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Old-Fashioned Apple Walnut Cake
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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! 
Course Cake
Keyword apple cake, apple walnut cake, old fashioned apple cake
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 16
Author Sarah

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.