Try this easy apple loaf cake recipe with a delicious caramel drizzle on top! Enjoy a slice with a cup of tea on a cold and crisp Autumn day!
The tart Bramley apples pair well with the sweet caramel, and it's not just in the topping – it's in the batter too! Plus, the walnuts add a nice crunch.
This simple all-in-one moist apple loaf cake recipe uses a tin of caramel sauce for an extra hit of sweetness.
The cake itself is wonderfully moist, satisfyingly dense, and has a delightful stickiness - just what you'd expect from the perfect apple cake. It truly embodies the quintessential flavour and essence of Autumn!
👩🍳 Love Bramley apples? Try my easy Eve's pudding recipe too!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
Here's why this is the best Bramley apple loaf cake!
- This apple loaf cake recipe is as straightforward as it gets. It's a one-bowl affair which means less mess and minimal washing up.
- It uses seasonal Bramley apples, known for their tart flavour which balances perfectly with the sweetness of the cake.
- If you can resist not eating it all at once, this cake is freezer-friendly. Bake it now and have a delicious treat ready for later.
- This cake is perfect for any occasion, be it a cosy teatime treat, a dessert for family dinners, or a seasonal gift for friends.
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Apples - 2 Bramley apples or other tart cooking apples, peeled and chopped into small pieces. Swap with eating apples such as Granny Smith apples if you have a sweet tooth!
- Butter - softened salted butter is lovely with the caramel sauce, but use unsalted if that's all you have.
- Sugar - light brown sugar (or light muscovado sugar). You can use caster sugar too, but your batter wont be quite as dark.
- Eggs - 3 large eggs at room temperature.
- Flour - white plain flour is used in this cake recipe but wholewheat flour can also be used instead.
- Baking Powder - the raising agent for the loaf cake.
- Caramel - I use tinned caramel sauce (Carnation caramel also known as dulce de leche), but any caramel sauce can be used. Some of it is needed for the drizzle, but most is needed for the cake batter.
- Walnuts - adds a crunchy topping. Swap for pecan nuts or leave them out altogether.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Preheat the oven to 180c (160 fan/ Gas 4) and grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with non stick parchment paper.
Two: Place the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, and 200g of caramel sauce into a large mixing bowl and beat until all ingredients are combined. You can use an electric mixer too.
Three: Fold through the chopped apple and pour the cake batter into the loaf tin. Bake for 30 minutes then remove the cake from the oven and cover with foil. Return to the oven and bake for a further 20-25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
Four: Allow the cake to cool, then remove it from its tin onto a cooling rack and drizzle the top with 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce (thinned to a drizzling consistency with a drop of water). Sprinkle over the walnuts and serve.
💭 Expert tips
- Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start baking. This helps them blend together better, making your cake texture more consistent.
- Mix the cake ingredients together BEFORE peeling, chopping, and adding the apple to prevent the apple from turning brown.
- Make sure the baking powder is in date to ensure a good rise.
- Use a loaf cake liner to save time.
- To ensure the cake is baked through, insert a skewer or toothpick into the middle. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If not, bake for a few more minutes.
- Allow the cake to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This makes it easier to remove the cake without it falling apart.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the apple cake for Afternoon tea or a tasty after-school snack with a cup of tea or glass of milk.
But this apple loaf cake isn't just for the comforts of home. It's sturdy enough to venture outside, making it a wonderful addition to your Autumn picnic basket.
And let's not forget about dessert! Thick slices of this apple cake lend themselves to a more indulgent treat. Add a dollop of fresh cream or a spoonful of rich custard for a deliciously creamy contrast. Alternatively, why not push the boat out and serve it with honeycomb ice cream? The crunchy, caramel flavour of the honeycomb is a delicious match for the moist apple cake.
📖 Variations
- Incorporating a teaspoon of cinnamon or mixed spice into the batter lends a wonderfully warming flavour to the cake.
- Alternatively, a splash of vanilla extract can give the apple loaf a fragrant, comforting depth of flavour.
- For those who appreciate a bit of texture in their cake, adding roughly chopped walnuts into the batter and as a topping introduces a delightful crunch. The nutty flavour complements the sweet, fruity apple wonderfully.
- You can tailor the sweetness of your cake by opting for sweet eating apples such as Pink Lady or Gala. These varieties offer a sweeter, milder flavour, making your loaf cake a real sweet treat.
- If you'd like to experiment with texture and flavour, consider adding dried fruit like raisins or chopped apricots.
- For a unique twist, top your apple loaf cake with a crumble topping instead of caramel drizzle.
- And for those who appreciate a hint of tartness, incorporating orange or lemon zest can lend a citrussy zing to your apple loaf.
🥡 Storage
Store: Keep your apple loaf cake fresh and moist by storing it in an airtight container or a cake tin.
Freeze: The loaf cake can be frozen without the caramel glaze. Wrap the cooled cake in cling film (plastic wrap), then a layer of foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before adding the caramel drizzle and walnuts.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Avoid storing the cake in the fridge as it may dry out. Apple cake should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Here are a few ideas!
1. Apple Crumble
2. Baked Apples
3. Apple Muffins
4. Apple Pie Bars
5. Apple Flapjacks
6. Stewed Apples
7. Eve's Pudding
8. Apple Sauce
Absolutely! While Bramley apples are a popular choice due to their tartness which complements the sweet caramel, feel free to experiment with different apple varieties. For a sweeter loaf, consider using Pink Lady or Gala apples.
Not a fan of walnuts? No problem! You can use other nuts like pecans or almonds. Alternatively, a sprinkle of granola or seeds could provide that crunch you're looking for.
The most reliable way is to use the toothpick test. Insert a toothpick or skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, your apple loaf cake is done. If it comes out with wet batter, give it a few more minutes and test again. Remember, every oven is slightly different, so it's always better to start checking a little earlier than the suggested baking time.
😋 More easy loaf cake recipes
- Blackberry Loaf Cake
- Blackcurrant Loaf Cake
- Lemon Curd Loaf Cake
- Marzipan Loaf Cake
- Madeira Loaf Cake
- Golden Syrup Loaf Cake
🍏More apple recipes
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Recipe
Moist Apple Loaf Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the apple cake
- 175 g Salted Butter softened
- 200 g Caramel Sauce from a tin
- 50 g Light Brown Sugar
- 3 Eggs large
- 175 g Plain Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 Bramley Apples peeled and chopped into small pieces
For the caramel drizzle
- 2 tablespoon Caramel Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Water
- 3 tablespoon Chopped Walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°c (160 fan/ Gas 4/ 350F) and grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with non stick parchment paper.
- Place the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, and caramel sauce into a large mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until all of the ingredients are combined. You can use an electric mixer if you prefer.175 g Salted Butter, 200 g Caramel Sauce, 50 g Light Brown Sugar, 3 Eggs, 175 g Plain Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- Fold in the chopped apple and pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin.2 Bramley Apples
- Bake for 30 minutes then remove the cake from the oven and cover with foil. Return to the oven and bake for a further 20-25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool, then remove it from its tin onto a cooling rack and drizzle the top with 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce (thinned to a drizzling consistency with a drop of water). Sprinkle over the walnuts and serve.2 tablespoon Caramel Sauce, 1 teaspoon Water, 3 tablespoon Chopped Walnuts
Notes
- Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start baking. This helps them blend together better, making your cake texture more consistent.
- Mix the cake ingredients together BEFORE peeling, chopping, and adding the apple to prevent the apple from turning brown.
- Make sure the baking powder is in date to ensure a good rise.
- Use a loaf cake liner to save time.
- To ensure the cake is baked through, insert a skewer or toothpick into the middle. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If not, bake for a few more minutes.
- Allow the cake to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This makes it easier to remove the cake without it falling apart.
- Incorporating a teaspoon of cinnamon or mixed spice into the batter lends a wonderfully warming flavour to the cake.
- Alternatively, a splash of vanilla extract can give the apple loaf a fragrant, comforting depth of flavour.
- For those who appreciate a bit of texture in their cake, adding roughly chopped walnuts into the batter and as a topping introduces a delightful crunch. The nutty flavour complements the sweet, fruity apple wonderfully.
- You can tailor the sweetness of your cake by opting for sweet eating apples such as Pink Lady or Gala. These varieties offer a sweeter, milder flavour, making your loaf cake a real sweet treat.
- If you'd like to experiment with texture and flavour, consider adding dried fruit like raisins or chopped apricots.
- For a unique twist, top your apple loaf cake with a crumble topping instead of caramel drizzle.
- And for those who appreciate a hint of tartness, incorporating orange or lemon zest can lend a citrussy zing to your apple loaf.
Joy
Moist and easy apple cake recipe. A great use for Bramley apples.
Kathleen
Oh my deliciousness! Apples, caramel in a moist and fantastic bread. I'm in!
Sandhya S
Easy peasy Apple recipe to use up all the apples from my tree. I am going to enjoy this apple cake with a drizzle of custard.
Carrie Robinson
I could go for a slice of this right about now! 🙂 That caramel sauce looks amazing.
Beth
I can't wait to make this! Everyone else goes crazy for pumpkin spice this time of year, but for me, it's apples!
Tayler
We are going apple picking this weekend so I am definitely saving this recipe to make. It looks incredible and I can't wait to try it!