Apfelkuchen - Authentic Southern Bavarian Apple Cake (2025)

Apfelkuchen - Authentic Southern Bavarian Apple Cake (1)

Apfelkuchen – Authentic Traditional German Apple Cake Recipe

Apfelkuchen - Authentic Southern Bavarian Apple Cake (2)

I am proud of this Apfelkuchen recipe. It brings me back to my time of spending the summer months as a girl in Bamberg, Germany, at my Oma and Opa’s apartment. I would have this cake all the time for breakfast and with a coffee in the late afternoon.

Meine Grosseltern held a traditional German household. We had brotchen with butter and jams, sliced deli meats and cheese, and boiled eggs for breakfast. The large meal was for lunch and a lighter meal for dinner. In between lunch and dinner, there was coffee and cake served. It seemed we always had apfelkuchenon the table, and I finally found the recipe that I remember so well.

Made with fresh apples baked into a dense butter dough and topped with sugar, it is the perfect dessert. It brought me right back to that small medieval Bavarian town in Germany. I love it and am so glad to make it for my family now.

Tips from other bakers.

I have added a running list of some of the collected comments that may make it helpful.

  • Spread warm jam or marmalade on top instead of sugar.
  • Sprinkle vanilla sugar on top.
  • Substitute apple slices for drained canned peaches.
  • Substitute apple slices for any sliceable fruit.
  • Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon are unnecessary to add.
  • Check your bake at the 40-minute mark to ensure not over baking.
  • One stick of butter equals 1/2 cup or 4 oz.

Cost to make recipe.

I have calculated this recipe to cost roughly $2.59 for the entire cake, or $0.32 per serving size. I typically make this recipe in season, when my apples are ripe on the trees and free. So my homesteader cost is closer to $2.09 or $0.26 per serving size.

Comments from pins

  • fits “8” or “9” springform pan
  • all other recipes call for cinnamon, other spices, extracts & fruits as well as layers of batter. this cake is wonderful in it’s simplicity.
  • The cake was perfect! I topped it with a bit of salted Carmel sauce and a dollop of whip cream.
  • I have made several of these cakes. They are are so easy to make. My family and I just love them. We enjoyed this cake when we served two tours in Germany. It is wunderbar.
  • Tasty, I used brown sugar on top instead
  • Added 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and one vanilla bean scraped

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Recipe adapted

This is a Vintage Mountain Homestead original recipe. All text and images are original to this blog and website. Please visit our disclaimer page for more information.

Apfelkuchen

Rating: 5 out of 5.

INGREDIENTS1/2x1x2x

  • ▢1stick (4oz or 0.5 cup)butter,softened…[$1.00]
  • ▢1cup + 3 tbsp.white granulated sugar,…[$0.30]
  • ▢2largeeggs,…[$0.46]
  • ▢1cupall purpose flour,…[$0.23]
  • ▢1tsp.baking powder,…[$0.04]
  • ▢1-2largeapple,…[$0.50]
  • ▢3tbsp.powdered sugar,optional…[$0.06]

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 8 or 9-inch springform pan.
  • Cream butter and 1 cup granulated white sugar together until a smooth texture is reached.
  • While blending, add in eggs one at a time. Add flour and baking powder. Mix until smooth and uniform.
  • Spread cake batter in greased pan. The batter will be sticky so be careful.
  • Peel and slice apples and place on top of cake batter. Overlapping apples and pressing down into the cake just slightly. The cake batter will rise around the apples.
  • Sprinkle the extra 3 tbsp. granulated sugar on top of the batter, but don’t mix in. This step is optional.
  • Bake cake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Remove baked cake promptly from pan and let completely cool before cutting into it. Dust with powdered sugar on top and enjoy.

Apfelkuchen: German Apple Cake

Authentic German apple cake called Apfelkuchen has a basic butter cake with fresh apple slices pushed into the top of the cake batter.

3.87 from 708 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Resting Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 55 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine German

Servings 8 servings

Calories/Serving 351 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (4oz or 0.5 cup) butter, softened…[$1.00]
  • 1 cup + 3 tbsp. white granulated sugar, …[$0.30]
  • 2 large eggs, …[$0.46]
  • 1 cup all purpose flour, …[$0.23]
  • 1 tsp. baking powder, …[$0.04]
  • 1-2 large apple, …[$0.50]
  • 3 tbsp. powdered sugar, optional…[$0.06]

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease 8 or 9-inch springform pan.

  • Cream butter and 1 cup granulated white sugar together until a smooth texture is reached.

  • While blending, add in eggs one at a time. Add flour and baking powder. Mix until smooth and uniform.

  • Spread cake batter in greased pan. The batter will be sticky so be careful.

  • Peel and slice apples and place on top of cake batter. Overlapping apples and pressing down into the cake just slightly. The cake batter will rise around the apples.

  • Sprinkle the extra 3 tbsp. granulated sugar on top of the batter, but don’t mix in. This step is optional.

  • Bake cake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

  • Remove baked cake promptly from pan and let completely cool before cutting into it. Dust with powdered sugar on top and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 123mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 1gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 445IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 1mg

Related

2016-05-08

Apfelkuchen - Authentic Southern Bavarian Apple Cake (2025)

FAQs

Where in Germany did Apfelkuchen originate? ›

History. It is not completely certain when Apfelküchle were first made, however it is known that the pastry was created in south-west Germany in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where it has been a long-standing traditional meal.

What is the history of apple cake in France? ›

The exact origins of the French apple cake, or “Gâteau aux Pommes,” are tough to trace, but the dessert is deeply rooted in French culinary traditions, where baking with seasonal fruits is common. Chef John's take features diced Honeycrisp apples (skin on) and dark rum for a richer flavor.

How do you say apple cake in German? ›

Learn how to make traditional “Versunkener Apfelkuchen”.

Should apple cake be refrigerated? ›

TO STORE: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Why is apple cake called apple cake? ›

Apple cakes are cakes in which apples feature as a main flavour and ingredient. Such cakes incorporate apples in a variety of forms, including diced, pureed, or stewed, and can include common additions like raisins, nuts, and 'sweet' spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.

What is Oma's Apfelkuchen? ›

"or Sunken Apple cake. This is based on a recipe my grandmother used. The apples are placed on top of the dough, which raises as baked, making the apples appear as if they have sunk into the cake."

What is the oldest cake in the world? ›

The Egyptians gave us the world's oldest known cake–and also the world's oldest Tupperware as it happens. During the reign of Pepi II from BCE 2251 to 2157, bakers mixed up a wheat dough for flatbread and filled it with honey and milk. The dough was poured into two pre-heated copper molds that fit tightly together.

Which cake did not originate in Germany? ›

German chocolate cake, trimmed with coconut and pecan icing, does not originate from Germany. The rich dessert is credited to a Texas homemaker who sent her recipe to a Dallas newspaper in 1957.

What is the original fruitcake? ›

The Roman fruitcake was a mash of barley, honey, wine and dried fruit, often pomegranate seeds. What you might recognize as a modern-style fruitcake – a moist, leavened dessert studded with fruits and nuts – was probably first baked in the early Middle Ages in Europe.

What is the most famous cake in German? ›

Frankfurter Kranz is one of the most popular German cakes and comes like the name hints from Frankfurt, Germany. The recipe calls for sponge cake layers, along with fruit jams like strawberry, cherry or blackberry, and a luxurious buttercream filling.

What is Germany's traditional fruitcake called? ›

German Fruitcake

Stollen: Flattened with a chewy crust, Stollen is often baked more like a traditional loaf of sourdough bread. Stollen also forgoes the usual candied cherries and pineapple in exchange for citrus zest, candied citrus peels, raisins, and almonds.

What do Germans call apples? ›

The Apple = Der Apfel. So it is example of a masculine noun in German.

Is it OK to freeze apple cake? ›

Apple cake freezes well. Simply wrap the cooled cake in a layer of storage wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How long does apple cake last? ›

How long does apple cake last? Freshly baked apple cake can last up to 3 days at room temperature. If you store it in the fridge, it will keep well for about 4-5 days.

Can you leave a cake out overnight? ›

If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.

Where did apple fritters originate? ›

The origins of apple fritters lie in Europe where, in modern Christmas markets from Italy to Germany to England, you find stalls that core apples, then slice them horizontally, battering and frying them up before sprinkling with powdered or cinnamon sugar.

Where did the Prussian Germans come from? ›

The original Prussians, mainly hunters and cattle breeders, spoke a language belonging to the Baltic group of the Indo-European language family. These early Prussians were related to the Latvians and Lithuanians and lived in tribes in the then heavily forested region between the lower Vistula and Neman rivers.

Where did carnival come from in Germany? ›

Fasching is a traditional German celebration, also known as Karneval or Fastnacht. It is carnival season, which has been celebrated for centuries by people worldwide with German heritage. It was a festival that originated in the cities, most notably Mainz and Speyer. And it was already established in Cologne by 1234.

Where did sauerbraten originate? ›

The name "Sauerbraten" is of German origin, and is derived from Sauer meaning "sour" or "pickled" and Braten meaning "roast meat", thus "sour roast".

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