My grandmother always said that the best recipes don’t need to shout to be heard. This Irish Apple Cake is a perfect example of that quiet confidence—simple ingredients coming together to create a dessert that feels like a warm hug on a rainy afternoon.
This isn’t a fancy patisserie creation; it is a rustic, honest cake loaded with tart Granny Smith apples and topped with a buttery oat streusel. It is the kind of bake that tastes even better the next day, once the juices from the apples have had time to settle into the crumb.
Simple Comfort on a Plate
You will love this recipe because it relies on the magic of basic ingredients. The tartness of the apples cuts through the sweet, brown sugar batter, while the cinnamon glaze adds just the right finish. It is sturdy enough to hold in your hand but tender enough to melt in your mouth. This is the definition of no-fuss baking—it comes out of the oven looking rustic and beautiful without any special decoration, making it a reliable choice for any level of baker.
Print
Irish Apple Cake
- Total Time: 65 mins
- Yield: 8 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A rustic, comforting Irish Apple Cake featuring tart Granny Smith apples and a crunchy oat streusel topping. This simple yet flavorful bake is finished with a sweet cinnamon glaze, making it perfect for tea time or a cozy dessert.
Ingredients
- Granny Smith apples
- Unsalted butter
- White sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Rolled oats
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
- Confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, oats, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in cold cubed butter until coarse crumbs form, then refrigerate the streusel.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
- Beat room-temperature butter with white and brown sugars until fluffy, then beat in eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl; slowly add to the butter mixture on low speed, then mix in the milk.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan, arrange apple slices on top, and sprinkle the cold streusel over the apples.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and drizzle with a glaze made of confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, and milk.
Notes
For the best results, ensure your apples are sliced uniformly to allow for even baking. If you prefer a crunchier topping, you can add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel mixture before refrigerating it.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
Pantry Staples for Honest Flavor
You likely have most of what you need right now. This recipe celebrates the honest flavor of good apples and butter.
- Granny Smith Apples: These are the star. Their tartness balances the sugar, and they hold their shape well during baking.
- Butter: Use unsalted so you can control the salt. Make sure it is at room temperature for the cake batter.
- Sugars: A mix of white and light brown sugar gives the cake moisture and a deep, caramel-like undertone.
- Rolled Oats: Old-fashioned oats in the streusel add a wonderful chewiness that contrasts with the soft apples.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon is essential here, tying the apples and the glaze together with warm familiarity.
The Simple Way to Bake It
Step 1: Prepare the Streusel
Start by mixing your flour, sugar, oats, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Pop this in the fridge; keeping the butter cold helps the streusel stay crisp.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch round cake pan. In a medium bowl, beat the room-temperature butter with the white and brown sugars until fluffy. This usually takes 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
Step 3: Combine Dry and Wet
Whisk your flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a separate small bowl. Slowly add this to your butter mixture, beating on low speed. Once the flour is just incorporated, add the milk and mix until combined. The batter will be thick and fragrant.
Step 4: Assemble and Bake
Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Arrange the apple slices on top—it doesn’t have to be perfect, just overlap them slightly. Sprinkle that cold streusel generously over the apples. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 5: Glaze and Cool
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before moving it to a wire rack. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, and milk for the glaze. Drizzle it over the cake just before you are ready to serve.
Jesse’s Tips for Success
To get that perfect texture where the cake is moist but not soggy, make sure you don’t overmix the batter once the flour goes in. Overmixing makes for a tough cake, and we want a tender crumb. Also, when arranging your apples, press them slightly into the batter so they become one with the cake as it rises. If you love baking with fresh produce, check out our Fruit & Garden section for more inspiration.
Simple Swaps
Baking should be about using what you have. If you don’t have Granny Smith apples, Honeycrisp or Braeburn work well too, though they might be a touch sweeter. You can also swap the cinnamon in the glaze for a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for a different kind of warmth. For those days when you need something faster, our Cute & Quick Bakes category has plenty of speedy options, but this cake is worth the wait.
Simple Enjoyment
This cake is perfect for a mid-morning break with a strong cup of coffee or tea. It is not overly sweet, so it works just as well for breakfast as it does for dessert. If you want to dress it up for guests, serve it warm with a pour of custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It is a reliable crowd-pleaser for any gathering, much like the recipes in our Party Cakes & Events collection.
A Simple Truth
There is a profound comfort in baking a cake that relies on honest flavors rather than flashy decoration. This Irish Apple Cake is a testament to the fact that simple is often best. It keeps well and tastes even more delicious the next day. I hope you give this recipe a try and share a slice with someone you care about. For more tried-and-true recipes, explore our Classic Favorites. You can also see how this compares to other versions of Irish Apple Cake you might find online; I think you will find this one particularly special.
