• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Simple, Sweet Life

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Scandinavian Baking

    Published: Aug 24, 2022 · Modified: May 17, 2023 by Claire

    Eplekake (Norwegian Apple Cake)

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe· 5 from 2 reviews

    Eplekake is a delicious, one-bowl cinnamon apple cake that is the kind of thing fall dreams are made of! Impossibly moist cake, deliciously spiced apples and a crisp almond crunch - This Norwegian classic is sure to be a new favorite.

    up close of a slice of norwegian apple cake with a scoop of ice cream on top and a slice in the background.

    We're nearing fall in Norway's fjords and that always meant one thing: Apples. All of the apples.

    And, just to be clear, I'm not saying that's a bad thing. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's one of life's best kinds of problems.

    Like the year a co-worker gifted me 20lbs of apples and I made ALL the apple sauce.

    But today, we're celebrating fall in classic Norwegian style with this spiced cinnamon apple cake.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make eplekake
    • Expert tips
    • Storage
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More fall cakes
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    This is a relatively easy recipe to make that calls for just a handful of pantry staples.

    I've included a few pointers on a handful of ingredients below. You can find the full list of ingredients and their corresponding measurements in the recipe card.

    • Apples: The best apples for an eplekake are ones that are firm and will withstand baking. For this cake, I prefer Honeycrisp for the added sweetness.
    • Almonds: I like to coarsely chop slivered almonds for this cake, but sliced also works well.
    • Unsalted butter: Since we'll be adding our own salt to the batter, we don't need extra salt in the butter.
    • Baking powder: Because this batter contains little to no acids, we're using baking powder instead of baking soda.

    All cold ingredients should be brought to room temperature to ensure even distribution in the batter.

    How to make eplekake

    First, prepare the apples.

    Peel and slice the apples so they're no more than ¼" thick at their thickest. The number of apples you'll need will depend on how close together you plan to place them; For the pattern you see above, I used about 2 ½ apples.

    close up of cake batter on a spatula to show it's thick consistency.
    cake batter being spooned into a silver, round cake pan.

    Second, make the cake batter.

    In a bowl, beat the room-temperature butter until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium to cream (about 2-3 minutes).

    Why do we cream the butter and sugar, and how do we know when it’s ready? Creaming these two ingredients together allows the sugar to aerate the butter, which is important for an otherwise dense cake like eplekake. Properly creamed butter is light, fluffy, and doesn’t cling to the sides of the bowl.

    With your mixer on low, add the eggs one at a time, beating between each new addition until just combined. It's important that the eggs are at room temperature for this recipe so the butter doesn't cool and seize.

    Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low until combined.

    Note: Don't worry, there's no typo in the ingredient list - This cake is, in fact, traditionally made without milk. And I promise you won't miss it, either!

    Spoon the batter into a greased and parchment paper lined round 9" cake pan.

    slices of apple arranged on top o the cake batter to create an outwardly spiraling pattern.
    sliced apples topped with cinnamon, sugar and coarsely chopped almonds.

    Finally, finish assembling the cake and bake it.

    Arrange the apples on top of the cake in whatever pattern you'd like.

    In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Sprinkle over the cake and top with the coarsely chopped almonds.

    Bake at 350F for one hour to one hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

    Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing the cake from the pan.

    apple cake sliced with two slices still in the pan and one on a nearby blue plate.

    Expert tips

    • Softening refrigerated butter: If you didn't have time to bring your butter to room temperature, you can cut it into ½ tablespoon squares, place the squares on a plate and microwave it using 5-second increments until it’s softened.
    • Creaming the butter and sugar: To make sure the butter is properly creamed but not overworked, beat the butter and sugar on a medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
    • Bringing cold eggs to room temperature quickly: If you need to bring your eggs to room temperature quickly for this recipe, fill a bowl with hot water from your tap and place the eggs in it for about 5 minutes.
    • Square cake alternative: If you'd prefer to make this as a square cake, you can use an 8"x8" square pan and bake it for roughly the same amount of time.
    triangular slices of apple cake on blue plates with green foliage around it.

    Storage

    Eplekake can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator and is best when eaten within 2-3 days.

    Frequently asked questions

    What types of apples are best for apple cakes?

    The best apples for apple cakes are ones that are firm and will withstand baking. Sweetness can vary depending on the number of other sweeteners being added to the cake; Because this cake is on the less sweet side, I used a sweeter apple (Honeycrisp). Good apple options include Pink Lady and Braeburn.

    How long will apple cake keep?

    While best when eaten within 2-3 days, apple cake can often keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

    More fall cakes

    • sweet potato cake topped with figs, blackberries and grapes
      Sweet Potato Cake
    • overhead view of caramel apple cake on a cooling rack with plated slices of cake and a bowl of caramel around it.
      Caramel Apple Snack Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
    • slice being pulled from an pecan upside down cake with bits of caramel pulling between the slice and the rest of the cake with plates and a bowl of pecans in the background.
      Pecan Upside Down Cake
    • pumpkin baked alaska cake being sliced
      Easy Pumpkin Baked Alaska

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I regularly update these posts and feedback from wonderful readers like you help me make them better.

    Print

    Recipe

    Eplekake (Norwegian Apple Cake)

    apple cake sliced with two slices still in the pan and one on a nearby blue plate.
    Print Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    This delicious, one-bowl eplekake is the thing fall dreams are made of! Impossibly moist cake, deliciously spiced apples and a crisp almond crunch - This Norwegian classic is sure to be a new favorite.

    • Author: Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Yield: 12 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: Norwegian

    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    Cake:

    • ¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 3 eggs, at room temperature
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking powder

    Topping:

    • 2-3 large apples
    • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
    • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup almonds, coarsely chopped

    Instructions

    1. Peel and thinly slice apples.
    2. In a bowl, beat the butter until smooth.
    3. Cream the butter with the sugar.
    4. With the mixer on low, add the eggs one at a time, beating until just combined.
    5. Add the remaining ingredients, mixing on low until combined.
    6. Spoon the batter into a greased and parchment paper lined 9" round cake pan.
    7. Arrange apples on top of the batter.
    8. In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon and sugar.
    9. Sprinkle over the cake and top with almonds.
    10. Bake at 350F for one hour to one hour 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
    11. Allow to cool before removing the cake from the pan.

    Notes

    • Softening refrigerated butter: If you didn't have time to bring your butter to room temperature, you can cut it into ½ tablespoon squares, place the squares on a plate and microwave it using 5 second increments until it’s softened.
    • Creaming the butter and sugar: To make sure the butter is properly creamed but not overworked, beat the butter and sugar on a medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
    • Bringing cold eggs to room temperature quickly: If you need to bring your eggs to room temperature quickly for this recipe, fill a bowl with hot water from your tap and place the eggs in it for about 5 minutes.
    • Square cake alternative: If you'd prefer to make this as a square cake, you can use an 8"x8" square pan and bake it for roughly the same amount of time.
    • Storage: This cake can be kept in an air tight container in the refrigerator and is best when eaten within 2-3 days.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 slice
    • Calories: 285
    • Sugar: 22.8g
    • Sodium: 195mg
    • Fat: 14.2g
    • Saturated Fat: 7.8g
    • Carbohydrates: 37.6g
    • Fiber: 2.3g
    • Protein: 3.8g
    • Cholesterol: 71mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @thesimplesweetlifeblog on Instagram and hashtag it #thesimplesweetlife

    More Scandinavian Baking

    • Collage of four different Norwegian cookies with the words "The best Norwegian Christmas cookies" across the center.
      The Best Norwegian Christmas Cookies (Julekaker)
    • Kokosmakroner in a silver cake pan with frosted fake trees, paper stars and a wreath in the background.
      Kokosmakroner (Norwegian Coconut Macaroons)
    • Sirupsnipper christmas cookies in a white dish with cookies, candles, twine and greenery around it.
      Sirupsnipper (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)
    • Four serinakaker stacked against a small jug of milk with another cookie leaning on it's side to show its pearl sugar dappled top.
      Serinakaker (Norwegian Butter Cookies)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Sue says

      August 25, 2022 at 6:56 am

      I really need to try this!






      Reply
    2. Mary says

      November 06, 2022 at 6:01 am

      I just made this and it turned out beautifully! I did make a few changes, using a square pan and dicing the apples instead of arranging the sliced ones. It turned out great and is the perfect companion to a cup of coffee after dinner.






      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    woman with long brown hair, half up in a bun, sitting in front of an open refrigerator eating a cookie with a white and orange cat.

    I'm Claire, the baker, blogger, and general sprinkle enthusiast behind The Simple, Sweet Life. Whether you like simple sweets, comfort (baked) foods, or works of sugar art, you're sure to find something here to sweeten your day!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • How to Make Meringue: Everything You Need to Know
    • 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Cookie Decorating
    • overhead view of fluffernutter brownies on a cooling rack
      8 Ways to Upgrade Your Boxed Brownie Mix
    • cacti cookies on a plate with other cookies around it
      How to Make Royal Icing: The Ultimate Guide

    Spooky Treats

    • Slices of cinnamon roll brain covered in red dyed caramel sauce sliced and plated.
      Cinnamon Roll Brains
    • Eyeball decorated Halloween cookies on a black plate with other cookies, a vase of black flowers and a bubbling cauldron in the background.
      Easy Eyeball Cookies
    • black cat cupcakes arranged against a white backdrop next to a bowl of sprinkles, a pairing knife with a light wood handle and a bowl of cut up Oreo cookies.
      Black Cat Cupcakes
    • Overhead view of multiple frankenstein rice krispie treats on a white background.
      Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Quick Links

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Contact

    Recipes

    Scandinavian baking
    Cakes
    Cookies
    Pies and tarts
    Brownies and bars
    Breakfasts

    Follow

    Instagram
    Pinterest
    TikTok

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Purchases from these links helps support this blog so I can keep creating the free recipes you know and love. All affiliate links are clearly marked.

    Copyright © 2023 The Simple, Sweet Life