Best Ever Almond Apple Cake Recipe

This almond apple cake recipe is packed with fresh apples, crunchy almonds, and a hint of cinnamon. An easy fall dessert your whole family will love! 

As fall approaches, you might find yourself wondering, “What can I make with fresh apples?”

If you love apple desserts, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you—my mom’s Torta di Mele, an easy almond apple cake that’s hands down one of the best apple cakes ever!

Over the years, I’ve made a few tweaks to make this fresh apple cake a little healthier, and it’s still a family favorite. I love simple apple recipes, and this Italian apple cake—just like my apple muffins—can be prepared with only two bowls.

The most time-consuming step is preparing the apples. Depending on my mood, I’ll dice or thinly slice them for the topping. Both options create a beautiful, rustic finish.

But I’m getting ahead of myself!

Let me show you just how easy this delicious apple dessert is to make.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Step by step photos and instructions
• Tips
• FAQ
• Easy apple recipes we love
• Recipe origins
• Recipe

Ingredients

• Almonds: Chopped almonds provide a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, enhancing the cake’s texture and taste.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of caramel flavor in the nut topping.
• Cinnamon: This warm spice gives the cake a cozy, autumnal essence.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and a light texture when combined with the other ingredients.
• Baking Powder: A leavening agent that ensures a fluffy and soft crumb.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall flavor.
• Eggs: Contributes moisture and stability to the cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the batter and contributes to the cake’s overall texture.
• Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and keeps the cake tender.
• Applesauce: A healthier substitute for some of the fat. I usually use my crockpot applesauce. 
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm and aromatic touch.
• Apples: Fresh apples, both diced and sliced, provide natural sweetness and moisture. Feel free to experiment and use different varieties of apples.

Step by step photos and instructions

Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place an oven rack in the middle position. Line a 9 x 9-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting. Lightly grease the paper and the pan.

In a small bowl, mix together ½ cup almonds that need to be chopped, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside about 3 tablespoons of this mixture to sprinkle on top of the cake later.

• In a separate mixing bowl, sift together 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ⅛ teaspoon salt.
• In another bowl, whisk 2 large eggs until they are light and frothy. Gradually add ⅔ cup granulated sugar and continue whisking until the mixture slightly thickens. Add ⅓ cup vegetable oil, ¼ cup applesauce, and 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract. Whisk until combined.
• Combine 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced, with the nut topping mixture.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and combine them using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Be careful not to overmix.
• Gently fold the apple mixture into the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

• Arrange 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced, on top of the batter.
• Sprinkle with the reserved three tablespoons of nut mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before using the parchment paper overhang to lift it out. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. 

Tips

• Sifting the dry ingredients together will allow for better distribution of all the ingredients throughout the dry mixture.
• When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake.
• Ovens can vary, so start checking the cake for doneness a few minutes before the suggested baking time. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
• Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before lifting it out. This helps it set and makes it easier to handle.
• If you want to switch things up, try using walnuts or pecans instead of almonds for a different nutty flavor. They can also be omitted if there are nut allergies in your household.
• Serve this apple cake warm or at room temperature. Great at any time of the day.

FAQ

Easy apple recipes we love

Recipe origins

This simple, fresh apple cake has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My mom would make it a few times a month, especially for our big, traditional Italian Sunday lunches—the kind where 15 people gathered around the table for hours. 

In the fall, she would switch between this cake and another favorite, her Jewish Apple Cake, which she called la torta di mele ebrea.

Apples seem to be at the heart of so many cultures’ desserts—whether it’s apple streusel, Polish apple cake, apple pie, or even simple apple cookies. There are countless recipes that celebrate the humble apple, each one claiming to be the best. In fact, a quick search of “apple cake recipes” returns thousands of results!

But for me, the best apple cake is more than just a recipe—it’s tied to the memories of family and tradition.

Naturally, the taste is important. but what makes a recipe truly special is the love and memories baked into it. That’s why this almond apple cake will always be a family favorite.

I am hoping that it will become a family favorite in your home as well.

Happy baking!

★★★★★ If you have made this Easy Apple Cake Recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

This recipe was originally published on November 22, 2015, September 28, 2018, and republished on September 24, 2024, with improvements to the recipe, updated content, photos and a video.