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.
Went with the same apple cake recipe for years, saw this one! In the oven now, let you know when I icing it..
a true German apple cake or not this is so easy to make and so darn good!!! Come on people chill out!!! It kinda reminds me of a carrot cake but easier to make!!! Love it!!!
Made this and not what I expected. Texture is more like a cookie than a cake. Flavor is ok but won’t make again. Just not what I want.
I’m sorry but this has nothing to do with a german apple cake. Traditionally we do not use cream cheese frosting and pecan nuts are very rare.
A german apple cake has either a dough with lots of slices or Chunks of Apples on top or kinda sunken into the dough or its like a pocket with the apples in it. Its moist and i like it with cinnamon. Lots of people have raisins in it.
Please change the Name. This is not a german apple cake.
Thank you.
Just FYI, I live in a heavily German rural area in the US and this is the cake they make. So….. while it may not be the recipe from a specific region of Germany (and every area has a different take on their foods) it is an American German Apple Cake. The addition of pecans is probably due to the fact we are heavily wooded in them. They go in everything.
I forego the frosting though. Its sweet and rich enough without it.
These look so tasty! I love your blog! Definitely an inspiration for us newbies
Very yummy!! I added walnuts, my husbands request, I’m not normally a fan yet they were a great addition!
Can’t wait to make this. Will send an update.
This recipe sure sounds delicious, but the name is somewhat confusing. This cake is anything but german. German cooking or baking hardly ever contains pecans or cream cheese frosting.
Oh my, all my favorite tastes 😀
Sounds delicious … can’t wait to try come apple season!