Shirley’s Apple Cake

A few autumns ago, we had a potluck at work and one of my coworkers, Brady, brought this wonderful apple cake that everyone loved! He said it was his grandma’s recipe. And he had baked the cake himself! It really was one of the favorite things at that potluck and everyone wanted the recipe, of course. I asked Brady if I could share the recipe here, so you have Brady and his grandma Shirley to thank for this! 🙂

I followed the cake recipe just like Brady had made it, except for using light olive oil instead of vegetable oil. I also improvised on the icing a little and used light cream (Half & Half) instead of milk and pure maple syrup instead of maple flavoring. It’s a moist, dense cake filled with lots of fresh apple chunks and the creamy maple glaze tastes great with all this apple flavor!

Shirley's Apple Cake

Servings: 10-12
Time: 1hr 30mins
Difficulty: easy
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SHIRLEY’S APPLE CAKE from Shirley E.

Makes one 10″ bundt cake

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (I used light olive oil and you can also use canola oil)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups diced apples (peel before you dice)
1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10″ bundt pan; set aside.

In large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until combined, then mix in eggs and vanilla.

Add in the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Mix until everything is combined. The batter will be very thick.

Fold in diced apples and coarsely chopped walnuts (now the batter will be really thick!) Spoon batter into greased and floured bundt pan.

Bake for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool 10 minutes in pan, then remove from pan to a serving plate (invert pan onto plate) and cool completely. Top cake with Creamy Maple Icing.

Creamy Maple Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Half & Half (light cream)
3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup

Blend ingredients together until smooth (this makes a thick, creamy icing). Spoon and drizzle over completely cooled cake.

Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com

This cake is very dense and rich. It’s a great dessert for fall and winter, or for anytime of the year if you love apple-flavored treats! Do you have a favorite apple dessert you make often?

Sharing at Weekend Potluck, Thursday Favorite Things, Full Plate Thursday, Tasty Tuesdays, Wonderful Wednesday, Inspire Me Monday, Hearth & Soul, Silver Pennies Sundays, Happiness is Homemade.

37 thoughts on “Shirley’s Apple Cake”

adaisygarden January 22, 2016 at 7:19

It sounds amazing! I’ll definitely make this one soon!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 9:49
  
  Enjoy the cake! 🙂
  
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Hilda January 22, 2016 at 7:23

Delicious. We are thinking alike this FF.

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Chitra Jagadish January 22, 2016 at 7:38

Thanks for Sharing this wonderful recipe… Gorgeous Cake Nancy… 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 9:59
  
  You’re welcome, Chitra! 🙂
  
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Christy January 22, 2016 at 8:11

I’m a sucker for an apple cake recipe every time…. we’ve had an orchard business in our family since the 1930’s so we are always on the lookout for another apple recipe! I still have some Fuji and Cameo apples in my fruit drawer from this fall, so I think I’ll give this one a try today!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:02
  
  I hope you like the cake, Christy! How nice that you have an orchard!
  
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cheri January 22, 2016 at 8:53

This is my kind of cake Nancy, looks delicious!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:02
  
  Thanks, Cheri! 🙂
  
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Cat January 22, 2016 at 9:17

Saving this recipe! I’m always afraid to make dessert, given that most are pretty complicated to make. But this apple cake seems surprisingly easy! Thanks for sharing and joining Fiesta Friday this week 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:11
  
  Yes, this is a pretty easy recipe–hope you like the cake! 🙂
  
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Shannon (rumblytumbly.com) January 22, 2016 at 9:48

Yummy! I love apple cake, can’t wait to try this one.

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sallypimienta January 22, 2016 at 9:51

Se ve delicioso!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:21
  
  Gracias! 🙂
  
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thehomemakerslife January 22, 2016 at 11:10

Looks delicious! 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:22
  
  Thanks so much!
  
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Rick January 22, 2016 at 1:54

This cake is delicious!!!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:24
  
  Glad you liked it! 🙂
  
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Julie is Hostess At Heart January 22, 2016 at 3:16

Tis cake looks amazing! I’m thanking your co-worker, Brady and his Grandmother Shirley for sharing too!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:25
  
  Yes, I’m thankful they were so nice to share their special recipe, too! 🙂
  
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Shari January 22, 2016 at 5:28

This really looks delicious, Nancy! It looks so moist, and I love the glaze over the top. Apple desserts are one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:32
  
  I really like apple desserts, too, Shari! Hope you get a chance to try this cake! 🙂
  
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asmeseesit January 22, 2016 at 6:12

I don’t have a bundt pan. Can I use a loaf pan?

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:32
  
  You could try making this in 2 9×5″ loaf pans, but I’m not sure what the baking time would be!
  
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Jhuls January 23, 2016 at 4:05

This sounds like a perfect cake for an afternoon tea. 😀

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Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn January 23, 2016 at 9:02

Ohh yum! I love apples and maple together. Thanks, Brady’s grandma! ^_^

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simplyvegetarian777 January 23, 2016 at 6:45

Beautiful spicy cake Nancy!! Love apple cake any day and a very easy recipe to do!!

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ZazaCook January 24, 2016 at 9:19

Beautiful cake! Looks so incredibly good!

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amylovestosew January 25, 2016 at 3:12

Yum, going to have to give this one a try!

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Eco Friendly Homemaking January 27, 2016 at 4:14

Oh my goodness this cake looks so delicious!!

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1. nancyc Post authorJanuary 27, 2016 at 6:30
  
  Thanks so much! 🙂
  
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Miz Helen February 1, 2016 at 3:48

A beautiful Apple Cake! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen

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1. nancyc Post authorFebruary 1, 2016 at 9:01
  
  Thanks, Miz Helen! Hope you have a great week! 🙂
  
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Pam October 2, 2020 at 2:42

Oh, this looks so good and reminds me of my mom’s apple spice cake, so now I am feeling a little teary. Thanks so much for sharing it at the TFT party!

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1. nancyc Post authorOctober 2, 2020 at 4:43
  
  Thank you, Pam! There’s nothing like the cakes our moms and grandmas made and the memories that go with them are so special!
  
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  1. Pam October 7, 2020 at 3:05
    
    You’re so right. I wanted to let you know, I’ll be featuring this tomorrow at the TFT party. 🙂
    
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    1. nancyc Post authorOctober 7, 2020 at 8:10
      
      Thanks so much, Pam! 🙂
      
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