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    Home » Recipes » Baking Recipes

    Cardamom Apple Cake

    Published: Oct 7, 2020 · Modified: Oct 30, 2022 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.

    The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.

    Apple and Cardamom

    A true match made in cooking heaven. The whiff of earthy and floral cardamom is intoxicating and pairs so incredibly well with sweet apples.

    Cardamom can become intense so use sparingly as I did in this recipe. There is just enough without being overpowering.

    The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.

    Apple Cake Ingredients

    All Purpose Flour: I've tried making this with almond flour for fun, but it didn't have the structure AP does. Though, if you would like a gluten free option, I am sure an all purpose GF flour would work great, such as Bob's Red Mill All Purpose GF Flour.

    Sugar: Both white and brown sugar are used, giving the apple cake a big more richness. I've made this with both light and brown and personally prefer the darker brown sugar.

    Neutral Oil: Even though I love olive oil, it's too fruity for a spiced cake such as this. Grapeseed oil is what is used in this recipe, though vegetable oil would work well too.

    Orange: Both the zest and juice are added and pair so well with the flavors of brown sugar, apples and spices.

    Vanilla: Because there are so few ingredients in this recipe, I go for the really good spice. And a little goes a long way. Vanilla paste is thicker, almost like a honey, compared to vanilla extract and has beautiful specks on vanilla. I truly believe vanilla paste gives baked good great depth of flavor. It's an investment but Vanilla paste will last a while and be worth it in simple recipes like this.

    Apples: Peeled honeycrisp apples are used in this recipe. They are not overly sweet but not tart and hold their shape. I could eat these all days long.

    Spices: Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice give the entire apple cake fantastic earthy floral notes. I like to grate my own nutmeg but honestly, use what you have.

    Ingredients

    • Honeycrisp Apples
    • Cinnamon
    • Brown Sugar
    • Flour
    • Baking Powder
    • Cardamom
    • Cinnamon
    • Grated Nutmeg
    • Allspice
    • Salt
    • Grapeseed Oil
    • Eggs
    • White Sugar
    • Brown Sugar
    • Orange zest
    • Orange juice
    • Vanilla Paste
    • Powdered Sugar

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9 inch spring form pan with oil or butter. Line the bottom with parchment paper and set aside.
    2. In a bowl, add the chopped apples, cinnamon and brown sugar and toss together. Set aside while you make the rest of the recipe.
    3. In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and spices and set aside.
    4. In another bowl, whisk the grapeseed oil, eggs, sugars, orange zest and juice and vanilla paste. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and add the apples with all their juices.
    5. Give everything a good stir and pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes. At 40 minutes, take a peek and use a toothpick or knife to check for doneness by sticking the knife into the cake and if it comes out clean, it's ready. If there is batter, bake for a little longer.
    6. Let the apple cake cool slightly before cutting into it. Lightly dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
    7. This can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
    The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.

    A Few More Apple recipe to Try:

    Blueberry and Apple Borekas with Honey Tahini

    Easy Apple Strudel with Puff Pastry

    The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.

    Cardamom Apple Cake

    Samantha Ferraro

    LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.
    4.91 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 332 kcal

    Equipment

    • Springform Pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    Apples

    • 3 cups peeled cored and chopped honeycrisp apples, about 4-5 medium sized apples)
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

    Cake

    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon cardamom
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ½ cup grapeseed oil
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup white sugar
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoons orange zest
    • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
    • Powdered sugar optional
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    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9 inch spring form pan with oil or butter. Line the bottom with parchment paper and set aside.
    • In a bowl, add the chopped apples, cinnamon and brown sugar and toss together. Set aside while you make the rest of the recipe.
    • In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and spices and set aside.
    • In anotehr bowl, whisk the grapesseed oil, eggs, sugars, orange zest and juice and vanilla paste. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and add the apples with all their juices.
    • Give everything a good stir and pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes. At 40 minutes, take a peek and use a toothpick or knife to check for doneness by sticking the knife into the cake and if it comes out clean, it's ready. If there is batter, bake for a little longer.
    • Let the apple cake cool slightly before cutting into it. Lightly dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
    • This can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.

    Notes

    Cake will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    Recipe inspired by Smitten Kitchen

    Nutrition

    Calories: 332kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 221mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristie says

      January 14, 2023 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      Hello! Do I have to use Grapeseed oil? Can I use Olive oil? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Samantha Ferraro says

        January 14, 2023 at 6:20 pm

        Sure, however it May change the flavor. A lighter oil, Sunflower or grapeseed works best. Thanks for the great question. Samantha

        Reply
    2. Matthew Lim says

      October 23, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      Baked this wonderful cake again.

      Reply
      • Samantha Ferraro says

        October 27, 2022 at 2:14 pm

        Fantastic, it really is Wonderful. Were doing another for the holidays!

        Reply
        • Matthew Lim says

          April 28, 2023 at 2:18 am

          5 stars
          Hi Samantha,

          Baked this delicious cake for my sister's 76th birthday lunch tomorrow. She haven't tasted it before. I am sure she will loved it. I added cranberries again.
          Thanks for this wonderful recipe.

          Reply
          • Samantha Ferraro says

            April 28, 2023 at 7:20 am

            Thank you Matthew. I am glad you love my recipes. I can use as many 5 Star reviews as I can get. Happy Birthday to your Sister. Samantha

            Reply
        • Matthew Lim says

          April 28, 2023 at 2:19 am

          5 stars
          Hi Samantha,

          Baked this delicious cake for my sister's 76th birthday lunch tomorrow. She haven't tasted it before. I am sure she will loved it.

          Reply
    3. Elaine says

      October 20, 2021 at 7:42 am

      5 stars
      What could I substitute for vanilla paste?

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        October 21, 2021 at 7:33 pm

        Hi Elaine..you cna substitute vanilla extract!

        Reply
    4. Matthew says

      September 16, 2021 at 7:45 pm

      5 stars
      The cake turned out delicious. I added cranberries, zest and juice of an orange. It was tangy and moist.

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        September 18, 2021 at 12:12 pm

        I love your addition of cranberries!! Thank you so much Matthew!

        Reply
    5. Kevin says

      October 12, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      Bo cardamom listed in recipe???

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        October 15, 2020 at 7:39 am

        Silly mistake, my apologies....the recipes has 1/2 teaspoon cardamom. Recipe updated.

        Reply

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