I love this homemade, old-fashioned fresh apple cake recipe from the owner of Studmuffin Desserts, Chef Seth Raphaeli. This apple bundt cake is made from scratch, moist, easy, and delightful! It is a grand-mère pomme gâteau which is French for grandmother’s apple cake! Don’t let the fancy French words scare you. I saw Chef Seth Raphaeli whip this old fashioned French apple cake up in minutes on Home & Family which airs weekdays at 10 am ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. I was given permission to share the recipe with my readers.
Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
H&F Photo Credit: Copyright 2015 Crown Media Family Networks/Photographer: Jeremy Lee
Fresh apple desserts are such a fabulous treat and this one is really the easiest of cakes with just a few simple ingredients . You are going to love Chef Seth Raphaeli’s recipe for French apple cake made from scratch! This old fashioned fresh apple cake is one of his most famous desserts.
Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Bundt Cake Recipe Ingredients-
- 4 Large Apples / about 6 cups cut into thin slices (I suggest a variety of apples and mix McIntosh and Granny Smith for even more yummy apple flavor.)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
- 3 heaping teaspoons baking powder
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 cup Grape-seed Oil
- 4 Jumbo eggs
- 1/2 cup of orange juice (fresh squeezed is best)
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
How To Make Apple French Bundt Cake From Scratch:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease the bundt pan with melted butter or non-stick cooking spray and then follow with a bit of all purpose flour sifted over the prepared pan.
3. In a large bowl, mix the slices of apples with the cinnamon and 5 tablespoons sugar. Set aside and let stand.
4. Sift together the flour and baking powder in a large bowl and set flour mixture aside.
5. In the bowl of a mixer, beat the eggs with sugar until pale light in color and then add in the oil.
6. To the wet ingredients, alternately add the dry ingredients in with the orange juice starting with and ending with the dry ingredients.
7. Add the vanilla extract and continue to mix well.
8. Layer the cake and apple slices by pouring cake batter into the pan and alternating with apple slices. Top layer should be cake batter. Use a rubber spatula to clean the sides of the bowl into the bundt pan.
9. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 to 1 3/4 hours until golden brown.
10. Test the homemade apple cake bundt with a toothpick or cake tester to make sure it’s done.
11. Remove pan from oven and place on a wire cooling rack for 15 minutes. At this point the cake should be firm enough to flip over the pan onto the wire cooling rack and allow the cake to fall out without breaking.
12. When it has cooled and you are ready to serve, sprinkle the top of the cake with powered sugar. Slice and enjoy!
Want to see the Studmuffin chef himself? Watch the episode here.
Printable Old Fashioned Fresh Apple Cake Recipe Card
French Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Large Apples / about 6 cups, sliced (mix of McIntosh and Granny Smith apples)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
- 3 heaping teaspoons baking powder
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 cup Grape-seed Oil
- 4 Jumbo eggs
- 1/2 cup of orange juice (fresh squeezed is best)
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2. Grease with butter or non-stick cooking spray and then follow with a bit of flour a bundt pan.
- 3. In a large bowl, mix the sliced apples with the cinnamon and 5 tablespoons sugar. Set aside and let stand.
- 4. Sift together the flour and baking powder in a large bowl and set aside.
- 5. In the bowl of a mixer, beat the eggs with sugar until pale light in color and then add in the oil.
- 6. To the wet mixture, alternately add the dry ingredients in with the orange juice starting with and ending with the dry ingredients.
- 7. Add the vanilla extract and continue to mix well.
- 8. Layer the cake and apple slices by pouring cake batter into the pan and alternating with apple slices. Top layer should be cake batter.
- 9. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours until golden brown.
- 10. Test with a toothpick or cake tester to make sure it’s done.
Nutrition Facts
French Apple Cake Recipe
Serves: 12
|
Amount Per Serving: 1 slice
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 491.2 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 20.59 g | 30.8% | |
| Saturated Fat 2.47 g | 10% | |
| Trans Fat 0.01 g | ||
| Cholesterol 78.12 mg | 26% | |
| Sodium 122.39 mg | 5.1% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 71.89 g | 23.7% | |
| Dietary Fiber 2.4 g | 8% | |
| Sugars 45.3 g | ||
| Protein 6.1 g | ||
| Vitamin A 4.04 % | Vitamin C 8.54 % | |
| Calcium 11.04 % | Iron 11.61 % | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Family Focus Blog
Conclusion
French apple cake has a delicate, lightly sweet flavor with a balance of buttery richness and the natural tartness of apples. The cake itself is soft, with a tender crumb, and the apple pieces provide a lovely contrast in texture, remaining slightly firm and juicy. It has a subtle hint of vanilla, adding depth to its flavor. Overall, it’s a simple, elegant dessert that highlights the apples without being overly sweet or heavy.
French apple cake pairs wonderfully with a variety of accompaniments. Here are some serving ideas:
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream complements the cake’s delicate texture and adds extra richness.
- Crème Anglaise: This classic vanilla custard sauce adds a creamy, luxurious touch.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: The cold, creamy ice cream contrasts nicely with the warm cake for a comforting dessert experience.
- Caramel Sauce: A drizzle of caramel sauce enhances the sweetness and adds a touch of indulgence.
- Fresh Berries: Serve with fresh raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries for a burst of color and a fresh, fruity contrast.
These additions elevate the rustic charm of French apple cake into something even more delightful! I hope you enjoy this Studmuffin Desserts old fashioned fresh apple bundt cake recipe. This homemade french bundt cake is making my mouth water just thinking about it! I love to drizzle a few drops of dark rum here and there before I eat mine. This rustic cake is so good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream too! Would you serve this classic French Apple cake recipe as dessert or breakfast?
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Jeanette says
This old fashioned apple bundt cake looks awesome! I have never tried this before (I know I am missing out LOL). Great idea for me to try this holiday season. I am pinning it to make soon.
Danielle says
Anything baked with apples is a crowd pleaser around here. This french apple bundt cake was a huge hit and I will be making it again.
Amber Edwards says
I loved this easy french apple cake! It taste just as good at it looks and it looks amazing!
Maggie Branch says
This french apple cake without rum from Seth Raphaeli is simply delicious! It will be a perfect addition to my holiday table too.
MyTeenGuide says
That fresh apple recipe looks delicious. I wonder if you can substitute olive oil instead of using grape seed oil?
Scarlet says
You could, but olive oil has a stronger flavor than grape seed oil. You could also use coconut oil.
Wendy says
We love using apples in our baking around here – especially during this time of year! This fresh apple bundt cake was so delicious!