Did you know you can make this amazingly soft and fluffy Apple Cake Recipe with just a few simple ingredients? The moist sponge cake loaded with apple slices is so so good. 

Try these other delicious apple recipes such as our Apple Bread recipe or the Classic Hot Apple Cider! These recipes are especially great during apple season! 

Apple cake with a slice cut out, on a serving plate next to apples.

APPLE CAKE- 

This fluffy apple cake is a classic in the Slavic community, we call it Sharlotka! I love to whip up this cake together when craving a sweet treat or when we get unexpected guests coming. The sponge cake combined with juicy apple slices and baked to perfection tastes so airy yet filling!

All ingredience needed for apple cake recipe.

INGREDIENTS

There is nothing better than a recipe with just a few classic and basic ingredients you most likely already have on hand! 

  • Apple– For this recipe, you can use almost any apple, but we prefer using a crispy apple to avoid a mushy cake. Crispy apples such as Granny smith, gala, fuji, golden delicious, Honeycrisp apples, or melrose apples will all work. We sliced the apple thin but they may be cubed. 
  • Eggs– The eggs give the cake its spongy cake. 
  • Vanilla– Gives the cake added flavor.
  • Oil– Adds moistness to the cake.
  • Sour Cream– Just like oil, adds the cake from being dry.
  • Flour– Any all-purpose flour will be great in the cake.
  • Baking Powder– Helps give the cake its shape and fluffiness
Four step by step pictures of how to make batter for apple cake.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE CAKE- 

  1. Prep pan- Line a 9” springform baking pan with parchment paper. 
  2. Slice apples– Peel and slice the apples into thin slices or cut them into chunks and toss with 1 Tbsp flour, set aside. 
  3. Wet ingredients– In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with sugar until fluffy. Add in sour cream and oil and fold in with a spatula.
  4. Dry ingredients– Combine the flour with baking powder.
  5. Combine– Add half of the flour mixture and gently fold in with a spatula. Add remaining flour and gently fold in with 
  6. Bake– Add the apples to the batter reserving some for the top. Bake until the tops of the cake are golden.
Apple cake served on a plate with apples and powdered sugar on the side.

CAKE VARIATIONS- 

There are so many different ways you can change up the apple cake recipe. Here are some variations to try.

  • Fruit– Add more fruit like blueberries, banana slices, or strawberries.
  • Nuts– Add walnuts or pecans to the batter for an apple pecan cake. 
  • Make square– Make the cake in a 9” square pan, you’ll bake it at the same time.
  • Almond– Add sliced almonds to the top of the batter before baking.
  • Cinnamon– Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon to the flour when tossing the apples with flour for a hint of cinnamon.
  • Pears– You can use sliced pears instead of apples for a pear cake.
  • Peaches– Fresh peach slices when peaches are in season for a peach cake.

STORE-

  • Leftovers– The apple cake is best if enjoyed the same day. If there are any leftovers, store them in room temperate for up to 2 days and in the fridge for 4.
  • Freeze– Easily add slices of cake into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight to enjoy. May be reheated in the microwave for a warm cake.
Close up of apple cake sprinkled with powdered sugar.

MORE cake RECIPES-

Apple Cake Recipe (Sharlotka)

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 1 vote
Th easiest recipe for an Apple Cake make with a sponge cake batter and loaded with freshly sliced apple. So easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs apples cleaned and sliced (about 3 medium apples)
  • 1 Tbsp all purpose flour for apples
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp oil
  • 2 Tbsp sour cream
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9” springform pan with parchment paper.
  • Clean and slice the apples and add to a bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp flour.
  • In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together with a blender on high for 5 minutes. Add in the vanilla, oil, and sour cream and gently fold with a spatula.
  • Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add half the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and gently fold then add remaining flour mixture and carely fold in with the spatula.
  • Add the apples into the batter reserving about ¼ of the apples for the top.
  • Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and add the remaining apples on top.
  • Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick runs clean. Allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
  • Run a sharp knife around edges of the pan and release the pan.
  • Top with powdered sugar, slice and serve.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

285kcal Calories53g Carbs5g Protein7g Fat1g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat3g Monounsaturated Fat0.02g Trans Fat84mg Cholesterol34mg Sodium199mg Potassium3g Fiber34g Sugar183IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C45mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Apple Cake Recipe (Sharlotka)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 285 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 84mg28%
Sodium 34mg1%
Potassium 199mg6%
Carbohydrates 53g18%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 34g38%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 183IU4%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 45mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American