Apfelkuchen – Authentic Traditional German Apple Cake Recipe
I am proud of this Apfelkuchen recipe. It brings me back to my time of spending the summer months as a girl in Bamberg, Germany, at my Oma and Opa’s apartment. I would have this cake all the time for breakfast and with a coffee in the late afternoon.
Meine Grosseltern held a traditional German household. We had brotchen with butter and jams, sliced deli meats and cheese, and boiled eggs for breakfast. The large meal was for lunch and a lighter meal for dinner. In between lunch and dinner, there was coffee and cake served. It seemed we always had apfelkuchen on the table, and I finally found the recipe that I remember so well.
Made with fresh apples baked into a dense butter dough and topped with sugar, it is the perfect dessert. It brought me right back to that small medieval Bavarian town in Germany. I love it and am so glad to make it for my family now.
Tips from other bakers.
I have added a running list of some of the collected comments that may make it helpful.
- Spread warm jam or marmalade on top instead of sugar.
- Sprinkle vanilla sugar on top.
- Substitute apple slices for drained canned peaches.
- Substitute apple slices for any sliceable fruit.
- Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon are unnecessary to add.
- Check your bake at the 40-minute mark to ensure not over baking.
- One stick of butter equals 1/2 cup or 4 oz.
Cost to make recipe.
I have calculated this recipe to cost roughly $2.59 for the entire cake, or $0.32 per serving size. I typically make this recipe in season, when my apples are ripe on the trees and free. So my homesteader cost is closer to $2.09 or $0.26 per serving size.
Comments from pins
- fits “8” or “9” springform pan
- all other recipes call for cinnamon, other spices, extracts & fruits as well as layers of batter. this cake is wonderful in it’s simplicity.
- The cake was perfect! I topped it with a bit of salted Carmel sauce and a dollop of whip cream.
- I have made several of these cakes. They are are so easy to make. My family and I just love them. We enjoyed this cake when we served two tours in Germany. It is wunderbar.
- Tasty, I used brown sugar on top instead
- Added 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and one vanilla bean scraped
Similar recipes to try
Recipe adapted
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Apfelkuchen
INGREDIENTS 1/2x1x2x
- ▢1 stick (4oz or 0.5 cup) butter, softened…[$1.00]
- ▢1 cup + 3 tbsp. white granulated sugar, …[$0.30]
- ▢2 large eggs, …[$0.46]
- ▢1 cup all purpose flour, …[$0.23]
- ▢1 tsp. baking powder, …[$0.04]
- ▢1-2 large apple, …[$0.50]
- ▢3 tbsp. powdered sugar, optional…[$0.06]
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 8 or 9-inch springform pan.
- Cream butter and 1 cup granulated white sugar together until a smooth texture is reached.
- While blending, add in eggs one at a time. Add flour and baking powder. Mix until smooth and uniform.
- Spread cake batter in greased pan. The batter will be sticky so be careful.
- Peel and slice apples and place on top of cake batter. Overlapping apples and pressing down into the cake just slightly. The cake batter will rise around the apples.
- Sprinkle the extra 3 tbsp. granulated sugar on top of the batter, but don’t mix in. This step is optional.
- Bake cake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove baked cake promptly from pan and let completely cool before cutting into it. Dust with powdered sugar on top and enjoy.
Apfelkuchen: German Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1 stick (4oz or 0.5 cup) butter, softened…[$1.00]
- 1 cup + 3 tbsp. white granulated sugar, …[$0.30]
- 2 large eggs, …[$0.46]
- 1 cup all purpose flour, …[$0.23]
- 1 tsp. baking powder, …[$0.04]
- 1-2 large apple, …[$0.50]
- 3 tbsp. powdered sugar, optional…[$0.06]
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 8 or 9-inch springform pan.
- Cream butter and 1 cup granulated white sugar together until a smooth texture is reached.
- While blending, add in eggs one at a time. Add flour and baking powder. Mix until smooth and uniform.
- Spread cake batter in greased pan. The batter will be sticky so be careful.
- Peel and slice apples and place on top of cake batter. Overlapping apples and pressing down into the cake just slightly. The cake batter will rise around the apples.
- Sprinkle the extra 3 tbsp. granulated sugar on top of the batter, but don’t mix in. This step is optional.
- Bake cake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove baked cake promptly from pan and let completely cool before cutting into it. Dust with powdered sugar on top and enjoy.
This cake was delicious. I spent two summers in Germany with my family and it brought me right back. It was just like the cakes we got from the bakery.
Thanks for the kind words. So glad you liked it. I miss Germany alot so eating something similar to the German bakeries is the next best thing.
Thank you for giving an imperial weight for a stick of butter. I find different weights confusing sometimes. Many thanks and good wishes.
I grew up in Bavaria the daughter of an American soldier and German Mother. This cake is just like Omas and Tante. Thank you for your memories Bamberg is a beautiful place!