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    Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)

    Published: Sep 24, 2021 · Modified: Mar 31, 2025 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    There’s nothing quite like a cozy apple dessert to celebrate the flavors of fall, and this Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka) is one of the best. 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 with your afternoon coffee, this simple and rustic Swedish apple cake is sure to become a seasonal favorite.

    Slice of Swedish Apple Cake on a plate next to a fork, apple and plaid napkin.

    In Sweden, äppelkaka is a beloved autumn treat, especially during apple season when backyard trees and orchards are heavy with fruit. It's often served as part of fika, the cherished Swedish coffee break that brings people together over something sweet and a warm beverage.

    If you love 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. For more ideas, check out this Ultimate Guide to Swedish Fika.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    Labeled ingredients for Swedish Apple Cake.
    • Apples - Be sure and use Granny Smith Apples or another sturdy variety that will hold its shape when cooked.
    • Unsalted butter
    • Light brown sugar
    • Ground cinnamon
    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Salt
    • Ground cardamom
    • Granulated sugar
    • Large eggs
    • Sugar
    • Vanilla extract

    See recipe card for exact amounts and detailed instructions.

    How to Make Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)

    Apple slices in a skillet.
    • Step 1: 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.
    Cooked apple slices in a skillet with a rubber spatula.
    • Step 2: 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.
    Flour in a glass bowl with a whisk.
    • Step 3: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom together in a medium bowl and set aside. 
    Apple cake batter in a bowl with a whisk.
    • Step 4: 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.
    Cake batter in a cake pan.
    • Step 5: 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.
    Unbaked apple cake in a pan.
    • Step 6: 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.  
    Syrup in a skillet.
    • Step 7: 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.
    Brushing syrup on a Swedish Apple Cake.
    • Step 8: 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. Granny Smiths will do just that.
    • Don't overmix the batter once you add the flour. Vigorously mixing a cake batter after the flour is added activates the gluten and can cause your cake to be tough in texture. Mix so that the flour is JUST incorporated, no more.
    • 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.
    • Don't skip the step of making the quick syrup and brushing the top of the cake after it has baked. This step really takes this cake from good to great and gives it a gorgeous shine at the end.
    Overhead view of Swedish Apple Cake.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I store this Swedish Apple Cake?

    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.

    What if I don't have a springform pan?

    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.

    Slice of Swedish Apple Cake on a plate next to a fork.

    Related Recipes

    Looking for more delicious Scandinavian cake recipes? I've got you covered:

    • Closeup of a slice of kladdkaka on a plate next to a fork and raspberries.
      Swedish Sticky Chocolate Cake (Kladdkaka)
    • Sliced Swedish Almond Cake on a marble plate.
      Simple Swedish Almond Cake (Mandelkaka)
    • Overhead view of Spiced Pear Cake with Cardamom next to pears and cardamom pods.
      Spiced Pear Cake with Cardamom
    • Close up overhead view of White Chocolate Cake with a couple of slices cut.
      Heavenly White Chocolate Cloudberry Cake

    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

    Close up of a slice of Swedish Apple Cake.

    Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)

    An easy and moist cake baked with a hint of cardamom and topped with caramelized apples.  The perfect fall fika treat!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Fika
    Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian, Swedish
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 slices (One 9 inch cake)
    Calories: 273kcal
    Author: Kristi

    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
    • 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 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.

    Notes

    Adapted from The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook and Fika by Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall

    Nutrition

    Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @TrueNorthKitchen or tag #truenorthkitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becky

      January 12, 2025 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      We loved this cake! Perfectly balanced and so yummy on a winter night. A new favorite recipe for our family. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        January 21, 2025 at 1:51 pm

        Hi Becky,
        Thanks so much for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the cake!
        Kristi

        Reply
    2. Lynda

      November 24, 2024 at 5:28 pm

      5 stars
      This is absolutely delicious! I used slightly less honey to substitute for the different sugars (family preference). I will definitely make this again!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        November 26, 2024 at 11:39 am

        Hi Lynda,
        So glad you liked it! It's such an easy, go-to cake.
        Kristi

        Reply
    3. Linda Purves

      September 15, 2024 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        September 16, 2024 at 1:02 am

        Thanks, Linda! This is definitely one of my fall favorites. Glad you enjoyed it!

        Kristi

        Reply
    4. Amy Lauritsen

      December 26, 2023 at 7:34 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        January 02, 2024 at 9:07 am

        Hi Amy,
        You are welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the cake. Your substitutions sound delicious! Thanks so much for your feedback.
        Kristi

        Reply
    5. MK Bakes

      November 11, 2020 at 12:56 am

      We couldn't stop eating this cake it was so delicious. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • Kristi

        November 11, 2020 at 1:19 pm

        Hi MK Bakes,

        Thanks for you comment! I'm so glad enjoyed it.

        Kristi

        Reply
    6. Michele Caballero

      March 24, 2020 at 1:38 am

      I made this and it turned out great!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        March 24, 2020 at 4:40 pm

        That's so great to hear, Michele! It is one of my all time favorite fika treats. Thanks for you feedback!

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes

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