Apple Walnut Cake
This old-fashioned Apple Walnut Cake is simple and fuss-free, no mixer required, and made with all easy-to-find ingredients. Insanely moist, potently spiced, bursting with fresh apples, crunchy walnuts, and topped with a drizzle of cinnamon icing. This Apple Walnut Cake is a classic for a reason!
Servings 16
Ingredients
For Apple Walnut Cake:
- 4 cups peeled, chopped apples about 3 medium apples, I used Gala
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
For Cinnamon Icing:
- 2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Instructions
For Apple Walnut Cake:
- In a medium bowl, toss together chopped apples and granulated sugar; let stand.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.
- Add apple mixture and flour mixture alternately to the egg mixture, stirring until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in walnuts.
- Spoon batter (it will be thick) into a greased 13x9-inch pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, rotating halfway, until top and edges are golden brown, and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cake will appear deep golden -- you may think that it's burning, but it's normal for this cake to brown! It's a result of caramelized sugar and much cinnamon.
- Remove to a wire rack to cool.
- Meanwhile, prepare glaze.
For Cinnamon Icing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Add additional powdered sugar, as needed, to achieve desired consistency. I like this to be thick so that it isn't runny, but still able to be drizzled.
- Drizzle over cake. Cut and serve.