Jewish Apple Cake

Jewish apple cake is a moist, dense cake brimming with chunks of cinnamon sugar coated apple. It is the perfect fall dessert!

Ok, I feel like I have no business writing about a tradition that belongs to another, but every year my instagram starts filling with posts about an apple or honey cake for Shabbat or other Jewish gatherings and celebrations and my curiosity was piqued. What was this glorious dessert and do I dare make my own?

I have spent all year testing recipes and I have to say, a cake filled with layers of apples, HECK YES. You need it in your life!!! It’s such a sweet and simple cake and my goodness does it hit the spot! It’s moist and flavorful, but it’s especially unique in that there’s no frosting! I love a cake that can stand on its own!!

A slice of Jewish apple cake on a white dessert plate with a fork next to it. The cake is dense and filled with apple slices and there is powdered sugar on top.

What is Jewish Apple Cake?

Jewish apple cake is a simple, dense cake believe to have originated in Poland.

Ingredients for Jewish Apple Cake

All you need is simple pantry ingredients for this cake which is why I love it! I can make it anytime because I always have these ingredients on hand. Here is what you will need:

Cake

Apples
Sugar
Cinnamon
Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Brown Sugar
Canola Oil
Vanilla
Eggs
Orange Juice

Topping

Brown Sugar
Flour
Butter
Powdered Sugar

The measurements for each ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.

A picture of a Jewish apple cake. It is shaped like an angel food cake and has one slice cut and partially removed. The cake has powdered sugar on top.

How to Make Jewish Apple Cake

Simple ingredients usually means simple steps too. Here are the instructions for making this cake recipe:

Preheat the oven and grease your pan.
Mix the cinnamon and sugar and take 1/2 cup of it and mix it with the apples.
Sift the dry ingredients and the remaining cinnamon into a both.
In another bowl combine all the wet ingredients plus 2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the wet. Fold everything together with a wooden spoon.
Now you are going to layer the batter with the apples. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the pan, then 1/3 of the apples, then a tablespoon of cinnamon sugar, and repeat until the batter and apples are gone.
Combine the ingredients for the topping and sprinkle it over the top of the cake.
Bake. Allow it to cool, remove it from the pan, and dust it with some powdered sugar.

More detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

A slice of Jewish Apple cake on a white dessert plate. The cake is dense and moist with apple slices in it.

What Apples are Best for Jewish Apple Cake?

I prefer a combination of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples for this recipe. You can use any combination of your favorite types of apples. I love the combination of the tart Grannies and the yummy Honeys!

Does Jewish Apple Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?

This cake should be kept in the refrigerator.

How Long Will Apple Cake Keep?

It will keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

A Jewish apple cake with a couple of slices cut. You can see slices of apples and powdered sugar on top.

Can This Cake be Frozen?

Yes, the cake freezes amazingly! Let it cool completely and then freeze either whole or in pieces. Wrap it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. When you are ready to eat it, just pull it out and let it thaw on the counter.

How Do You Remove a Cake from the Pan?

Place a cake plate on top of the pan, with the serving side against the pan. Using pot holders, hold the cake plate in place with one hand. Carefully turn the cake upside down onto the cake plate with the other hand.

As the cake cools, it will release from the pan. You may need to run a flat blade knife around the edges of the pan.

A slice of Jewish apple cake on a white dessert plate with a fork next to it. The cake is dense, and filled with apples. There is powdered sugar on the cake top.

You can’t ever have too many apple cake recipes in my humble opinion! We have an apple cake with caramel frosting, an apple cake with caramel sauce, and a pecan apple bundt cake on the blog, but we needed this Jewish apple cake! I just love love love it!

More Easy Apple Desserts:

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