This simple French apple cake is moist, tender and buttery, and surprisingly easy to make. Lightly flavored with rum or apple brandy and studded with fresh apple pieces, this classic cake works beautifully for dessert, brunch or a cozy breakfast during apple season and the holidays.
✔️ The Best French Apple Cake Recipe
Whether you are new to baking or comfortable in the kitchen, this French apple cake delivers a tender crumb, bright apple flavor and simple technique. It uses common pantry ingredients and produces a rustic, lightly sweet cake that pairs well with ice cream, whipped cream or a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
⭐️ Why You Will Love This Cake Recipe
- Perfect texture: Tender, light and moist, with creamy pockets from the apple pieces.
- Fresh flavor: Made from scratch with real apples for bright, natural taste.
- Versatile: Not overly sweet—serve it for breakfast, brunch, snack or dessert.
- Easy: No special equipment or advanced skills required.
✔️ French Apple Cake Ingredients and Substitutions
See the printable recipe card below for exact quantities and a complete ingredient list.
- Apples: Use a baking apple or a mix of varieties. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp hold up well; Fuji, Gala or Braeburn add sweetness.
- Rum or brandy: White or dark rum or apple brandy (Calvados) give the cake depth. Omit the alcohol if you prefer.
- Flour: All-purpose flour works well.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is preferred; salted butter can be used if needed.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar for the batter and optional confectioners’ sugar for dusting.
- Eggs: Large eggs.
- Flavorings: Vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
- Leavening: Baking powder.
🔎 What Kind of Apples are Best for Apple Cake?
For the best balance of texture and flavor, combine apples with different profiles. Firm, tart apples such as Granny Smith hold their shape; Honeycrisp and Braeburn add crunch and sweetness; Fuji and Gala are good if you prefer milder, sweeter fruit. Mixing two types gives the most interesting result.
🔎 How to Make French Apple Cake From Scratch
For timing and detailed measurements, consult the recipe card below.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan or line a regular 9-inch cake pan with parchment and grease.
- Whisk dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- Mix wet ingredients: Beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed. Stir in vanilla and the rum or brandy if using.
- Add dry ingredients: Fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Add apples: Gently fold in the chopped apples. The batter will be thick.
- Bake: Transfer batter to the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. Unmold and remove any parchment.
- Finish: Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
✔️ French Apple Cake FAQ
🔎 What Can I Use Instead of Rum in Apple Cake?
Apple brandy (Calvados) is a classic choice. If you prefer not to use alcohol, simply omit it—the recipe still tastes excellent.
🔎 How to Serve this French Apple Dessert?
This cake is delicious warm, at room temperature or chilled. Serving suggestions:
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Sweetened whipped cream
- A light caramel drizzle
- A dusting of confectioners’ sugar
🔎 Can I Make French Apple Cake Ahead of Time?
Yes. Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It also freezes well.
✔️ Storing and Freezing Apple Cake with Fresh Apples
- Keep covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or place in a freezer bag. Freeze for 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.
🔪 French Apple Cake Tips and Notes
- Top the cake with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for extra indulgence.
- The rum or brandy is optional and can be left out without replacing it.
Recipe adapted from Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan.
Other cakes you might enjoy: Sour Cream Coffee Cake; Lemon Loaf Cake; Sock It To Me Cake; Butter Pecan Cake; Pumpkin Cake; Watergate Cake; Apple Crisp Cheesecake.
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Suggested equipment: 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan, electric hand mixer or stand mixer, measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls.
French Apple Cake Recipe
A simple, buttery French apple cake with fresh apples and a light touch of spirit for depth. Serves 8.
Equipment
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- 9-inch springform or round cake pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for topping
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons Calvados (apple brandy) or dark rum (optional)
- 2 apples (about 3 1/2–4 cups chopped), peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- Confectioners’ sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan or line and grease a regular 9-inch pan.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla and the rum or brandy if using.
- Mix in the flour mixture until just combined.
- Fold in the chopped apples.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smooth the top and sprinkle with a tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Bake about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes, then remove from the pan.
- Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- To freeze: cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
Calories: 267 kcal; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 13 g.