German Apple Cake has chunks of fresh apple, lots of fall spices, crunchy pecans, and a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. This is one of the most delicious apple desserts you will ever taste so get ready for some fall baking!!
This is one of my favorite apple recipes along with Easy Apple Dumplings, Caramel Apple Quesadillas, and Apple Crisp Coffee Cake.
I know it’s not quite fall yet, but I’m ready for it to be here. This past week I helped both my kids get moved into their apartments for the school year. My daughter in Charleston and my son in Atlanta. And now I’m ready for the seasons to begin to change and the fall baking to commence. (Note: Originally published August 17, 2017.)
Apples, along with sweet potatoes and pumpkin are what fall baking is all about for me. I’ve never been a huge apple pie fan but I love apples in other types of desserts like Caramel Apple Pound Cake, Crockpot Butterscotch Apple Crisp, and Frisky Apple Fritters.
This German Apple Cake is everything you could want in a fall apple dessert. The cake batter, with lots of chunks of apple, cooks up super moist with just the right amount of spice flavoring. But undoubtedly the best part is the icing!!
Measure The Flour Correctly
When baking a cake, it is so important to measure the flour correctly or you risk having a dry cake. To measure, first fluff the flour up some in the bag or container. Flour tends to get packed down over time. Then use a large spoon to gently scoop it into a dry measuring cup. Overfill it slightly and use the back of a knife to run across the top and get rid of the excess.
Recipe Tip
This recipe would be equally delicious with walnuts instead of pecans.
★★★★★
OMG 🥰 My Mom always baked with spices, so this was right up my alley 😉 I inhaled my first piece 👌My husband says 5 🤩
Type of Apples To Use
I recommend using a tart apple like Granny Smith for this recipe. The cake itself is very sweet and a tart apple will help cut the sweetness a little.
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More Fall Desserts
- Butternut Spice Cake with Bourbon Glaze
- Southern Sweet Potato Pie
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Praline Torte
- Pumpkin Cake Roll
German Apple Cake
Equipment
- Electric Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups peeled and finely chopped tart apples, I use Granny Smith
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Frosting
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon half-and-half or milk
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract until completely combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir to combine.
- Fold in apples and pecans. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.Let cool.
- Make frosting. Place cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat with electric mixer until smooth.
- Add vanilla extract, half-and-half, and confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth.
- Spread on top of cake. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
This cake is delicious just as recipe lists. One of the BEST fresh apple cakes that I’ve made. I would love to make this in mini loaf pans for holiday gifts. Any idea on cooking time adjustment? Thanks again for a wonderful recipe.
Found your recipe today! I remember my German Grandma and my Mom making this. I’ll probably omit the frosting, but top it with a dollop of whipped cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, just like they did. Thx Christin!!!
You are so welcome Sue!!
Hi
I made this today in a little bit smaller size Pyrex baking dish.
It finished baking about 10 minutes ahead of time.
It looks nothing like the picture.
It came out more like a spice cake.
Very light color.
Not what was expected at all.
Delicious and moist!!! Best apple cake I’ve had! Can’t wait to make it again.
Delicious cake! Only thing I did differently was replace butter for the oil, 1 for 1. It’s a keeper!
Thanks!
Hi how many apples do I need? I have a 3 lb bag of medium size apples about 10 will that be enough?
Hi Lena as an experienced baker I can tell you that no one could say how many given this information, however, at 10 pieces of friut for three pounds I would venture that they are likely fairly small apples, so by the time they are peeled cored and chopped you will likely need all of them. You best best is to follow the volume guidelines ( 4 cups ) provided. Hope that helps.
Wow, this cake is absolutely delicious! We haven’t even made and put the icing on top. It is sooooo good, not sure it even needs the icing. Hubby and I LOVED it! Listed recipe came out perfect! Will be making again and again for sure! Yummmmm
Oh wow…sooo good.
And the 13 x 9 pan fed a crowd. Absolute Heaven.
The only insignificant change was that
I used a bit less butter in the frosting as I live in the Caribbean.