What is better than the warm scent of cinnamon and apples? How about pairing them together in an apple cinnamon cake. Creamy frosting and a dusting of cinnamon sugar will make this Snickerdoodle Apple Cake bring a smile to your face.
There is something about the smell of apples that says fall to me. During the fall months, I like to keep a bag of apples on hand at all times. My preferred way to eat "an apple a day" is in baked goods.
Apples provide extra moisture to cakes, cookies, and muffins. They also make your kitchen smell amazing as you are baking.
This apple cinnamon cake is a match made in heaven. The soft dense cake is loaded with apple pieces and is topped with the creamiest cinnamon frosting.
The best part about this snickerdoodle cake is that it starts with a cake mix. See how to make a cake mix taste homemade with three kinds of apple love.
Ingredients Needed
Making an apple cake from a cake mix is easy with just a few extra ingredients. Adding cinnamon in the batter and in the frosting also gives this snickerdoodle cake recipe a great taste.
- White Cake Mix - You can use your favorite brand for this box cake recipe. A yellow cake mix is also a good choice.
- Vanilla Pudding Mix - Make sure you buy an instant pudding mix. This gives the cake a rich pound cake like texture.
- Apple Juice - Use this in place of the liquid called for on the box mix to add more apple flavor.
- Applesauce - Used in place of the oil to give the cake a moist apple texture and taste.
- Eggs - Binds everything together.
- Spices - A mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg gives the cake mix a great flavor.
- Vanilla Frosting & Cinnamon Sugar - A delicious way to decorate the top of the baked apple cake and give it that snickerdoodle look and taste.
How to make a Snickerdoodle Apple Cake
This easy cinnamon apple cake comes together in minutes. The warm and cozy snickerdoodle flavor will have you snacking on it all day long.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Mix together the cake mix, pudding mix, juice, applesauce, eggs, and spices in a large bowl.
- Shred or finely dice two medium apples.
- Stir flour into the shredded apples before stirring the shredded apples into the cake batter.
- Spread the cake batter in prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Place the baked cake on a wire rack to cool.
Decorating an Apple Cinnamon Cake
This apple cake recipe tastes amazing without any extra toppings. But trust me and take it to another level with creamy vanilla frosting and a crunchy cinnamon sugar layer to add a delicious flavor to this fall cake.
Frosting: A homemade cinnamon vanilla buttercream adds so much flavor to this cake mix hack To make the apple cinnamon cake look fancier, use a piping bag and icing tip 1m to swirl the frosting in rosettes on top of the cake.
Cinnamon Sugar: A dusting of cinnamon sugar gives a pretty look to the frosting swirls, and it gives the snickerdoodle cake a delicious sweet flavor and crunch.
Apple Slices: Add fresh apple slices to the top of each cake slice right before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Shred the apples using a food processor. The smaller the pieces are will help them "melt" into the cake providing moisture and taste. You can also dice the apples very finely with a sharp knife.
- Measure the apples after shredding them.
- Stir a little bit of flour into the apple pieces. This will help absorb the extra liquid and will also keep them from sinking to the bottom of the cake batter.
- This apple cake is also delicious without the frosting. You can serve it with just a dusting of powdered sugar, if you prefer.
- Want to make a homemade cake? Use this Praline Cake recipe and add the snickerdoodle toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best apples to use in baking?
Gala, Fuji, Jonagold, and Honeycrisp are sweet options to use in an apple cake. Using a mix of apples also adds a great flavor. Granny smith apples hold their shape a little bit more and will give a more tart flavor to the apple cake.
Do you need to peel the apples?
No, you can leave the peels on the apples when you shred or dice them. The apples and peels will soften as the cake bakes.
How do you shred apples easily?
A food processor is the easiest way to shred the apple slices into small pieces.
More Easy Apple Recipes
- Caramel Apple Bundt Cake
- Apple Donuts
- Caramel Apple Cupcakes
- Apple Cheesecake
- Apple Pie Filling recipe
- Snickers Cake
- Apple Bread Pudding
- Apple Pie Cookies
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Recipe
Snickerdoodle Apple Cake Recipe
What is better than the warm scent of cinnamon and apples? How about pairing them together in an apple cinnamon cake. Creamy frosting and a dusting of cinnamon sugar will make this Snickerdoodle Apple Cake bring a smile to your face.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 vanilla cake mix
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
- ¾ cup apple cider or juice
- ⅓ cup applesauce
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ cups shredded apples
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
For the Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 6 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
For the Topping
- 2-3 Tablespoons cinnamon sugar
- sliced apples, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Mix together the cake mix, pudding mix, apple juice, applesauce, eggs, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat on low speed for 1 minute, and then 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Gently stir flour into the shredded apples, then stir them into the cake batter.
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake for 34-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Let cool.
- Beat the butter and vanilla until creamy. Add the salt and cinnamon and beat again.
- Slowly beat in the powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream until light and fluffy. Spread or pipe on the cooled cake.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of the cake. Add apple slices to the cake right before serving.
Notes
- Use a piping bag and large icing tip 1M to swirl the frosting on top of the cake.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 276Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 230mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Snickerdoodle Apple Cake was first published February 20, 2017. The photos and post were updated and republished September 25, 2020.
Betty
Can I add walnut to this cake? I know it will make it less of snickerdoodle by adding walnuts.
Jocelyn
Yes, you can add nuts if you like. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Holly
if i baked this in 2 8x8 round pans instead of 9x13 would i need to decrease the time any?
Blueskies
Have you wvwe tried to make this cake using Gluten Free flour or Gluten Free Care mix.
Jocelyn
I have not tried this recipe with a gluten free cake mix, so I'm not sure how it would bake up using these extra ingredients.
Patricia
Hi Jocelyn,
Great recipes and great site! I love the variety of apple recipes, especially at this great time of year. Keep up the good work.
Blessings,
Patricia
Pat
You call for the apples to be shredded. Are you just grating them? Did you measure them before or after shredding? Can't wait to make this, it looks wonderful.
Jocelyn
I use a food processor that shreds them, but a grater would work just as well. You want to measure them after grating/shredding. I hope you enjoy the cake!!!
Diane Simmons
What kind of apples are in Crunch Pak apple packages? I never know what kind of apples to use for baking. I appreciate the fact that you are plugging Crunch Pak apples, but what if I can't find them at the grocery store? There's a big difference in what kind of apple you use for baking, I'd just like to know.
Jocelyn
Most of their apple packs are Gala or Granny Smith. I hope that helps.
shelly (cookies and cups)
Well this looks absolutely fantastic!
Wendy
This cake is gorgeous, Jocelyn! Please share how you created the rose frosting! The cake is irresistible on its own, but the frosting is stunning!
Jennie @onesweetmess
I love that you turned one of my favorite cookies into a cake. It looks absolutely delicious!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Snickerdoodle Apple Cake?! What a perfect way to use those apples!
Amy
How yummy this cake looks. I will be trying th Is soon. I love snicker doodles so I know this is going to be great. It is something a different than the norm. Thank you for sharing.
cindy
there are getting to be so many sponsors on your website that I can't get to your story or recipe - please stop counting all your money and think about your subscribers for a minute - loyal reader about to unsubscribe !!!!!!!!!
Jocelyn
I am so sorry to hear that the ads are bothering you. I did go to my page on desktop and mobile to make sure the ads were working ok. All of them were easy to close out using the little "x" at the top of the boxes. Ads are one of the ways that I am able to continue providing free recipes on my blog. Yes, I do make some money from them, but it helps to support my family and pay bills. Hopefully you understand and will continue to read and try the recipes here.
cakespy
This is just such a happy cake. And since it has apple, totally fine for breakfast, k thanks!
Deb Timms
I'm confused. I see the list of ingredients but NO directions on how to make this cake. No guidance on what goes into the came and what goes into the frosting! HELP!!
Jocelyn
Ok, so I am trying to find the problem with the recipe card, but I can see the recipe card with ingredients and instructions when I go into the post. What device are you using to read my blog?
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
I am crazy for this cake! The frosting is beautiful and the cake looks so tender and perfect. I am a huge fan of Crunch Pak apples because I cannot bite into apples, so the fact that they are pre-sliced and even already portioned out make it that much easier for me to enjoy them!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
I LOVE how you paired snickerdoodles with apples! Such a brilliant combo since apples and spices = total food heaven!