This post contains links to affiliate websites, such as Amazon, and other affiliates. We receive an affiliate commission for any qualifying purchases made by you using these links. This is at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support!
Apple Cinnamon Cake is one of my favorite cakes. It's easy to make, moist, and the apples are swirled with a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. If you are a fan of apples and cinnamon, this is the cake for you to try. It's a delicious apple dessert that you can enjoy any time of year!
It bakes in a 13 x 9-inch pan and is a good-sized cake. It keeps well in the refrigerator for several days. Enjoy this cake anytime you have apples on hand to use, have gone apple picking, or are just craving an apple cake. Looking for something to bake? Try any of our easy cake recipes!
Apple Cinnamon Cake
Yes, you can make this apple cinnamon cake from scratch (the apple cinnamon cake from scratch recipe is in the recipe card for that), but today's recipe is with a boxed mix; it's acake mix recipe. We enjoy a good baking hack when we are busy or just looking for a sweet treat without all the work. Do you? We hope you enjoy this cake box recipe idea.
What will this cake taste like?
It has all the flavors of a cinnamon roll but with the addition of apples. Scrumptious!
What you will need to make this apple cinnamon cake recipe
Note: I prefer a sweeter apple for this, such as Fuji or McIntosh apples. But you can use green apples too.
How To Make Apple Cinnamon Cake
Apple Cinnamon Cake With Cake Mix
All you have to do is prep the apples, make the cake box mix, make the brown sugar mixture for the apples, and assemble! When cooling, make the frosting or icing (or use store-bought). Then frost once cooled.
Directions
Yield: 12 servings.
Gather your ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees
Wash, peel, and chop 3 regular- to large-sized apples (I used red/yellow apples, but any apples will be fine)
Add your chopped apples to a bowl and mix with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Reserve until needed.
Mix your cake mix per the directions on the cake mix box
Add your chopped apples (reserve some for the top layer of the cake)
Pour the cake batter into the 9 x 13 inch baking dish
In a separate bowl, mix up the brown sugar, softened butter, flour, and cinnamon until it's creamy and combined (recipe for brown sugar crumble below)
Add your reserved chopped apples to the top of the cake (they may sink, but don't worry!)
Spoon and drop the brown sugar mixture onto your cake batter
Swirl the mixture into the cake with a knife
Bake the cake for about 35 minutes or until your cake is done (test the cake with a toothpick in the center to see if it is done; when it comes clean, it is done)
Let the cake cool completely before frosting
Frost and Serve!
Brown Sugar Crumble
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Mix in a bowl. Add to the cake mixture after step 9, Step 10 in the instructions.
How to Make a Buttercream Icing
Ingredients
1/2 cup of softened butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Frosting Directions
Start with these measurements, creaming the butter and sugar together with the vanilla. Adjust if needed until the mixture is creamy and easy to smooth onto your cooled cake. If you like a thick frosting, you might want to double the ingredients. Or try this recipe: (How to make Buttercream Frosting)
Apple Cinnamon Cake - It's easy to make, moist, swirled with a brown sugar-cinnamon mixture. A delicious apple dessert that you can enjoy any time of year!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Additional Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour5 minutes
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
3 large eggs, or the amount listed on the cake mix package
Vegetable oil, according to the cake mix package
Water, according to the cake mix package
3 large apples, peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Nonstick baking spray
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Buttercream Frosting
½ cup butter, softened
1–2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Apple Cinnamon Cake
Gather your ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees
Wash, peel and chop 3 regular to large size apples (I used red/yellow apples but, any apples will be fine)
Add your chopped apples to a bowl and mix with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Reserve until needed.
Mix your cake mix per the directions on the cake mix box
Add your chopped apples (reserve some for the top)
In a separate bowl mix up the brown sugar, softened butter, flour, and cinnamon until it's creamy and combined (brown sugar crumble recipe below)
Add last of the chopped apples to the top of the cake
Spoon and drop the softened mixture onto your cake batter
Swirl in the mixture into the cake with a knife
Bake the cake for about 35 minutes or until your cake is done (test cake with a toothpick in the center to see if it is done, when it comes clean it is done)
Let the cake cool completely completely before frosting
Frost your cake when cooled
Brown Sugar Crumble
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Mix together in a bowl. Add to cake mixture after step 9, Step 10 in the instructions.
Butter Cream Icing
1/2 cup of softened butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
Frosting Directions
Start with these measurements creaming the butter and sugar together with the vanilla. Adjust if needed until the mixture is creamy and easy to smooth onto your cooled cake. If you like a thick frosting you might want to double the ingredients. Or try this recipe - (How to make Butter Cream Frosting)
Do you remember our apple upside-down cake from a long time ago? Apple CakeApple cake topped with caramel.Elevate your yellow cake mix.Or use a yellow cake recipe which you can find in the post.This is an upside-down cake.
Are you looking for a pumpkin cake?ThisPumpkin Dump Cakeis an easy cake to make.Mix in one bowl, swirl spices into the batter while in the pan, bake, cool, frost, and then enjoy!Let them eat cake for Halloween, Thanksgiving, a party or fall gathering this is one sweet treat sure to please everyone!
Make thisPeach Dump Cake, it is so easy and a crowd-pleaser.Serve warm, top with ice cream or whip cream.Make it for dessert any time of year
Jelly Bean Cake(easy) How to make a jelly bean cake. And of course we have cakes from scratch with our cake recipes.
Pinata Cake– Make this cake for Cinco de Mayo and other celebrations.Alternate Uses, Gender Reveal Cake.There is step by step images with the instructions.Truly be a no-fail cake to make.Add this to your must-make list!
