Apple Skillet Cake

Top the batter for a buttery vanilla cake with fresh apple slices tossed with boiled cider and Apple Pie Spice, bake — and enjoy a slice of pure pleasure! This easy, buttery cake marbled with sweet-and-spicy apple slices is the quintessential autumn dessert.

Prep
20 mins
Bake
50 mins to 1 hr
Total
1 hr 40 mins
Yield
10" cake
Apple Skillet Cake

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 1/2" to 10" (2" deep) cast iron skillet; or a 9" square cake pan.

  2. Combine the peeled, sliced apples with the brown sugar, boiled cider, spices, and salt. Set aside.

  3. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

  4. Mix the warm milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Add to the flour mixture, stirring to combine. Pour into the prepared skillet.

  5. Spoon the apple mixture onto the batter. For the best appearance, make sure the apples are distributed a little more heavily towards the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with coarse sparkling sugar, if desired.

  6. Bake the cake for about 50 to 60 minutes, till it's light brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

  7. Remove from the oven, and cool for about 5 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake from the pan, and cool for another 20 minutes or so.

  8. If you haven't sprinkled with coarse sparkling sugar, dust with confectioners' or glazing sugar, and serve with whipped or iced cream, right from the pan.

Tips from our Bakers

  • While we like the freeform apple distribution in this cake as described above, we understand if you want to match the picture at the top of this page. To do so, mix the apples with the sugar and spices as directed, but don't spoon them onto the batter in the pan. Instead, line up 4-6 slices and place them vertically into the batter. Repeat, spacing them at intervals, until you've used all the apples. Bake as directed.