Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake
This Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake is a dense, old-fashioned Bundt cake chock full of apple slices and perfectly flavored with vanilla and cinnamon.
It’s also known as a Jewish Apple Cake because there is no dairy in the cake batter. Whatever you call this dessert, it’s utterly delicious!

Why You Must Make
When friends need comfort, I offer food. A dear friend lost her father, and her grown children were returning home for the services. This is one of the best apple cake recipes around!
- This is a variation on an apple cake I’ve been making for decades, a simple batter with chopped apples and the option of adding toasted pecans if that’s your jam.
- Bundt cakes are super easy to make, plus they feed a crowd.
- Apples are always in season, so you can make this any time of year with delicious baking apples.
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Flour, Salt, Sugar, Ground Cinnamon
- Baking Powder (affiliate links in blue) – Note that this is not the same as baking soda, and has a much shorter shelf life. If your tin has been around for a year, you may want to replace it before making this batter. To test, you can put a spoonful into a cup of hot water. It will bubble vigorously if it’s fresh.
- Eggs – Unless otherwise noted, my recipes use large eggs. They should be at room temperature for easier incorporation.
- Vegetable Oil – I keep canola oil on hand.
- Vanilla Extract – Never use artificially flavored vanilla. I like the Nielsen-Massey brand of vanilla.
- Apples – Use good baking apples, peel, core, quarter, then slice. Some varieties are listed in the frequently asked questions below.

Expert Tips
- Use your favorite baking apples. In the fall, Honeycrisp are very reliable and what I used when I updated these photos.
- My mom’s recipe used chopped apples, but I like the thinner slices because they ensure the apples are baked thoroughly.
- PRO-Tip: This recipe calls for Baking Powder (affiliate link), not baking soda. They are not interchangeable. Plus, baking powder has a much shorter shelf life, and if it’s not active, your cake won’t rise properly. PRO-Tip: You can test your baking powder by putting a spoonful in a cup of hot water. If it bubbles vigorously, it’s still fresh. If it doesn’t, replace your tin before making these cookies.
- PRO-Tip: To prevent sticking, look for Baker’s Joy, a baking spray with oil and flour, or some equivalent in the baking aisle of your grocery store. If you don’t have that specific item in your kitchen, grease the pan well with shortening, then dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
- With so many apple pieces, a few are certain to caramelize and stick a bit. Selecting a Tube Pan (affiliate link) with fewer nooks and crannies is a more reliable option than a traditional Bundt pan.
- PRO-Tip: Cool the cake for 10 to 15 minutes maximum before inverting it onto a cooling rack. Any longer and the cake may stick.
- PRO-Tip: Decrease the oven temperature by 25ºF if using a non-stick pan with a dark surface to prevent over-browning. The cake will need to be baked longer at a lower oven temperature.
Please try this yummy Jewish Apple Cake Recipe while apples are in season, whether to give away or for your pleasure, it’s a winner.

Frequently Asked Questions
My favorite apples for cakes are Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Braeburn, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith. I used Honeycrisp for this Recipe.
Keep your apple cake at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic wrap, for only a day or so. Because of the extra moisture given off by the fruit, move it to the refrigerator after 2 days, and it should stay fresh for a few more days.
Yes, if it’s wrapped well, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap in plastic, then in foil. Defrost in the refrigerator, and bring to room temperature before serving.
You might wonder what makes this a Jewish apple cake. It’s because there is no butter or dairy in the cake. Vegetable oil is used instead of butter, making the cake dairy-free or pareve. Therefore, it can be eaten after a Shabbat or holiday meal according to Jewish laws/tradition.
You May Also Like:
- Apple Crumble from Diethood
- French Apple Cake
- Easy Apple Crisp
- Rose Apple Tart
- Caramel Apple Pie
- Cinnamon Apple Squares
- Plus, check out all my best Cake Recipes.
Apple Bundt Cake
Vanilla Bundt cake with apples and cinnamon.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 ¼ cups vegetable oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Apples:
- 3 cups peeled, cored, quartered, then sliced apples
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° or 325° if using a dark pan. Spray Bundt or tube pan with Baker's Joy or similar flour/oil spray or butter pan and dust with flour. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla.
- Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Pour half the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, then prepare the apples.
- Mix together the apple slices with the cinnamon and sugar. Place half the apples along with some of the juice over the batter.
- Scrape the rest of the batter over the apples, smooth the top, and evenly arrange the rest of the apples and some of the juices over the batter.
- Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1½ hours or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 20 minutes then remove from pan to rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Original recipe source unknown.
My mom added 1 cup chopped, toasted pecans, but I leave them out when baking for my family.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 493Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 323mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 2gSugar: 41gProtein: 5g

55 Comments on “Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake”
I would so totally eat this for breakfast! Love your new bundt design!
Great recipe. I can never get my bundt cake to be so “swirly”. This is awesome.
I am in love with your bundt pan. It creates such sharp edges. I can imagine you would have to butter it well.
This cake looks delicious! And I love your bunt pan!
You’ve got a swirly pan! I love your apple cake and I would like to have someone surprise me with one. 🙂
I love your blog and just wondering what is the size of your bundt pan. I believe from the ingredients amount that it is a 12 cup. Keep up the good work.
Hi, Barbara,
This Bundt pan holds just 10 cups. Here’s a link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Platinum-Collection-Heritage/dp/B0021CEREA/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1387246916&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Platinum-Collection-Heritage/dp/B0021CEREA/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1387246916&sr=1-2)
Hope you try this recipe…it’s really good!
This is my favorite pan also and your cake is gorgeous in it. You are so thoughtful Liz!
Glorious cake, Liz… and such a beautiful gesture to help out grieving friends. Happy baking love.
What kind of Cream? Coffee cream?
Heavy cream or whipping cream…either works fine.
So sorry to hear about your friend! You are such a sweet and good friend, Liz! I have a weakness for apple bundt cakes, so this one really appeals to me! And, gorgeous budnt pan, too!
…a sad story. You are an Angel, Liz! The bundt looks amazing. I miss pecans…:) ela
Such a lovely cake Liz! So thoughtful of you…
So sorry to hear about your friend’s loss.
You are really sweet to bake for them. Yes, the best way to show you care is through food, nothing beats that.
This looks so great! I always forget to use apples in the winter!
🙂
GORGEOUS cake!! That looks so good!
lovely cake! surely a welcome comfort for the grieving family. very thoughtful of you!
Food is the ultimate comfort, even at hardest times, I offer that too whenever friends are in need. This bundt cake is simply fabulous!
Liz,
I’m so sorry for your friend!!! But I am glad she and her family enjoyed the cake. . it’s beautiful. . and great minds think alike. . I made apple cinnamon spice bread! 🙂
You cake is beautiful. What a fun pan! For me food is the best way to show you care. Very thoughtful of you to share some comfort with this cake.
The cake turned out great and that pan is always impressive! I’ve been using Baker’s Joy for over a year now and agree it works really well:@)