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    Home » Desserts

    Sep 23, 2020 · Modified: Dec 28, 2022 by Melinda O'Malley Keckler · This post may contain affiliate links · this blog generates income via ads.

    No-Peel Apple Cake

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    No-Peel Apple Cake is VERY easy to make, there's no need to peel the apples and the aroma while it's baking is absolutely divine. This is a moist cake and it's delicious served warm from the oven. But I keep leftovers in the fridge and its equally good served cold. As an option, serve with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for some added wow factor. So yummy! 

    A wedge of apple cake with the baking dish and an apple in the background.
    The top layer on this cake is slightly crunchy when it's fresh from the oven, but those sweet apples bake beautifully and are tender as can be, even with the peels on.

    Ingredients to Have on Hand

    The ingredients for this cake are basic pantry staples, just buy or pick a few delicious, fresh baking apples and you are set. Otherwise, here's your grocery list:

    • 3 - 4 baking apples
    • sugar
    • brown sugar
    • vanilla extract
    • butter
    • 1 egg
    One half of an apple, skin side up and diced into small portions.
    Slice the apples first, then cut across the slices to create small, bite-sized pieces of apple.
    Diced apples in a glass measure cups.
    You'll want about 4 cups of diced apples, but it doesn't need to be a precise measurement.

    Apples for Baking

    I grew up in eastern Washington and believe me, apples are a big, big deal in the Great Northwest. But not every apple variety is created equal.

    For this recipe you'll want to choose an apple that will maintain it's shape after being diced, but that will also be tender and sweet with that distinctive and cozy fresh apple flavor.

    According to the Washington Apple Commission, there are a wide variety of apples that are delicious for baking and some varieties are better in pies. But since this recipe is for a baked cake, here are the types of apples I use and recommend:

    • Golden Delicious
    • Granny Smith
    • Honeycrisp
    Unbaked apples with cake batter in a pie dish.
    There's much more diced apple than cake batter in this recipe. Which makes this one of the most moist cakes ever!

    Baking Dish Options

    No-Peel Apple Cake bakes beautifully in any shape baking dish as long as it's large enough to hold about 5 cups of the apple cake batter and it's small enough for the batter to spread to about 2 inches in height across the dish.

    I prefer to use a 9" pie dish with fluted edges since it's the perfect size and it creates a beautiful presentation at serving time.

    A wedge of apple cake with the baking dish and and apples in the background.
    No skimping here. Serve this apple cake in generous sized wedges.

    What I Love Most About This Recipe

    It's so easy. This recipe is the best apple cake ever! It's an all in one apple cake that's a delicious way to enjoy a dessert that's scratch-made using fresh apples.

    The apple cake is incredibly moist and the sugars combine with the butter to create a top "crust" that is just slightly crunchy when it's hot out of the oven.

    This is my go-to apple dessert, especially when I'm short on time.

    A wedge of apple cake with the baking dish and an apple in the background.
    The top layer on this cake is slightly crunchy when it's fresh from the oven, but those sweet apples bake beautifully and are tender as can be, even with the peels on.

    Harvest Meal Idea

    This dessert recipe is wonderful any time of year, but especially during summer and fall when the apple harvest is underway. It's an easy apple cake recipe with just a few ingredients.

    Apple cake in a pie dish on a cooling rack.
    Golden brown and super moist, this cake is a winner every time.

    Optional Toppings

    This moist apple cakes doesn't require a topping to be delicious, but if you prefer to have an extra layer of sweetness there are some terrific options.

    I think you'll enjoy adding a teaspoon of warmed caramel sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on each serving.

    If you want to serve each slice warm, place each wedge of apple cake on a microwave safe plate and warm in the microwave for about 45 seconds on half power.

    Top Tips and FAQ

    Does the baked apple cake need to be refrigerated?

    This cake will be fine at room temperature for the first day after baking, but after that I recommend covering the cake with plastic wrap and storing it in the refrigerator.

    This is a very moist cake and it's full of fresh apples so it needs to be stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed within four days.

    Can I freeze my no-peel apple cake?

    Absolutely. After baking, cool the cake in it's baking dish then cover the dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap and place it in the freezer.

    Enjoy the cake within three months.

    Defrost on the counter and serve it once it reaches room temperature.

    A wedge of apple cake with the baking dish and an apple in the background.
    The top layer on this cake is slightly crunchy when it's fresh from the oven, but those sweet apples bake beautifully and are tender as can be, even with the peels on.

    Other Recipes to Try

    Speaking of harvest, here are other recipes that are perfect for using up all the produce from a robust garden or after a big shopping trip to the Farmer's Market.

    Do you have any extra cucumbers? I think you'll love my recipe for Refrigerator Pickles. How about all those extra fresh tomatoes? I highly recommend Tomato Basil Soup, it's delicious! But if it's chocolate cake you are craving then I highly recommend Old Fashioned Chocolate Pound Cake it's about as rich and decadent a chocolate cake that you'll find anywhere. Enjoy.

    Be sure to give a star rating to the recipes you make from the Crinkled Cookbook. I always love hearing from you. Sharing is great too! Use the buttons after the recipe to text it with just one click or send it to family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook. Enjoy.

    A wedge of apple cake with the baking dish and an apple in the background.

    No-Peel Apple Cake

    No-Peel Apple Cake is VERY easy to make, no need to peel the apples (yay!) and the aroma while it's baking is absolutely divine. It's delicious warm from the oven, but I keep leftovers in the fridge and its equally good served cold.
    4.91 from 215 votes
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 406kcal
    Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

    Equipment

    • 9" pie dish

    Ingredients 

    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 cup flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • 4 tablespoons butter melted
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 3-4 apples sliced. Leave the peels on. Use a baking variety of apple such as Golden Delicious, Honeyscrisp or Granny Smith. You'll need about 4 cups of sliced apples.

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°
    • Grease or spray a 9" pie plate with Pam, set aside.
    • Mix first eight ingredients (both sugars and all dry ingredients) together in a medium bowl. Melt butter and add vanilla and egg, stir to combine in a small bowl.
    • Slice apples into bite-sized pieces and add to dry ingredients, add wet ingredients and mix together until there's no sign of dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl. The dough will be stiff.
    • Spread into prepared pie plate and bake 40-45 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
    Did you make this recipe? Scroll up and leave a star rating.Tap @crinkledcookbook and follow me today.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 406kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 406mgPotassium: 185mgFiber: 3gSugar: 53gVitamin A: 386IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg

    Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database and are offered here only as a guideline for informational purposes.

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    1. Catherine says

      December 10, 2022 at 3:40 pm

      Love the No peel apple cake.
      A big hit at pot lucks.

      Reply
    2. Alesa says

      October 25, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and delicious! Though you could modify, no need to;
      sticking to your original recipe. Do you think you could sub applesauce for the butter, for less fat? And what about using all brown sugar? Very good, a keeper for this family!

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        October 26, 2022 at 6:00 pm

        I'm so happy your family enjoyed No-Peel Apple Cake, Alesa! I've never substituted the butter for applesauce, but I've heard of that working well in some baking recipes. Please keep me posted if you try it that way, or by making the cake with 1 cup of brown sugar. Thank you for the five star rating!!

        Reply
    3. Eve says

      October 18, 2022 at 7:55 am

      5 stars
      YUMMY

      Reply
    4. Catharina “Katie” Parry says

      October 14, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      Made this after seeing you on Wake Up Idaho. It is easy to make and delicious! I have subscribed to your newsletter and looking forward to trying many more recipes!Thank you so much for donating to Stampede for the Cure!

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        October 15, 2022 at 8:24 am

        Hi Katie, Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm honored to help raise funds and awareness for Stampede for the Cure. And I'm happy to hear you enjoyed No-Peel Apple Cake! Thanks for subscribing!!

        Reply
    5. Beth says

      September 09, 2022 at 12:31 pm

      5 stars
      I found this because I was looking for a cake recipe that didn't involve peeling the apples. (I could say it was for the health benefits of the skins, but really I was just feeling lazy.)

      I cooked it in a cast iron pan and put a decorative layer of apples slices on the bottom of the pan first, which was very pretty when the cake was turned out. But it won't be around to admire for long!

      Thanks for sharing the recipe. It's a winner!

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        September 14, 2022 at 12:51 pm

        Hi Beth! Glad to hear you enjoyed this apple cake recipe, with the peels on. Cool that you baked it in a cast iron pan too. Thanks for the five star rating!

        Reply
    6. Bethany says

      August 30, 2022 at 8:15 pm

      5 stars
      This reminds me of an apple dessert I ate in the Netherlands. So good!

      Reply
    7. Sherry says

      May 24, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      This cake was absolutely the best! I loved that. I didn't have to peel the apples and that's what I was searching for when I found this recipe. Do you think I could use rhubarb and just kind of change the amount of sugar or whatever? The reason I think I could is because it releases so much moisture as the apples did.

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        May 24, 2022 at 12:14 pm

        Hi Sherry, Thank you for the five star rating!! That's an intriguing idea, to replace apples with rhubarb. The sugar would likely need to be boosted by a few tablespoons since rhubarb is so tart and tangy. Keep me posted here in the comments if you make that substitution! 😉

        Reply
    8. Pam says

      December 27, 2021 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      I made it and my son loved it. It was gone within an hour. Great easy recipe.

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        December 27, 2021 at 9:47 am

        Hi Pam! I'm so happy to hear your son enjoyed no-peel apple cake. Thanks for the update!

        Reply
    9. Kate says

      October 23, 2021 at 3:28 pm

      Hi there -

      Think you could make ahead and freeze?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        October 23, 2021 at 3:45 pm

        Hi Kate, Thanks for your question! (Updated reply.) Yes. After baking, cool the cake and cover it tightly with foil then freeze. When you are ready to enjoy it, simply defrost the cake and serve once it reaches room temperature.

        Reply
    10. Marcia p Fitzpatrick says

      October 07, 2021 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      I found this while looking for Apple recipes. I hadn't thought of doing what you have done, so I tried it. It's really good. I made it gluten-free and dairy free. I used Bob's red mill gluten-free 1 to 1 baking flour, replaced the sugars with Stevie N the Raw for the white and coconut sugar for the brown. I didn't have any ice cream or whipped topping, so I just tried it without. Still good! It does need a sauce, though.

      Reply
    11. Shirley says

      September 04, 2021 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      My husband says it's the best dessert he's ever eaten.
      I did add ground cloves.

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        September 05, 2021 at 2:46 pm

        Wow! I love hearing that Shirley, what a lovely compliment. Thank you - and I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

        Reply
    12. Theresa Capri says

      August 29, 2021 at 8:49 pm

      4 stars
      I made this the first time using the whole amount of sugar and thought it was too sweet for my tastebuds. The second time I halved the sugar and it was just right for our family. I used gravenstein apples (measured 4 1/2 cups) off our tree and I did a modification the second time (today)..put about 1/2 tsp vanilla and 3-4 TBSP peanut butter and about 1/4 cup raisins with the wet ingredients. Thanks for sharing this! I will make it again!

      Reply
    13. Swissrose says

      August 21, 2021 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      Agree about the amount of apples being really great, and not peeling them made it that much easier without degrading the texture. I added sliced almonds on top before I baked it and it added crunch. It was a hit at the party I took it to.

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        August 24, 2021 at 7:01 am

        I'm happy to hear the apple cake was a hit at the party! 🙂

        Reply
      • Sharion says

        April 30, 2022 at 7:01 am

        I was just wondering if I could add nuts. Did you toast the almonds 1st? I want to add walnuts ☺️

        Reply
        • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

          May 01, 2022 at 10:48 am

          Hello! I've not used walnuts or almonds in this recipe, but if you do please keep me posted here in the comments.

          Reply
    14. Elizabeth says

      June 02, 2021 at 9:46 pm

      5 stars
      What a fabulous idea for a cake! It’s so easy to make and my whole family loved it! I’ll definitely be making it again. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    15. Addie says

      June 02, 2021 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      I love apple desserts year round! This was total comfort food and so delicious!!

      Reply
    16. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

      June 02, 2021 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      This looks Incredibly delicious. I have to make this soon for my family!

      Reply
    17. Melissa says

      June 01, 2021 at 7:19 pm

      5 stars
      I am much more likely to make this since the preparation is so much quicker. Thank you for creating this recipe!

      Reply
    18. Bri says

      June 01, 2021 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      This looks heavenly!! I love anything with apples. Yum!

      Reply
    19. Pamela says

      February 10, 2021 at 4:01 pm

      No more wasted apples at my house. Loved the recipe. Can't wait to bake it. You made my day!

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        February 11, 2021 at 9:47 pm

        I'm so happy to hear this Pamela! I love how easy this recipe is too. Another bonus! 🙂

        Reply
    20. Amanda says

      October 02, 2020 at 2:17 am

      5 stars
      My husband and I absolutely love this recipe! It was gone within 48 hours. Absolutely loved how much Apples there were compared to cake. Definitely a great fall dessert. Or anytime of the year as a matter or any time, as a matter of fact! I made it a second time to serve my parents - they immediately asked for the recipe! Can’t wait to make this throughout the rest of the season for all my friends, and myself of course!

      Reply
      • melindakkeckler says

        October 02, 2020 at 5:48 pm

        I'm so glad you loved this recipe Amanda! Thanks for sharing it with your parents too. There's just nothing better than a family favorite fall dessert. 🙂

        Reply

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