Swedish Apple Cake

Ingredients

For the Cake

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1⅔ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the Apples

• 4–5 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala), peeled, cored, and diced
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional Topping

• Powdered sugar for dusting
• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for serving

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Grease a 9-inch round springform pan or cake pan and lightly flour it.

2. Prepare the Apples

• In a bowl, toss the diced apples with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Set aside.

3. Make the Batter

• In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes).
• Beat in the eggs one at a time.
• Mix in the vanilla extract.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients

• In another bowl, whisk together:
  • Flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Cinnamon
• Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.

5. Assemble the Cake

• Spread about half of the batter into the prepared pan.
• Evenly layer the cinnamon apples over the batter.
• Spoon the remaining batter over the apples. It’s fine if some apples remain visible.

6. Bake

• Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil during the last 15 minutes.

7. Cool

• Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm or at room temperature with:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Fresh whipped cream
• Warm caramel sauce
• A dusting of powdered sugar

Tips

• Tart apples like Granny Smith balance the sweetness beautifully.
• Don’t overmix the batter to keep the cake soft and tender.
• For extra crunch, sprinkle ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans over the apples before baking.
• Add ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or cardamom for authentic Scandinavian flavor.

Storage

• Room Temperature: Store covered for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator: Keeps well for 5 days.
• Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Prep Time

• Prep: 20 minutes
• Bake: 50–60 minutes
• Total: About 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 10–12 slices

This moist, buttery Swedish Apple Cake is loaded with sweet cinnamon apples and has a tender crumb that makes it a timeless family favorite—perfect with a hot cup of coffee or tea.