This Spiced Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is definitely one German dessert that's absolutely perfect for the Autumn season. It's a moist, delicious spice cake accompanied with warm, cozy spices of cinnamon and nutmeg, and has a bountiful abundance of mini chunks of apples and crunchy pecans baked right in!
But let's not forget...There's an adequate, layer of enticing cream cheese frosting on top, which just makes it even more mouth-watering and do I dare-say addicting? Or should we just not go there?
I say we go there! Am I drawing you in?
For the record, this cream cheese frosting is really what makes this cake so amazing!
It has delicious, creamy tangy and buttery tones, which help bring out all those spices and flavors of the cake even more. We have the Dreamy Apple Cake Love!
Regardless, you can enjoy it with no frosting, but you're missing out!
For more intense flavor and crunchiness, you can toast the pecans or walnuts.
The simplest way to toast nuts is in a medium oven (325°F).
Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet with a rim and toast 5 - 10 minutes.
When they’re lightly browned and that comforting, smell of the nuts roasting in the air hits your schnoz, you'll know they are done and ready.
YUM! Let cool before adding to your cake. 
This apple cake is great for a fall picnic, snacking (which is what I do) tailgating or taking to a friend, neighbor or family just because. It's a favorite fall dessert for sure!
More Apple Desserts We Love!!
Easy Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Bars
Salted Caramel Chip Apple Blondies
Swedish Apple Pie (aka Apple Crack)
Caramel Apple Toffee Cake
Ultimate Soft Caramel Apple Drop Cookies
Apple Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
Awesome Country Apple Fritter Bread!
25 Apple-icious Desserts That'll Tempt You
Heavenly Baked Apple Dumplings
German Spiced Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
German Spiced Apple Cake
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ½ cup oil of choice I used olive oil, but you can use canola, avocado or vegetable oil
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour I used ½ whole wheat flour and ½ all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups tart apples peeled and very finely chopped or grated (I used Granny Smith)
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts toasted if preferred
FROSTING
- 1 package 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 teaspoons butter softened
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
German Spiced Apple Cake
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla extract until completely combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir to combine.
- Fold in apples and pecans or walnuts. Spread very thick batter into prepared pan.
- Bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Place cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat with electric mixer until smooth.
- Add vanilla extract, salt and confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Spread on top of cake. Add more pecans or walnuts if you want extra.
- Store leftovers in refrigerator or serve room temperature.
Notes
- If you don't want to frost, you can dust with powdered sugar to give it a nice look.
- For the applesauce, you can substitute another ½ cup oil - to make it a total 1 cup of oil minus the applesauce.
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home
ChocolaTess says
Aww thank you Catherine! That is so sweet of you! xoxo
Catherine says
This cake looks heavenly, Kim!! One of my favorite flavor combinations from childhood. And that cream cheese frosting has me sold! 😀
ChocolaTess says
Heather, I had the apple cake without the cream cheese frosting too, but now I wonder why? I don't remember my mom making cream cheese frosting ever!
ChocolaTess says
Awww thank you so much 2pots2cook! It really is the perfect combination!
ChocolaTess says
Thank you Kelly! It is sooo yummy! 😀
ChocolaTess says
Thank you so much Leanne!
ChocolaTess says
Thank you Teresa! I barely got any of it, thankfully I got what I did. LOL!:D
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
you don't even have to draw me in: i see apple cake and i'm there (: the apple cake of my childhood didn't have cream cheese frosting but dang, it really should have! sounds super decadent and tangy and fantastic with it :3
2pots2cook says
Perfect combination. I'm in ! Thank you so much !
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Mmmm. Looks so yummy! Loving the chunks of apples and the spices! I want a slice of this now 🙂
leanne | Crumb top baking says
This cake sounds so perfect for fall! Love the look of those apples in the cake. And the cream cheese frosting looks so good!
teresa says
Looks wonderful, Kim.
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
I love how moist this looks!! All of those spices too...apple cake is one of my favourites!!
ChocolaTess says
It definitely is comforting Deepika. Thank you so much! 🙂
ChocolaTess says
Thank you Ashika! I love this recipe because it's so versatile! You can make it healthier and change out so many ingredients to your liking. Thank you for pinning and I hope you enjoy it!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
It looks so moist Kim! And it's jam packed with those apples!! There's nothing as comforting as a perfectly spiced apple cake :). Even more perfect with that buttery cream cheese frosting!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
OH I absolutely love apple cake and this looks so amazingly delicious. And definitely adding the frosting...it really will add to the deliciousness. So pinning, saving and baking!!!!!?
ChocolaTess says
Aww thank you Kelsie! It's hard to stop eating it, I'll tell you that! 😀
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
Apple cake is my new favorite and this one looks TO DIE FOR! Just give me a fork and I'll eat the whole thing myself!