This Easy Apple Cake is mildly sweet, filled with apples, coconut, pecans, and drizzled with a dreamy cream cheese glaze. It’s a perfect dessert for Fall, any holiday, or Sunday brunch when you have a crowd.
Serve this cake plain, glazed, or with a dollop of homemade whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce!
Easy Apple Bundt Cake
When fall rolls around, I immediately get excited about the crisp air, gorgeous red and orange leaves, all my favorite light-weight jackets, and baking with apples! With such a huge variety to choose from, there’s no shortage of desserts to make. This homemade apple cake recipe is a family favorite and one I’ve been serving for years.
It’s absolutely the best apple cake recipe, packed with fresh fruit, coconut, pecans, and cinnamon, but has a light texture. The cake itself is not terribly sweet, but the glaze is, which gives it a perfect balance. It’s easy, foolproof, and wonderful.
With just the right amount of sweetness and spices, your house will smell amazing while it’s baking. Moist and delicious, it’s always a winner with family and friends, during the holidays or all year long.
Apple Cake Recipe
Here’s a brief rundown of what you’ll need to make this apple bundt cake:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Wet Ingredients: eggs, vegetable oil, orange juice, vanilla.
- Dry Ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Mix-ins: apples, sweetened coconut flakes, chopped pecans.
- Glaze: cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla.
Recipe Variations
I think this cake is so lovely as is, but here are a few variations you can try, if preferred:
- Peel and chop the apples instead of shredding them.
- Swap out the pecans for walnuts.
- Replace a 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar with brown sugar.
- Stir in a pinch of nutmeg along with the cinnamon or use our homemade apple pie spice!
- Simply omit the coconut if it’s not your thing.
- Poke holes in the warm cake and drizzle the glaze over the top so it sinks in even more.
- Add a little rum to the glaze.
- Don’t have a bundt pan? Bake in a 9×13 dish instead (instructions below.)
What Type of Apples are Best?
How to Make Apple Cake
Not only does this from scratch cake deliver on taste, but it’s also so easy to prepare all in one large bowl! Here’s a brief summary of how to make it:
(Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details and don’t miss the video below.)
- Whisk together all the wet and dry ingredients until combined.
- Fold in the apples, coconut, and pecans.
- Pour batter into a greased bundt pan.
- Baked until a tester comes out clean.
- Allow to cool and then drizzle the glaze on top.
Tips for Success
- Be sure to spoon and level when measuring the flour – don’t scoop! Too much flour could produce a super dense, dry cake.
- The batter for this cake is thick – don’t be alarmed, that’s normal. Just don’t over-mix your ingredients.
- All oven temperatures run differently. This cake typically takes 70 minutes in my oven. Start checking at 65 minutes and continue checking every 5 minutes until a tester comes out clean. It should not take any longer than 90 minutes.
Can I bake this in a 9×13 pan instead?
Yep! Instead of greasing a bundt pan, you’ll grease and flour a 9×13 baking pan. Follow all the same preparation instructions, but bake on the upper third oven rack at 325 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool, glaze, and cut into squares.
NOTE: cooking time can vary depending on your oven and whether you use a glass or metal pan.
How to Store Fresh Apple Cake
Does apple cake need to be refrigerated? Leftover apple cake can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days. After that it will need to be transferred to the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze apple cake? Yep! This cake freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.
More Apple Desserts:
- Caramel Apple Sheet Cake
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Pie Filling
- Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
- Apple Dumplings
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Easy Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 medium apples ,shredded (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut flakes
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
For the glaze
- 8 ounce package cream cheese ,softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously coat a bundt pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, oil, orange juice, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract; mix until thoroughly combined. Fold in the apples, coconut, and pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 75 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. (All oven temperatures run differently. Start checking at 65 minutes and check every 5 minutes until a tester comes out clean.)
- Allow cake to cool almost completely.
- Make the glaze – in a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese powdered sugar until smooth. Blend in the milk, and vanilla until combined.
- Loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and carefully turn it out onto a stand, plate, or serving dish. Pour the glaze evenly over the top.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
- NOTE: For recipe variations, storing leftovers, and baking in a 9×13 pan instead, please refer to the full article.
Can I substitute vegetable oil with butter?
Can I use something else other than orange juice because I am allergic to it
You could use apple juice instead, for extra apple flavor!
I used water instead of orange juice it still tasted fine. I also made them in loaf form.
Very delicious!
Can I use applesauce for part of the oil?
For optimal results, I recommend making this as written. Or if you’re adventurous, try it! But I can’t vouch for the outcome.
Do I have to peel the apples first or can you leave the skin on for this cake?
I don’t peel mine. They cook just fine, especially since they’re shredded. But you can peel them if you want!
which apple is best for this recipe?
I prefer Pink Lady or Honey Crisp, but really any apple other than Granny Smith which is too tart.
Can i substitute or omit the coconut flakes?? Ive noticed i can taste the coconut abd i want to taste the apples since it’s an apple cake.
This was WONDERFUL!
This was a great recipe. I baked it with my 4 year old. :) I left out the coconut. It went over well with my two kids, husband and friends. I may try and add nutmeg and salt next time, but I will be making this again. :) Thank you for the recipe!
This is the best apple cake! No changes, came out perfectly. Thank you!
Everything about this cake is perfection! I’ve made it a few times and it never disappoints. I’ve subbed in apple juice for the orange juice and that’s my favorite.
Seriously heavenly! And pretty too :)
The combo of apples, coconut, & cinnamon was fantastic!
This cake was moist and full of flavor. I peeled and chopped my apples instead of shredding as mentioned in the post. It’s my new favorite apple cake.