Highlight the best of apple season with this Apple Layer Cake. Not only are these light and fluffy cake layers made with a flavor-packed apple butter, but each layer is topped with a spiced-bourbon-apple compote and a rich cinnamon buttercream.
A match made in heaven – apples and cinnamon. Much in like these apple cinnamon scones and this apple swirl pound cake, there’s a reason it’s a classic combination. This layer cake highlights both so beautifully!
What Makes This Cake Great
- A quick apple compote filling really makes apple the star of the show. Warm spices and a splash of bourbon enhance the apples for a good-enough-on-its-own filling similar to an apple pie filling.
- Apples themselves can have a lot of moisture and can be tricky to mix into a cake as is successfully. Apple butter in the cake not only makes for a moist and fluffy cake texture, but it adds a rich concentrated apple flavor throughout.
- A super silky cinnamon Swiss Meringue Buttercream brings everything together.
Making the Cake Batter
This apple cake uses a similar ratio to my standard golden cake batter, with a few small adjustments:
- Because apple butter has sugar as well, I decreased the amount of sugar in the cake base for better balance.
- Apple butter also takes the place of my cake “moist-maker” ingredient. I always add something that ups the soft and fluffy quality of a cake – whether it is sour cream, yogurt or whipped cream, I refuse to have a dry cake.
- Commit to whipping butter and sugar for several minutes until very light and fluffy. This will provide a light final texture.
- I always recommend to alternate adding the dry flour and milk in a few additions. This will not only prevent the mixture from splitting, but will also prevent overmixed and tough batter.
Creating the Layer Cake
Layer cakes can be slightly intimidating if you haven’t made one. I go through all the details in depth in my How to Make Level Layer Cakes post too! There are a few tools that help make the job easier, but are not required:
- Cake turntable: A turntable is really key for a smooth, clean-lined buttercream finish. I like this one with a cast-iron base because it’s more sturdy. Without one, I skip that super-smooth finish and just go for a “painted” knife design. Don’t fight for a finish that’s harder than necessary!
- Bench scraper: Along with a turntable, a bench scraper is really key to that crisp buttercream finish. I like a style like this without a separate handle extending beyond the edge. Having the flush handle means I can set it against the table at a 90° angle. Hold the scraper straight-up and down parallel to the cake. Rotate the turntable and gently press the scraper into the cake until the buttercream smooths out.
- Piping bags/Ziplock bags: In order to create a barrier “dam” for the apple compote, pipe a ring of buttercream on the outside edge. This is done with a piping bag or a Ziplock bag with the corner trimmed off.
- Offset spatula: An offset spatula is really helpful for a flat layer of buttercream between layers and on the top of the cake. Once you have smoothed out the sides of buttercream, level out the top with the offset spatula. It’s best to work from the outer edge inward with a clean spatula on each swipe for a clean corner.
- Long serrated knife: Having a long knife is easiest to trim the cakes into a perfectly flat layer. Even when they baked pretty level, I still trim the tops when I stack the cakes for the most finished look.
This is just how I achieved the finish shown here. Is it necessary for a delicious cake? Absolutely not in the slightest! When I’m not taking photos, my cakes are much more casual.
How to Make Apple Chip Decorations?
Slice cored apples into 1/8″ slices (a mandoline slicer is great here!) Toss the slices in a 50/50 mix of granulated sugar and cinnamon and bake on an oven-safe baking rack set over a baking sheet. If you don’t have an oven-safe rack, flip the slices halfway through baking. Bake at 200°F for 1-1 1/2 hours until the apples crisp up when set at room temperature.
Full transparency: I did not core my apple slices in the photos for pure aesthetics.
Apple Layer Cake
Equipment
- 3 6" cake tins
Ingredients
Apple Compote
- 4 cups 1/2″ diced Granny Smith apples peeled and cores removed (about 4 apples)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon bourbon or whiskey optional
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
Apple Cake
- 210 g cake flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 100 g unsalted butter room temperature
- 225 g granulated sugar
- ¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk room temperature
- 90 g 1/4 cup apple butter (homemade or store-bought)
Cinnamon Buttercream
- 1 batch Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Apple Compote: Combine all compote ingredients into a small saucepan. Simmer on medium-low until apples are softened, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Avoid over-simmer, you do not want applesauce. Cool completely.4 cups 1/2″ diced Granny Smith apples, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, Juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon bourbon or whiskey, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Apple Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line 3-6" pans with parchment paper. Sift together cake flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.210 g cake flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In the bowl of a stand-mixer with a paddle attachment, or a large mixing bowl, whip together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add oil.100 g unsalted butter, 225 g granulated sugar, 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
- Add eggs one and a time, then vanilla.2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 eggs
- Alternating between the dry ingredient mixture and milk, add 1/3 of the dry, then 1/2 of the milk, waiting for the previous ingredient to be almost incorporated before adding the next.1/2 cup whole milk
- Stir in apple butter. Divide evenly between prepared pans. Tap once on countertop to release any large air bubbles. Bake for 25-29 minutes, until cake starts to pull away from pans and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool enough to touch before transferring to a cooling rack. Cool completely before icing.90 g 1/4 cup apple butter (homemade or store-bought)
- Cinnamon Buttercream: Add cinnamon to prepared buttercream.1 batch Swiss Meringue Buttercream, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Create Layer Cake: Trim top of cake layers to create a flat layer with long serrated knife. Place a layer of buttercream on the first cake layer. Using a piping bag or Ziplock bag, pipe a 1/2" border of buttercream around the outer edge of the cake. Fill with compote to the top of the border, pressing down slightly to create a sturdy layer. Repeat with second layer.
- Top with final layer of cake. Cover outside in buttercream. Decorate using apple slices, pecans, or dusted cinnamon as desired.
Notes
- Cakes can be baked the day before and wrapped tightly once cooled completely.
- Baked, unfilled cakes, can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Store layer cake in airtight container in fridge. Allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Disclaimer: We test all recipes using the metric weights shown, we cannot guarantee outcomes when switching to US measurements.
What is Apple Butter?
Apple butter is really just super-duper concentrated apples – apples are simmered for hours until most of the water is evaporated out and what is left is this thick, buttery apple spread.
I make my own apple butter (you can find the recipe here, in my apple cider donuts recipe) for a few reasons:
- It’s ridiculously easy if you have a crockpot. Throw everything in and let it sit for hours until the apples are ready for a quick blend.
- I can adjust the amount of spices and sugar to create a balanced apple flavor.
- It makes the house smell absolutely incredible. There’s no better way to celebrate apple season than your whole house filled with apple cinnamon for the day. When you say “fall vibes” it’s this.
Make a big batch and use it in a few different bakes, or just as a topping on some toast. But if you don’t have the time, patience, or interest in making your own apple butter, there is a variety of options available at the store! Skip the simmering and get straight to the cake making!
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Use a brand that you love and skip making your own.
You can make your own version of cake flour in a pinch. Measure out the needed amount of all-purpose flour – 210g (1 3/4 cup) – and replace 3 tablespoons of the flour with 3 tablespoons cornstarch.
I love using both oil and butter in golden cakes. The butter brings flavor, and the oil brings a light and fluffy texture. Balancing the two is a great combination for a final cake.
The trick is to use cake strips around the pans! Domed cakes happen because the edges cook faster than the center, so the center continues to rise longer than the outside. To combat this, you can use a cake strip soaked in water which is slow down how fast the edge set. You can find cake strips in the store, or make your own by cutting up an old kitchen towel in strips as wide as your cake pans. Soak the strips in water and secure (I use an all-metal binder clip!)
