’m always excited about warm bread pudding with caramel sauce, fresh apple cake and apple cider donut holes!
I too like apple cake. I would be tempted to drizzle a little frosting on this recipe!
blackberry cobbler!
Persimmon Pudding is my very favorite fall dessert
carrot cake
Has to be warm oatmeal pie with vanilla ice cream!
Anything pumpkin– bars, muffins, pie, dip, etc., etc., etc.
Pumpkin Pie with vanilla ice cream!
When I was in college,(long ago and far away…) my mother would send me a care package with apple cake in it. It was delicious. But my favorite is anything with pumpkin. Pumpkin roll, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie… you get the message!
My favorite is Pumpkin Butter Cheesecake Pie.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/507952100219695104
My favorite fall dessert is Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll. It is just not fall till I have me a slice. Thanks so much for the opportunity to enter.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/HeartnSoulmom/status/507969536470310912
I love apple crumb pie and pumpkin pies!
I tweeted https://twitter.com/jessrwarfield/status/508001883655766016
Apple dumplings are my favorite fall dessert.
Pumpkin Cheesecake! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love apple cake, apple pie, pumpkin pie but my absolute favorite is pumpkin roll , thanks for the awesome giveaway!
tweet : https://twitter.com/carol_easterday/status/508085469801091072
Red delicious, golden delicious, gala, and granny smith apples are all on sale this week at Krogers…I wonder what a mix of different ones would taste like? I’m about to find out!
Meant to comment also, my favorite fall dessert is the Orange Slice Cake my late mom made every year…I still use her original recipe and make an extra one to freeze. It literally weighs six pounds and is so rich it lasts the year.
Tweeted on this here: https://twitter.com/kymbrown14
Hands down, my favorite is pumpkin pie! Sometimes we make them into pasties instead.
Karen U
Pecan Pie!
Pumpkin pie… pumpkin custard, pumpkin bread.. I think you get the gist. I am a HUGE fan of the big orange squash!
I love apple crisp with vanilla ice cream on top.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/508425709384368128
Apple crisp has always been my favorite … warm, with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
I love pumpkin desserts of all sorts, but I especially love pumpkin bread. I am looking forward to trying the apple cake! Sounds delicious!
Pumpkin pie !!!!!
Apple crisps.
Apple pie, carrot cake, pumpkin cheesecake.
Anything pumpkin! 🙂
The amount of sugar is not listed. Please advise. I started making it so I used 3/4 cup brown sugar and 3/4 of white sugar.
Thanks
Fixed – thank you so much! No one noticed that before you 🙂
My favorite fall yummy is pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting!!!!! YUM
Looks yummy! Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!
I love making a pumpkin crunch cake.
My favorite fall desert is bread pudding with apples. MMMMM yummy!
I also love hand pies. Pumpkin and Apple are two of my favorite flavors!
Pumpkin donuts. So good
I love pumpkin, cherry and apple homemade pies!
https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/509006684149129216
I love warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, my family’s favorite for fall.
Spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are one of my fall favorites. Thanks for opportunity.
sweet potato pie
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/509464018017189889
My favorite is definitely maple pumpkin pie.
tweeted for a second entry
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/509530694758854656
Pumpkin pie is my favorite fall dessert.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/509547734010191873
I love gingerbread.
apple pie
I love pumpkin bread!
my favorite fall dessert is apple crisp
https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/510046420356071424
Apple cake . . . yum yum yum!
chocolate chip pumpkin muffins are one of my faves
pryfamily5@gmail.com
i tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily5/status/510205465452507136 pryfamily5@gmail.com
I love, LOVE pumpkin whoopie pies with cinnamon cream cheese filling. I also make caramel apple cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, so delish!
Pumpkin pie.
https://twitter.com/benz1171/status/510626004004376576
One of my favorite desserts are pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!
Apple pie with ice cream.
My favorite fall dessert is hands-down pumpkin pie with a big dollop of Cool Whip on it! YUM!
My favorite fall dessert is Gingerbread!
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/511309406446030849
I love pumpkin pie!!
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/511662610186375168
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/511723020764053504
Pumpkin Pie!
I love apple anything and if it has crispy on top just a little toasted…why I am in heaven! But I do have a question…whatever happened to pippin apples? I loved their tartness but I haven’t seen them at the stores in years. Thanks for the recipe. I am sure going to try it soon!
https://twitter.com/channynn/status/511898894460919808
Ben and Jerry’s!…..year round!
I love apples with caramel sauce.
My favorite fall dessert is probably peach pie.
My favorite fall dessert is bread pudding!
I love cinnamon apple cobbler in fall.
Love fall..and so many good delicious desserts too! Have to say a pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling is my favorite.
Apple fritters! A great excuse to eat a donut 😉
I’M A PUMPKIN PIE AND WHIP CREAM GIRLIE! afjackly@oaklad.edu
With the coming of autumn, I love baking with apples, and my favorite apple dessert is apple crisp. Simple, delicious, and easy to switch out flavors and textures by using different spices (cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger) and adding raisins with the apples or oats to the topping.
I tweeted about your apple cake and this promotion:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/513717241435942912
Pumpkin Pie, slathered with whopped cream !!
Pumpkin pie.
Apple Pie. chedeb5353@hotmail.com
My favorite fall dessert is always a good old cheesecake!
i love apple crisp
i really like apple pie anytime of the year!
Fall is apple season and my favorite dessert is apple crisp. Add some ice cream on top and I’m in heaven.
Pumpkin pie is my favorite fall dessert.
Pumpkin spiced doughnuts
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com