Baked Apple Cake Dutch Style (Printable)

Warm casserole-style apple cake with aromatic spices and tender fruit baked into a soft golden base.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Apples

01 - 3 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
02 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Dry Ingredients

03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1 cup whole milk
13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
14 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Topping

15 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large bowl, combine sliced apples with lemon juice and set aside.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
04 - In another large bowl, whisk granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until smooth. Add milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract, whisking until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Fold prepared apples into batter. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
07 - In a small bowl, mix topping sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over batter.
08 - Bake for 40 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
09 - Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally with powdered sugar or crème fraîche.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a one-pan wonder that feels homemade without demanding your full attention or special skills.
  • Soft, spiced apples tucked into a tender crumb hit differently at breakfast than on a dessert plate—it just works both ways.
  • The smell alone will make your whole kitchen feel like a Dutch farmhouse, even if you're making it in an apartment.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter once you combine wet and dry ingredients—a few lumps are your friends, and overmixing creates a dense, tough cake that no amount of apples can save.
  • The apple slices need to be thin so they cook through and soften into the cake rather than staying firm and separate.
03 -
  • Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly before combining with wet ones so the baking powder and soda distribute evenly, giving you a consistent rise throughout.
  • Use room temperature eggs and melted butter that's cooled slightly—cold butter can clump and create uneven texture in the finished cake.
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