This simple French Apple Cake is moist, buttery, tender and one of the easiest cakes to make. Lightly infused with either rum or brandy and brimming with pieces of fresh apples, this traditional French apple cake is perfect served for dessert or breakfast and a great addition to the holidays and special occasions.
We love all things fall and apple season. Some of our favorite apple desserts are these Caramel Apple Bars and the best Dutch Apple Pie!
The Best French Apple Cake Recipe
Whether this is your first time baking or you are an expert baker, this classic French apple cake is moist, tender and bursting with apple flavor.
This delicious cake recipe is made with simple pantry ingredients and is always a crowd pleaser. This simple dessert is a must bake during the holiday season.
Why You Will Love This Cake Recipe?
- Perfect Texture: This is a tender, light and very moist cake with a wonderfully creamy texture due to the small chunks of apples in the cake batter.
- Amazing Flavor: This rustic cake is made from scratch with fresh apples for maximum flavor!
- Versatile: The finished cake is not overly sweet, so it can be served for breakfast, brunch, as a snack and of course as dessert (I like topping mine with a scoop of ice cream).
- Easy: This is a simple recipe that doesn’t require any baking experience or special equipment.
French Apple Cake Ingredients and Substitutions
Check the printable recipe card below for the complete ingredient’s list and their exact quantities.
- Apples: You can use your favorite type of apple or a variety of apples. For best results, use a good baking apple such as Honeycrisp apples, a crisp apple like Braeburn or tart apples like Granny Smith apples. If you prefer sweet apples, Fuji apples are a good option.
- Rum or Brandy: This apple dessert recipe gets an extra boost of flavor from white or dark rum or apple brandy (Calvados). Pear liqueur (eau de vie de poire) is also a good option. You can omit the liqueur, if preferred. You don’t need to substitute this ingredient.
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour.
- Butter: I prefer using unsalted butter when baking, but you can use salted butter if that’s what you have at home.
- Sugar: For this recipe, I use granulated sugar for the cake batter and confectioners’ sugar for the top.
- Eggs: I use large eggs.
- Flavorings: Vanilla extract, salt.
- Leavening: Baking powder.
What Kind of Apples are Best for Apple Cake?
There are many options when it comes to choosing the right apples for baking. I like using a combination of apples which provides different textures and flavors to your baked goods. Some great options are Granny Smith and Honeycrisp which are firm and tart and hold their shape well. Some sweeter options are Fuji, Gala and Braeburn. Pink Lady and McIntosh are also great apples for baking.
How to make French Apple Cake From Scratch
For specific instructions and times, please check the printable recipe card below.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray or butter. You can also use a regular 9-inch cake pan lined with a parchment paper circle.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl..
- Mix Wet Ingredients: You can mix the batter by hand or using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and the calvados or rum and mix to combine. The batter may look grainy at this point.
- Add Dry Ingredients Into Wet Mixture: Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Add Apples: Fold in the chopped apples and mix to combine. The batter will be thick.
- Bake: Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. You can smooth the top a bit with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the top with about a tablespoon of granulated sugar and bake for about 40 minutes or until a cake tester or wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool: Cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes and unmold.
- Dust: Using a fine sieve, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar (optional). Serve warm or at room temperature.
French Apple Cake FAQ
What Can I Use Instead of Rum In Apple Cake?
For this French Apple Cake recipe, you can use apple brandy (Calvados). You can also omit the alcohol altogether. You won’t need to use any other ingredient as substitution.
How to Serve this French Apple Dessert?
This amazing cake can be served warm, at room temperature or cold and it’s absolutely delicious by itself. Here are some topping ideas that pair beautifully with this cake:
- Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Sweetened whipped cream.
- Caramel drizzle like this homemade salted caramel sauce.
- Additional dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
Can I make French Apple Cake Ahead of Time?
Yes, this cake can be made ahead of time. Keep it covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge in an airtight container for 5 days.
Storing and Freezing Apple Cake with Fresh Apples
- This cake can be kept covered at room temperature for 2 days.
- Cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for 5 days.
- This cake freezes well. Cool it completely and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Place it in an airtight container or a large resealable plastic bag and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bring it to room temperature before serving.
French Apple Cake Tips and Notes
- This is the perfect dessert to top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to add a little extra sweetness to the cake.
- You can omit the rum or the brandy, if preferred. You don’t need to substitute them in this recipe.
Recipe adapted from Around My French Table cookbook by Dorie Greenspan
Take A Look At These Other Cake Recipes:
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French Apple Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar,
plus more for the top of the cake

- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons calvados apple brandy or dark rum
- 2 apples like Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Fuji or Gala (3 1/2 – 4 cups chopped), peeled, cored and chopped into about 1/2-inch pieces.
- Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat the inside of a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray or butter. You can also use a regular 9-inch baking cake pan lined with a parchment paper circle and greased with cooking spray or butter.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
- You can mix the cake batter by hand, with a handheld electric mixer or with a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, allowing each to incorporate before adding the next one. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the vanilla and the calvados or rum and mix to combine. The batter may look grainy at this point.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- With the help of a spatula, fold in the chopped apples and mix to combine. The batter will be thick.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. You can smooth the top a bit with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with granulated sugar (about a tablespoon).
- Bake for about 40 minutes or until a cake tester or wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the cake pan to a cooling rack and cool for about 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the cake and if using a springform pan, remove the sides. If using a regular baking pan, turn it out onto a cake plate or wire rack and remove the parchment paper.
- Using a fine sieve, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar (optional). The cake can be served warm or at room temperature.
Video
Chef’s Tips
- The cake can be served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- This cake freezes well.
- Cool completely and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Place it in an airtight container or a large resealable plastic bag and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bring it to room temperature before serving.
Riul says
Very good and it was easy to make. Took it to a brunch party and it was gone so that’s always a good sign.
Kathy says
Thank you.
Debra Scott says
I skipped the alcohol and still was delicious! Quick and easy cake. 100 points!
Brenda says
This recipe was perfect! my new favorite
Trista Bucha says
I had never baked a French apple cake before and was unsure how it was going to turn out. But, your directions and step by step pictures were so easy to follow. This cake came out stunning and had an amazing apple flavor! Will definitely be making again for the holidays!!
Kathy says
Thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed it!