Apple Cake with Maple Frosting
This Apple Cake with Maple Frosting is moist, tender, and filled with chunks of tart Granny Smith apples and warm fall spices. A fluffy maple cream cheese frosting adds the perfect sweet finish to every bite. It is a cozy fall dessert that is perfect for weekend baking, gatherings, or apple season.
Servings 9 servings
Calories 473kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- ⅔ cup buttermilk
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples peeled and diced into 1/3 inch pieces.
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans - coarsely chopped, optional
Frosting:
- 4 Tbsp butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup
- 4 oz cream cheese at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to to 350 degrees.
- Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square pan. (Or you can use baking spray that has flour in it)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the 1/2 cup butter. Beat with the paddle attachment on medium for about 1 minute until creamy. Add in the sugar and beat for 2 minutes until fluffy and light.
- Add the vanilla. Then add in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Next, add in alternating 1/3 of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk, beating after each addition, ending with the flour.
- Fold in the apples and nuts if desired. Spread the butter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until the center of the cake is set and not jiggly. Allow to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and syrup until light and airy (about 3 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the cream cheese and beat for 1½ minutes.
- Spread frosting over the cooled cake. Place the cake in the refrigerator and chill for 45 minutes. Cut into 9 pieces.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 739IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2mg