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    Home » Recipes » Category » Cake

    German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)

    Published May 25, 2020 | Updated September 30, 2022 By Roxana Begum | 26 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump To Recipe
    Easy German apple cake pin image with different views.

    German Apple Cake (Versunkener Apfelkuchen) is so incredibly delicious. A fancy looking cake that is so easy to make. Perfect for tea time or parties. This never fail recipe is sure to impress!

    We love to have this cake with our homemade tea.

    German apple cake dusted with sugar and served on a plate.

    German Apple Cake

    Apfelkuchen (apple cake) is a very popular cake in Germany. It is a favorite everyday cake in Germany and often chosen for afternoon coffee and cake time.

    It looks so fancy yet is so easy to make. This is a great recipe for new bakers. Always reliable, quick to put together with easily available ingredients and a crowd pleaser.

    A piece of German apple cake served on a white plate.

    Ingredients

    Butter, Sugar, Vanilla, Lemon Zest, Salt, Eggs, All Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Milk, Apples, Apricot Jam

    Ingredients needed to make the cake placed together.
    • Make sure to choose good quality, sweet and juicy apples. I like using gala or fuji apples. The apples must be small in size so that they can fit nicely in the baking pan and cook perfectly soft.
    • For a lighter crumb use cake flour. To make your own cake flour for this recipe, use 1½ cups all purpose flour plus 3 tablespoons corn starch. Measure things accurately and check this tutorial if needed.
    Front view of the cake placed on a serving plate.

    Step By Step Pictures and Overview

    1. In a stand mixer, cream butter, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon zest and salt, until fluffy.
    2. Add eggs and beat mixture until light and fluffy.
    3. Combine flour and baking powder. Add flour and milk alternatively at low speed.
    4. Transfer batter to cake pan. Step by step preparation of apple cake.
    5. Peel, quarter and core apples. Using a paring knife, make several parallel slits on the peeled side.
    6. Arrange apple quarters on cake batter in a flower like pattern.
    7. Brush melted butter on apples. Bake at 350º F until golden brown.
    8. Make syrup with apricot jam. Release springform pan ring. Brush syrup on hot cake and let it cool completely. Step by step preparation of apfelkuchen.

    How to Serve It

    It is often served with fresh whipped cream. But you could serve it simply dusted with powdered sugar too.

    Storage

    This cake keeps well at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. You could also refrigerate it in warmer weather. 

    The cooled cake can be wrapped, packed and stored frozen for couple months.

    A slice of the cake being lifted with a serving utensil.

    Pro Tips

    • Try using cake flour for a nice and delicate crumb.
    • Make sure the cuts in the apple are deep, but not all the way to the center core. Because that may separate the slice from the entire quarter.
    • Use as many apple quarters as you can fit on top of the cake batter. 
    • You can top the apples with sultanas, almond slices or chopped walnuts, for a variation.
    A cake wedge with whipped cream on the top.

    Variations

    This cake is vegetarian, low sodium, nut free and soy free. Below are some options, but I have not tried the variations myself.

    • Vegan: You could try using this vegan yellow cake batter. Adjust the amounts.
    • Egg Free: Try flax eggs or the vegan cake above.
    • Dairy Free: Use oil (not butter) and dairy free milk or the vegan cake above.
    • Gluten Free: You may try this gluten free yellow cake recipe, adjusting the amounts.
    • Healthier:
      • Use ¼ cup + 1½ tablespoons light olive oil and ¼ cup + 1½ tablespoons honey. And 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour + ⅔ cup cake flour. Use organic apples and don’t peel them. Try to use grass fed butter. Bake the cake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
      • Whole wheat pastry flour is produced from soft wheat berries. It does not form a strong gluten network, resulting in a lighter texture, while enhancing the nutrition quality of the baked product.

    Apple Nutrition Facts

    Apples are loaded with health promoting phytochemicals and have been considered beneficial for lowering the risk of many diseases - diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc. They are especially good for weight management. The peel is rich in fiber and antioxidants. More about apples discussed in the post on Rustic German Apple Pancake, which is great for a brunch.

    Side view of the cake with apples in the background.

    More Cake Recipes:

    • Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake)
    • Moist Maple Sweet Potato Cake
    • Tahini Chocolate Marble Cake
    • Pineapple Cupcakes
    • German Blueberry Kuchen
    • Almond Flour Chocolate Cake

    ★ DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!

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    German apple cake dusted with sugar and served on a plate.
    5 from 11 votes

    German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)

    German apple cake (versunkener apfelkuchen) is so incredibly delicious. A fancy looking cake that is so easy to make. Perfect for tea time or parties. This never fail authentic recipe is sure to impress! You can make this traditional cake in vegan, gluten free and healthier versions also (see note below).
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Total Time1 hr 10 mins
    Print
    Save for Later Saved!
    Course :Dessert
    Cuisine :German
    Servings: 10 Slices
    Calories: 297kcal
    Author: Roxana Begum

    Ingredients

    Cake Batter

    • ½ cup butter + ½ tablespoon
    • ½ cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or sugar
    • 1½ tablespoons grated lemon zest
    • 1 pinch salt
    • 3 eggs large
    • 1 ⅔ cups all purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 2 tablespoons milk whole or reduced fat

    Topping

    • 1½ pounds apples organic, juicy (I used Gala apples)
    • 2 tablespoons butter melted
    • 2 tablespoons apricot jam
    • 1 tablespoon water
    US Customary - Metric

    Equipment

    • Springform Pan
    • Rubber spatula
    • Hand Mixer
    • Stand Mixer
    • Peeler
    • Paring Knife
    • Sieve
    • Pastry Brush
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    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350º F.
    • Grease a 9-inch springform pan with butter and dust with some flour. Line the bottom of cake pan with parchment paper.
    • Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter at high speed. Then add sugar, vanilla sugar or extract, lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Continue to beat until the mixture is fluffy.
    • Add eggs, one at a time, continuing to beat the mixture until light and fluffy.
    • Combine all purpose flour and baking powder and sift into a bowl. Add half the flour, then 1 tablespoon milk, remaining flour and 1 tablespoon milk into the mixer, running it at low speed.
      Tip: Use just enough milk to give the batter a slow dropping consistency.
    • Transfer cake batter into the springform pan and level it off.
    • Rinse apples and wipe dry. Then peel, quarter and core them. Using a paring knife, make several parallel slits on the peeled side of apples.
      Tip: This step should be done carefully. Make sure the cuts are deep, but not all the way to the center core. Otherwise the slice may separate from the entire quarter.
    • Arrange apple quarters on cake batter, peeled side up, in a flower like pattern, starting from outside and working inwards. Do not press it down.
    • Brush melted butter over apples. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    • Strain apricot jam through a sieve and take it in a small sauce pan. Add 1 tablespoon of water, boil and reduce it to honey like consistency.
    • Release the springform pan ring. Brush apricot syrup over the hot cake and let it cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with whipped cream.

    Notes

    1. Choose small, sweet and juicy apples like gala or fuji.
    2. To make your own cake flour for this recipe, use 1½ cups all purpose flour plus 3 tablespoons corn starch.
    3. Whipped Cream: Sweeten ½ cup heavy cream with ½ tablespoon powdered sugar and flavor with vanilla or rose water. Then whisk it until stiff peak stage.
    4. Healthier Version: Use ¼ cup + 1½ tablespoons light olive oil and ¼ cup + 1½ tablespoons honey. And 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour + ⅔ cup cake flour. Use organic apples and don’t peel them (image below). Try to use grass fed butter. Bake the cake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
      • Nutrition Facts - Healthier Version
      • Calories 268, Total Fat 11 g (Saturated Fat 3 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat 7 g), Cholesterol 70 mg, Sodium 155 mg, Potassium 161 mg, Phosphorus 109 mg, Total Carbohydrate 38 g, Dietary Fiber 3.2 g, Sugars 18 g, Protein 5 g

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cake wedge | Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 484IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thedeliciouscrescent or tag #thedeliciouscrescent!
    Sliced apple quarters placed on the cake batter.

    This post was first published on March 28th 2016 and has been updated with improvements in recipe, formatting, tips and additional enhancements.

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    Comments

    1. Barbara Glasgow

      October 24, 2021 at 12:26 pm

      After trying many apple cake recipes finally an eureka moment….your adaption hit it out of the ball park. The whole family agreed it was a keeper.
      Only one suggestion I would peel apples and add small chunks of apple into the batter. Thank you for sharing with the world.

      Reply
      • Roxana Begum

        October 29, 2021 at 7:15 pm

        Thanks for the nice feedback. Love the idea of adding apple chunks to the batter. Certainly peeling apples is a personal preference, some don't mind it.

        Reply
    2. Barbara

      February 15, 2021 at 1:33 pm

      Looks like a great recipe! What size cake pan do you suggest? 8", 9", 10"?

      Reply
      • Roxana Begum

        February 20, 2021 at 1:41 pm

        It's in the recipe. 9 inch springform pan.

        Reply
    3. VeeVian

      November 14, 2020 at 6:50 pm

      Just made this today and I’m really happy with the result. Recipe is definitely a keeper!! Thank you so much for sharing with us!!

      Reply
      • Roxana Begum

        November 17, 2020 at 6:52 pm

        So happy you liked it :)

        Reply
    4. Julia

      May 28, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      My grandmother used to make similar but instead of apples she would use apricots. It’s delicious!

      Reply
      • Roxana Begum

        May 28, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        Yes thats very good too.

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Roxana, registered dietitian and recipe developer. Here I share wholesome & delicious recipes with room for cravings. Healthy makeovers. Step-by-step photos & videos.
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