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.