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 recipe is quick and easy to make. The whole family loves it
wonderful..good one to make for a fall weekend
Family loved it!
I must say, I am 39 years old and I have NEVER left a review of a recipe, but this was just SO good, I had to write a review to let others know my thoughts and mini changes! I made this recipe last night as an addition to a family dinner. It was a quintessential fall dessert, with all the right flavors of the season! While I agree that it is not an authentic “German” dessert with the pecans and frosting, it was nonetheless DELICIOUS!! I made 3 small changes: I used 1 cup of brown sugar (not 2 cups white sugar as per the recipe), I used 1 cup of homemade apple sauce (in lieu of the oil as per the recipe), and I used about 6 cups of thick chunked apples of mixed variety picked from a local orchard (not 4 cups as per the recipe). Other than those small changes, this recipe was a hit! Even positively critiqued by my father, who’s 100% German. Definitely a must try! The frosting isn’t necessary, but it is not overly sweet, so it was a welcomed addition. I recommend keeping it on the side, allowing everyone to add their own frosting. This was especially good for the leftovers, which I ate for breakfast, so the frosting definitely was not needed at 7 am! I can’t wait to make this again! Happy Baking! :o)
My mother, whose family was German, made this cake for us when we were young children. Like one of your other respondents, she did not add nuts nor frost the cake, but dusted with powdered sugar. I happen to like the nuts and the delicious cream cheese frosting – and the cake tastes exactly like the one she used to make – right down to the crisp top of the cake. I was delighted to find this recipe.
Love this cake! German or not, it’s so delicious. I’ve made it twice in the last month and the whole fam goes crazy. Definitely adding it to my list of special holiday desserts! Thank you!
Hi, can I use gluten free flour in this recipe?
I give this cake recipe top ratings, whether German or not. One of our favorites to share with family and friends. Very moist and delicious. Quick and easy to make for any occasion. Always loved by everyone!
I made this for an office birthday party and it was a huge hit, very moist and jam packed with apples.
Thank you very much for this recipe, I made it last Thanksgiving but I neglected to leave a comment then, I apologize for that. This was a delicious cake and my personal favorite thing out of all the dishes at that particular family get together.
I only made a few small modifications: I reduced the sugar to one and one half cups, added a half teaspoon of allspice to the dry ingredients, and instead of frosting the cake, I made whipped cream for people to top their pieces of cake. Thanks again, I am recently craving this cake some more, time to make it again soon.
Send me ur german cake recipe please. At hoyljanet@yahoo.com