There was a solid five-year stretch when all my daughter wanted to do on her birthday was go apple picking. We had somehow convinced her that frolicking in the apple orchard was more fun than renting the party room at the nearest bouncy house facility. Maybe it was the apple cider donuts, but I think it was also the promise of future apple desserts that made her agreeable.
I’ve made plenty of apple pies, apple crostadas (my favorite), apple bread, and apple crisps. But I have to confess, I don’t often make apple cake. Because of that, I was pretty pumped about testing five of the most popular apple cake recipes on Allrecipes. After making and trying them all, there was one clear winner—the only one truly worthy of just-plucked apples from the orchard.
The Apple Cake Recipes I Tested
If you’re looking for apple cake, we’ve got over five pages of versions you can try. For this taste test though, we selected what we deemed to be the top five on the site. In order to be chosen, each recipe had to have a rating of at least 4.6 stars and needed to have plenty of rave reviews. Here are the five I tested.
One recipe includes raisins in the batter and another is finished with a homemade cream cheese frosting. There’s a French version shared by one of our favorite chefs, and a German one packed with diced fresh apples. Finally, there’s a recipe that includes applesauce to amplify the flavor of the cake.
How I Judged the Apple Cake Recipes
To keep things as fair as possible, I used the same type of apple for each cake. I also followed the recipes exactly, without making any modifications. As for the taste testing, I knew I couldn’t complete the task all by myself, so I enlisted the help of some apple enthusiasts (including my apple-loving daughter) and had them provide their honest feedback. I encouraged them to focus on flavor, but also appearance and texture.
The Results
The Best Apple Cake for Breakfast
Sara Haas
- The recipe: Grandma’s Fresh Apple Cake, submitted by Steve Dale
- Average rating: 4.6
- Rave review: “I loved this cake. It is perfect as written. I think it is a cake my mother used to make…or very close to it. A family favorite. Thank you!” —MintCow3568
I was completely unsure about this cake as I was making it. The batter was thick and when I added the apples, nuts and raisins, I could barely stir it. But I powered through, poured the batter in my pan, and baked it. The result was a cake with a crunchy top and super-soft interior. It was hard to cut, and definitely ugly plated, but everyone loved it. They enjoyed the contrasting textures and the plentiful, tender apples.
There was something about the nuts and raisins that had us all thinking this would be a delicious breakfast option, a perfect pairing for a cup of coffee or tea. If you decide to make this one, I suggest using an eight-inch round cake pan. My first attempt at making it in a “small” bundt pan resulted in a crumbly cake that was impossible to remove.
The Coziest Apple Cake
Sara Haas
- The recipe: German Apple Cake, submitted by Barbara
- Average rating: 4.8
- Rave review: “Absolutely delicious! I made it as a last minute addition to Thanksgiving dinner and it was a huge hit! I honestly didn’t expect it to be as amazing as it was but I was really blown away! A definite keeper!” —CraftyBoard6061
This recipe was similar to Grandma’s Fresh Apple Cake. The batter was thick and stiff, while the baked cake had the same cracked, crumbled top and incredibly moist interior. It was hard to cut and serve, but everyone agreed the appearance didn’t matter because the flavor was so good. The cake received major bonus points for the caramelized crumbly top that added a delightful texture but also contributed a cozy flavor. We agreed it’s the perfect dessert for fall.
The Best Apple Cake for Snacking
Sara Haas
- The recipe: Apple Cake, submitted by Judy Richardson
- Average rating: 4.8
- Rave review: “This is the best cake ever. I make it once a week for friends, and myself.” —Facio Burdios
Unlike the first two recipes, this batter wasn’t thick or stiff. It felt more like traditional cake batter and was easy to mix and stir. The resulting cake was less dense too. It was lighter and fluffier and much easier to cut and plate. My testers liked the texture and the flavor. The apples inside were firm and identifiable and the cake was soft (but not as sweet as the others). This, they claimed, made it feel more like a cake meant for snacking rather than enjoying as a dessert.
The Best Apple Cake for a Celebration
Sara Haas
- The recipe: Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, submitted by Michele Starkel
- Average rating: 4.8
- Rave review: “My goodness! This may be the best tasting cake I’ve ever had. I have made it twice and my husband has made it several times. It always tastes fabulous. I love it that it’s moist too. I highly recommend this recipe.” —stcyrbl53
Making this cake was a breeze, and it baked up beautifully. After it was completely cooled, I covered it with the accompanying recipe for cream cheese frosting and served it to my friends. “So delicious,” they exclaimed! The cake was moist, and the apples were perfectly distributed throughout. They especially loved the frosting, which made the cake “ultra-sweet,” but in a delightfully decadent way. The frosting also made the cake feel more festive than the others—we agreed it would be perfect for a holiday gathering or party.
The Best Overall Apple Cake
Sara Haas
- The recipe: French Apple Cake, submitted by John Mitzewich
- Average rating: 4.9
- Rave review: “Thank you, Chef John, for a great, simple recipe, and in-depth instructions — which I need. I followed the recipe to a T and my cake came out delicious.” — PurpleRind2432
If you’re after a fancier, less dense, very delicious apple cake, then Chef John’s French Apple Cake is the one you should make. It’s fluffy, buttery, and elegant. My tasters loved the little touch of rum and the melt-in-your-mouth buttery crumb of this cake. The diced apples were perfectly soft and gave the cake the best balance of flavor and moisture. It’s a sophisticated cake that’s perfect for fall, but also a tasty way to finish a meal year-round.
