This cozy Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka) is one of my favorite autumn fika bakes. Moist and tender with a hint of cardamom, this traditional Scandinavian cake is topped with buttery cinnamon apples that caramelize beautifully as they bake. Whether you're looking for an easy apple cake recipe a fall gathering, or just a sweet treat to go with your afternoon coffee, this simple and rustic Swedish apple cake is sure to become a seasonal favorite.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)
- ⏰ Prep Time: 30 minutes
- 🔥 Bake Time: 35 minutes
- 👥 Yield: 1 9-inch cake
- 🥣 Equipment needed: 9-inch springform pan or cake pan
- ⭐️ What makes it special: The apples are brushed with a quick glaze at the end of baking for extra flavor and shine.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- ♥️ It comes together in about an hour
- ♥️ Rustic, cozy and bursting with apple and cardamom flavor
- ♥️ It's mixed entirely by hand - no mixer required
In Sweden, äppelkaka is a beloved autumn treat, especially during apple season when backyard trees and orchards are heavy with fruit. I've got a roundup of all of my favorite Scandinavian apple recipes here! It's often served as part of fika, the cherished Swedish coffee break that brings people together over something sweet and a warm beverage.
Looking for more cozy Scandinavian bakes? Don't miss my Cardamom Buns, Swedish Tosca Cake or these Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor). Each one is full of Nordic flavor and perfect with a cup of coffee, especially on a chilly fall day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We loved this cake! Perfectly balanced and so yummy on a winter night. A new favorite recipe for our family. Thank you! - Becky
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Ingredients
- Apples - Be sure and use Granny Smith Apples or another sturdy variety that will hold its shape when cooked.
- Sour cream - Full fat greek yogurt or skyr can be used in place of the sour cream.
See recipe card for exact amounts and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Pear Cake - Swap the apples for firm pears for a delicious twist on this recipe!
How to Make Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan. Peel, core and slice the apples into ½ inch thick slices. Heat the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and cook until they begin to brown, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar and cinnamon. Continue to cook stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and apples are evenly coated, about 1 more minute. Remove apples from the heat and set aside.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom together in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Whisk sugars and eggs together in a large bowl until fully combined. Slowly add melted butter to the sugar and egg mixture and continue whisking until it is uniform in texture. Add sour cream and vanilla and whisk until fully combined. Add flour mixture and whisk until batter just comes together.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan and even out the top with a small offset spatula.
- Arrange apples over the top of the batter in two concentric circles. The apples should just touch each other but not overlap. Reserve the butter and sugar mixture that remains in the skillet. Transfer the cake to the oven and bake until golden brown, about 40-50 minutes.
- Add a couple of teaspoons of water to the skillet along with the reserved butter and sugar mixture leftover from making the apple topping. Cook over medium heat until warm and syrupy in texture, about 1-2 minutes.
- Brush syrup over the top of the cake, particularly the apples. Cool cake for at least 20 minutes on a wire rack and serve.
Expert Tips
- Use a sturdy apple such as the Granny Smith. Because we are sautéing the apples slices before they go on top of the cake, it's important to choose an apple that can withstand a bit of cooking without falling apart or turning to mush.
- Create your circles of apples so that the slices just touch one another rather than overlap. This should give you just the right amount of apples to fill the space of the cake with two circles of slices.
- Save the smaller apple slices for the center circle and leave the very center of the cake empty.
Recipe FAQs
You can use a regular 9 inch cake pan but it won't be easy to remove the whole cake from the pan for serving. But you can always just cut and serve slices of the cake from inside the pan.
Cakes are almost always best the day they are made, but if you have leftovers, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Yes! You can either freeze the entire cake or individual slices for up to 2 months. Be sure to wrap the cake or slices tightly with plastic wrap and then in a layer of foil. To thaw, simply set the cake out at room temperature for a few hours (less time is required for slices). If you would like to serve it warm, simply reheat in a 300 degree F oven until heated through.
What to Serve with Äppelkaka
My favorite go-withs for apple cake are Creamy Vanilla Sauce (vaniljsås) ice cream (either vanilla or this Homemade Cardamom Ice Cream), or this tangy Whipped Vanilla Skyr Cream. If you want to really take it to the next level, consider drizzling it with this easy 3 Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce!
Related Recipes
Looking for more delicious Scandinavian cake recipes? Give these a try:
If you tried this Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka) recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)
Equipment
- 1 9 inch springform pan
Ingredients
For the Apple Topping:
- 3 medium granny smith apples peeled, cored and cut into ½ inch thick wedges (about 1 pound)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Cake:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (5 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan. Make the Apple Topping: Heat butter in a 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add apples and sauté until they are lightly caramelized, about 5-8 minutes. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and apples are evenly coated, about 1 more minute. Remove apples from the heat and set aside.
- Make the cake: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom together in a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk sugars and eggs together in a large bowl until fully combined. Slowly add melted butter to sugar and egg mixture and continue whisking until uniform in texture. Add sour cream and vanilla and whisk until fully combined. Add flour mixture and whisk until batter just comes together.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan and even out the top with a small offset spatula. Arrange apples over the top of the batter in two concentric circles. The apples should just touch each other but not overlap. Reserve the butter and sugar mixture that remains in the skillet. Transfer the cake to the oven and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached, about 30-40 minutes.
- Add a couple of teaspoons of water to the skillet along with the reserved butter and sugar mixture leftover from making the apple topping. Cook over medium heat until warm and syrupy in texture, about 1-2 minutes. Brush syrup over the top of the cake, particularly the apples. Cool cake for at least 20 minutes on a wire rack and serve.
Becky says
We loved this cake! Perfectly balanced and so yummy on a winter night. A new favorite recipe for our family. Thank you!
Kristi says
Hi Becky,
Thanks so much for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the cake!
Kristi
Lynda says
This is absolutely delicious! I used slightly less honey to substitute for the different sugars (family preference). I will definitely make this again!
Kristi says
Hi Lynda,
So glad you liked it! It's such an easy, go-to cake.
Kristi
Linda Purves says
This is a delicious cake! I love the caramelization of the apples before putting them on the batter and that the leftover sugar and cinnamon is made into a glaze to go on the warm cake. Thank you for the recipe!
Kristi says
Thanks, Linda! This is definitely one of my fall favorites. Glad you enjoyed it!
Kristi
Amy Lauritsen says
Made this yesterday and it was delicious. I didn't have cardamom so subbed cinnamon and ginger. Also reduced granulated sugar to 1/2 cup as we tend to not like things too sweet. The glaze really makes the cake look beautiful. I'll buy cardamom to make again in the future. Thank you for the recipe!
Kristi says
Hi Amy,
You are welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the cake. Your substitutions sound delicious! Thanks so much for your feedback.
Kristi
MK Bakes says
We couldn't stop eating this cake it was so delicious. Thanks for the recipe
Kristi says
Hi MK Bakes,
Thanks for you comment! I'm so glad enjoyed it.
Kristi
Michele Caballero says
I made this and it turned out great!
Kristi says
That's so great to hear, Michele! It is one of my all time favorite fika treats. Thanks for you feedback!