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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Jewish Recipes / Jewish Apple Cake

    Jewish Apple Cake

    BY: Courtney PUBLISHED: Jan 21, 2012 33 Comments UPDATED ON: Oct 30, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
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    JUMP TO RECIPE
    2 slices of Jewish apple cake on a white plate with maroon napkin underneath the plate and then a banner saying jewish apple cake recipe between with another photo below of the whole cake.
    2 slices of Jewish apple cake on a white plate with maroon napkin underneath the plate with text on image saying jewish apple cake recipe.

    This Jewish Apple Cake recipe is balanced with sweet and sour using Granny Smith apples and cinnamon spice. Serve with honey cake on Rosh Hashanah, or enjoy with a scoop of ice cream.

    jewish apple cake

    If you’ve never had Jewish Apple Cake, you’re in for a treat. This is like an apple cinnamon cake, studded with bits of apples in every bite.

    Going apple picking? Pick some extra Granny Smith apples for this delicious cake. Don’t like Granny Smith Apples? Check out all the types of apples to see which tart apple you’d prefer.

    Jewish apple cake on a white cake stand.

    Jewish Apple Cake ingredients:

    • All-Purpose Flour – No need for cake flour or anything fancy.
    • Salt – We use salt to balance the sweetness.
    • Baking Powder – This is to help the cake rise.
    • Granulated Sugar – We use this to sweeten the cake and the cinnamon sugar spread.
    • Vegetable Oil – We also use avocado oil without issue.
    • Eggs – Make sure your eggs are at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior.
    • Orange Juice – You can use fresh squeezed or storebought.
    • Vanilla Extract – Use a good quality vanilla extract.
    • Granny Smith Apples – Tart Granny Smith Apples are perfect for baking. They have good flavor and hold up well.
    • Ground Cinnamon – Using cinnamon mixed in the batter and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar gives the cake a delicious flavor and tastes like fall!

    How to make Jewish Apple Cake

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a bundt pan.

    buttered bundt pan.

    Prepare the apples by peeling, coring, and slicing them.

    peeled apples on a a cutting board.
    peeled, cored, and sliced apples on a cutting board.


    Pour half of the batter into the tube pan, half of the apples, and some of the cinnamon mixture.  Repeat with the batter, apples, and cinnamon.  I swirled them around to distribute the apples more. The batter will be slightly thick.

    Jewish Apple Cake batter in mixing bowl.
    Jewish Apple Cake batter in a bundt pan.

    Place into the oven for 70-90 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with minimal crumbs. 

    jewish apple cake recipe

    Recipe tips and variations

    • We prefer the sour and sweet combination that is iconic of a Jewish Apple Cake. That being said, you can still use your favorite apples.
    • Want even more orange flavor? Use a bit of orange zest.
    • You can make this cake in a bundt pan, not just a tube pan.
    • Want to make cupcakes? Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    • You can also make Jewish Apple Cake loaves. We use 3 loaf pans for this recipe.
    • The batter will be thick, don’t worry! Our cake is lovely and holds up well like pound cake. It can be handled easily without falling apart.
    Jewish apple cake bundt shape cake on a white cake stand.

    How to serve

    This is best served as a dessert. I love serving with a generous scoop of dairy-free ice cream.

    Storage and reheating tips

    • Refrigerate: We like to store leftover apple cake in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • Freeze: You can freeze apple cake in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze apple cake, you’ll want to protect it from freezer burn by wrapping the pieces in plastic wrap and then placing the slices into a freezer-safe container.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is Jewish Apple Cake?

    It’s a dense cake made with fresh apples. It’s something we grew up eating for most Jewish holidays. It originated in Poland, but it’s now very popular in NJ and Pennsylvania.

    Why is it called Jewish Apple Cake?

    The reason behind it being Jewish Apple Cake is due to it being safe to eat. It is forbidden for those who follow Jewish dietary laws to combine meat and dairy. For this, we use oil and dairy-free butter. We also love to top it with dairy-free ice cream. You do not need to be Jewish to enjoy this cake!

    more Jewish recipes

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    Jewish Chicken Fricassee with Meatballs

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    Mandel Bread Recipe – Just like grandma’s

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    jewish apple cake

    Jewish Apple Cake

    This Jewish Apple Cake recipe is balanced with sweet and sour using Granny Smith apples and cinnamon spice. Serve with honey cake on Rosh Hashanah, or enjoy with a scoop of ice cream.
    5 from 2 votes

    click the stars to rate this recipe

    Print Pin Recipe
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Jewish
    Keyword: jewish apple cake, pineapple cake
    Servings: 14 servings
    Author: Courtney

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 1/2 teaspoons Salt
    • 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
    • 2 cups Granulated Sugar
    • 1 cup Vegetable Oil
    • 4 Eggs
    • 1/3 cup Orange Juice
    • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
    • 5 Granny Smith Apples peeled, cored, and sliced
    • 1 tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
    • 5 teaspoons Granulated Sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Grease a bundt pan and sprinkle with some flour to coat.
    • In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 5 teaspoons sugar. Toss the apples with the cinnamon sugar mixture and set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, 2 cups of sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, orange juice, vanilla, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.  Mix well.
    • Pour half of the batter into the tube pan or a bundt pan, and then half of the apple cinnamon mixture. Repeat with the batter and apples. You can also add an extra sprinkle of cinnamon sugar to the top if you desire.
    • Place into the oven for 70-90 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with minimal crumbs.

    The nutritional information is automatically calculated and can vary based ingredients and products used. If the nutrition numbers are important for you we recommend calculating them yourself.

    nutrition disclaimer
    Tried this recipe?Mention @courtneyssweets or tag #courtneyssweets!

    So nice to have you here! Did you try this recipe? ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Be sure to leave a recipe rating! Also, tag us @courtneyssweets #courtneyssweets on Instagram so we can share it!

    More Jewish Recipes

    • Hanukkah Gelt
    • Matzo Brei
    • Honey Cake (Rosh Hashanah)
    • Instant Pot Brisket

    POSTED IN: Dairy Free Recipes Desserts Jewish Recipes Recipes

    About Courtney

    Family, Food, and Photography are Courtney's passions and you'll see all of that on this blog. She is happily married to her husband Chris and together they have two amazing kiddos!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anne - Mommy Has to Work

      January 21, 2012 at 1:45 pm

      That looks great! I craved salty stuff with my son!

      Reply
    2. Maris (in Good Taste)

      January 21, 2012 at 2:08 pm

      Now I am craving this cake!

      Reply
    3. nicóle

      January 21, 2012 at 3:44 pm

      I’ve never had an apple cake before. That looks yummy.

      Reply
    4. [email protected]

      January 21, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      Yummy!

      Reply
    5. Canadian Mom Blogger

      January 21, 2012 at 6:20 pm

      That looks so good!

      Reply
    6. HilLesha

      January 21, 2012 at 6:42 pm

      Oh my!

      Reply
    7. Double Duty Mommy

      January 21, 2012 at 3:41 pm

      this sounds and looks amazing!!

      Reply
    8. Melissa

      January 21, 2012 at 9:28 pm

      That looks yummy

      Reply
      • Lisa from Jersey

        August 25, 2022 at 6:01 am

        I have made this cake many times now! Great recipe! The only change I made was to add slightly less sugar to the batter and on one occasion I added a 1/2 tsp of ginger. Sometimes I add chopped walnuts to the center apple layer. This yummy cake is a Crowd pleaser every time! Great with coffee or tea. Delicious!!!

    9. Donna

      January 21, 2012 at 7:02 pm

      I have got to try this for my hubby!

      Reply
    10. Pixie Deals

      January 22, 2012 at 10:17 pm

      That looks freakin delicious. I swear I gain 20lbs every time I come here 🙂 I love it

      Reply
    11. Laurie

      January 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm

      Ohhh this looks yummy, when I was pregnant with my twins I craved bacon and watermelon. Now one hates watermelon and one loves it, the other loves bacon and the other one will eat it but doesnt particularly care for it LOL.

      Reply
    12. Simply Being Mommy

      January 23, 2012 at 4:39 pm

      This looks absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe so that I can try it.

      Reply
    13. April Decheine

      January 23, 2012 at 5:48 pm

      That looks so good, I never wanted sweets when I was pregnant but sour things like lemons and sprees!

      Reply
    14. Marcie W.

      January 23, 2012 at 8:25 pm

      I’m part Jewish and never got this enough, I believe it’s what we call Bobka(sp?)and it’s my mother’s favorite!

      Reply
    15. Wisconsin Mommy

      January 25, 2012 at 2:09 am

      That looks amazing – may have to put it on the list for this weekend’s breakfast!

      Reply
    16. Tammy

      January 25, 2012 at 12:12 pm

      It looks yummy and easy to make.

      Reply
    17. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell

      January 25, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      That looks really wonderful! Your grapefruit craving reminded me that I craved oranges with one of my pregnancies! I couldn’t get enough!

      Reply
    18. Karen

      January 25, 2012 at 1:09 pm

      This looks delicious!

      Reply
    19. Kenda

      January 25, 2012 at 8:18 pm

      This looks amazing….especially since I’m dieting. But I’ll make it for the boys!

      Reply
    20. Cat Davis

      January 26, 2012 at 1:38 am

      That looks pretty darn good. I bet it would be great crumbled up like a bread pudding with a sauce.

      Reply
    21. That Bald Chick

      January 26, 2012 at 4:38 am

      I have GOT to try this!

      Reply
    22. Faith and Family Reviews

      January 26, 2012 at 5:05 am

      Oh yum!

      Reply
    23. Toni Patton

      January 26, 2012 at 7:05 pm

      MMM that sounds and looks yummy!

      Reply
    24. Zippy

      January 28, 2012 at 3:55 am

      I’m making this to bring to brunch at my brother’s house next week. Thanks for the recipe, it’s perfect for our get together.

      Reply
    25. ♥ Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins ♥

      May 08, 2012 at 12:17 am

      Yummy!

      Reply
    26. Jennifer Quirky Momma

      November 06, 2012 at 6:23 am

      This looks fabulous! My son would love this!

      Reply
    27. FireRunner2379

      December 04, 2012 at 1:43 pm

      My mom makes an apple cake similar to this and really like it. I am a big fan of apple pie, I like it with pecans and cranberries. Yours looks really good, thanks for all the photos, its helpful!

      Reply
    28. Robin {Mom Foodie}

      January 15, 2013 at 2:24 am

      Oooo… this looks YUMMY!

      Reply
    29. Lisa

      March 04, 2013 at 10:47 pm

      That looks really good!

      Reply
    30. Rachel

      June 10, 2013 at 12:20 am

      What makes this Jewish? Nevermind…who cares?…It looks yummy! I love apple cake and this one looks like a great one!

      Reply
    31. Nena Sinclair

      November 22, 2013 at 7:22 am

      This cake looks so delicious! I Pinned it to my Recipes board and I will definitely make it very soon! I love desserts with apples!

      Reply
    32. Lisa Hepburn

      April 19, 2014 at 6:04 am

      I made this cake and it was delish!! Very easy to make–no blender needed! However, my fan forced oven burnt the carmelisation on the last layer. To fix that, I’ll bake it @ 20 C lower temp for a about 70-80 mins or so next time. Thanks for this recipe! Everyone loved it and I’ll be making this again and again! Yum! Lisa

      Reply

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