Apple-Cinnamon Bundt Cake

Rating: 3.31 stars
678 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 115
  • 4 star values: 169
  • 3 star values: 240
  • 2 star values: 120
  • 1 star values: 34

This classic, moist Bundt cake will fill your home with the scent of comfort food.

Everyday Food, March 2004

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Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

prep:
20 mins
total:
2 hrs
Servings:
10
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

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  • In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and eggs. Whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in dry ingredients just until combined (do not overmix). Using a rubber spatula, fold in apples. Spoon batter into a 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan, and smooth top. Bake until a tester inserted in cake comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes; invert onto rack to cool completely.

  • Make the glaze: Whisk together confectioners' sugar and enough water to form a thick yet pourable glaze. Set rack with cake over a piece of wax paper (for easy cleanup); drizzle cake with glaze, and let set before serving.

Cook's Notes

Granny Smith apples hold their shape well during baking and provide a sweet-tart taste. If you like, coat your Bundt pan with cooking spray just before filling it with the batter to ensure that the cake will release easily from the pan.

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Reviews (35)

678 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 115
  • 4 star values: 169
  • 3 star values: 240
  • 2 star values: 120
  • 1 star values: 34
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
08/25/2019
Well, I was a bit dubious about the number of apples and I admit I only put in 3, but... man was that ever a good cake. The understated "sweet tooth that walks like a man" I married said "Yup! you can make that one again." It didn't last long..... and we loved it. It goes into the pan a bit sloppy, but it was tender moist and very tasty. I might add walnuts and raisins to it and yes pumpkin pie spices sounds good too!.
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
05/29/2019
I don't know how this cake doesn't have 5 stars all around. It's amazing. I've baked it so many times and it always turns out perfect and everyone loves it. The size of the sliced apples threw me off at first, but as stated in the video and recipe once it is cooked it's perfect. I'm gluten and dairy intolerant so I've actually substituted with GF & DF ingredients and it's still perfect, my friends didn't even notice!
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2018
We LOVE this cake - easy to make, delicious, makes the house smell great. Like apple pie, but cake format. The first time I made it years ago after seeing John Barricelli make it, I followed the recipe EXACTLY, and it came out great. (I don't understand why people do not follow the recipe the first time they make it. Give the recipe author the benefit of the doubt before tweaking their recipe.) My family also likes spice cake, so I started adding 1/4 t. of other fall spices - nutmeg, cloves, ginger. Also 1/2 c. chopped walnuts. This recipe is in my rotation, have taken it to work and church gatherings, and always gets rave reviews. A few other of John's recipes I highly recommend: carrot cake (best I've ever tasted!), his pasta Lazio, tomato tarte, and ricotta cheesecake. Miss seeing him on TV.
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Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
09/14/2018
A simple, easy recipe that the family loved. I did slice the apples thinner than the recipe said. A moist cake that is wonderful in apple picking season!
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
11/20/2017
Really moist, delicious cake. I used whatever apples I had in the house and it turned out great. For the frosting, I added a bit of almond extract for a little extra flavor. Everyone loved it!
Anonymous
Rating: 5 stars
10/02/2017
We love this cake! We eat it right after the 15 min cooling period is up, as soon as it comes out of the pan. We don't put a glaze on it, we don't think it needs it. It is very moist and flavorful. 2 more things I do differently: I use Pumpkin Pie Spice instead of just cinnamon, and I slice the apples 1/8th of an inch thick, some come out thinner than that. Make sure to use a serrated knife for cutting the cake, it will make it easier to get through all the apples!
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Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/21/2015
I made this cake and I sliced the apples, as the recipe states. The batter barely covered the apples, so I was afraid it wouldn't hold together. It came out fine, however, I think the cake would cut more easily if the apples had been chopped rather than sliced. The flavor of the cake is good, but it seems like it could use a little something. I think I may add ginger if I make it again.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/13/2015
I was wondering how exactly the apples should be cut, cannot remember seen the show but when its time to do it you cannot always remember exactly how. Hope someone has the answer since i am ready to make this for my son. Thanks
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/04/2015
Hi, can you substitute the apples with strawberries? I was wondering if this recipe works well with strawberries that I just chop into small pieces, instead add same amount of strawberries instead of apples? Or do you suggest I puree them? Thanks!! I like apple cinnamon cake, but I dont want big chunky apples, I just wanted more of an apple cinnamon flavor so I was wondering if I could do strawberry cake always been wanting to make a strawberry-like cake! Thanks!! :)
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/07/2014
This cake is delicious! I added a 1/2 tsp of ginger and it was wonderful. Quick and easy to make up. Definitely a great cake for autumn when apples are abundant.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/07/2013
Made this for Thanksgiving 2013. I shredded the apples and didn't worry (mixed up much like zucchini bread, thick). Baked up perfectly and the glaze was just sweet enough. Everyone enjoyed this fresh, autumnal cake.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/09/2013
what an awkward and clumpsy cake to make. Didn't anyone experience mixing the sliced apples was hard!! It would have been nice if it said cut it into chunks. Mixing would have been much easier.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/09/2013
what an awkward and clumpsy cake to make. Didn't anyone experience mixing the sliced apples was hard!! It would have been nice if it said that cut it into chunks. Mixing would have been much easier.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/19/2013
Very easy, simple with a spectacular flavor. Recommended. Try to put the apples with batter at the bottom of the pan.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/14/2013
Really nice recipe. Just slice the apples thinly. Add more cinnamon in the batter recipe and lemon or or orange zest in the icing.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/21/2012
This was an easy recipe and I was able to make it with my four year old after I cut up the apples. Tastes good and is quite moist.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
05/27/2012
This turned out really well! I did read reviews and grated 4 apples instead of 6 chunky. Delicious!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/24/2010
it is really delicious, i tried it and followed the instructions in ( http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8711657338615658833# ) and it was wonderful just as it is . my kids and my family asked me to do it so many times and there is no worry at all about the 6 apples , on the contrary they make the cake icy especially after putting it in the refregirator for 1 night. follow the video and enjoy it.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/21/2010
This was dellicious! The second time I made 2 changes: first, I stirred 1/2 cup chopped walnuts into the batter; and second, I used apple juice instead of water for the glaze. Yum!!!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/19/2010
my icing looked great...wished i could send a picture of it.....
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/19/2010
Just made it..so easy and delicious...it was a lot of apples but it was not too much...i did use dark br sugar....my husband loved it...just wished i had a little vanilla ice cream to go with it..
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/18/2010
I agree that the 6 apples are too much..I was very disappointed and had to discard the whole cake. Maybe the recipe should say 6 small Granny Apples
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/09/2010
Two questions for anyone willing to help: 1. 6 apples cuts in 1/4 in slices is a lot of apples, right? felt like the apples took up most of the bundt pan and the cake batter just held it together like glue. 2. did anyone elses icing not stay bright white (like the picture above)? the next day, mine looked more like a glaze than white icing. Thanks!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/21/2010
I love this cake. I add raisins and pecans to the batter. After I spray my bundt pan, I sprinkle it with sugar, which makes for an amazing crust. I use fruit juice instead of water, or a little vanilla in my glaze.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
02/07/2010
My husband and his buddies at work loved this cake. They've requested to have it again in the future. Nice and moist, great flavour. I did add a little extra cinnamon.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/12/2008
A big hit at a work brunch. I chopped the apples rather large using one of those core/slice tools... so I had 6-8 apple wedges then cut each wedge into 3-4 chunks. The batter is really thick so it holds the apples in place and they are evenly spaced in the finished cake. It could use a bit more cinnamon or spice... maybe molasses? II work in a nut-free zone but I bet it would be fabulous with walnuts or pecans.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
11/20/2008
This cake was a hit at the dinner party my girlfriends and I had! It was moist and delicious and very easy to make (even for a beginner baker like myself).
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
10/01/2008
I may have been a bit premature with my previous comments. I do agree with cae_021, it was better the next day!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/28/2008
I thought the cake was good... very moist and very easy to make. Though, I thought it was lacking something, perhaps some vanilla. To me, it lacked depth of flavor. I'll give it another try with some tweaking.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/28/2008
I thought the cake was good... very moist and very easy to make. Though, I thought it was lacking something, perhaps some vanilla. To me, it lacked depth of flavor. I'll give it another try with some tweaking.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/26/2008
I don't understand how to cut the apples for this cake, can anyone advise?
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/25/2007
It was so good! I made it for my family and it's moist and yummy and the icing is a perfect topping!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/24/2007
Delicious!! I made this for my office party and it was such a hit. I made it again today to take to mt family for Christmas eve dinner!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/24/2007
Delicious!! I made this for my office party and it was such a hit. I made it again today to take to mt family for Christmas eve dinner!
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
12/20/2007
This cake was very delicious. Would be great with Ice Cream, my bundt was a little smaller than the required size (barely 10") so I was a tad worried; 6 apples seem small, but when u chop em up they really go a long way. Initially I was concerned about the amount of sugar (I don't have much of a sweet tooth) but the tartness of the apples balanced that off. Interestingly, it tasted better and better as it aged, it barely lasted 4 days and that was with threatening.
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