German Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Video Tutorial) By Kelly Miller • January21,2020 • 16 Comments 3.2K 7 Jump to Recipe Jump to Video This German Apple Cake recipe is made with fresh chopped apples and topped with cream cheese frosting – a total crowd favorite dessert recipe you just have to try! I’ve yet to meet someone who would refuse a slice of this amazing German Apple Cake! This has a delicious homemade batter, lots of fresh chopped apples, and a homemade cream cheese frosting to top it off. I mean really, what’s not to love about this dessert?! I’ve been making this recipe for years and I always question why I never make this cake recipe more! It’s one of those tried and true desserts that people will love no matter where you bring it to share. Put it on your menu plan this week! To watch the video tutorial of this German Apple Cake recipe, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post! What kind of apples are used in this recipe? I typically use bagged gala or fugi apples, but really any apples will work in this cake. Can I skip the frosting? Yes! This works as a delicious brunch cake without the frosting if you’re looking for something a bit less sweet. Is this traditional German apple cake? No, this is a much easier cake to prepare! Traditional German apple cake arranges thin sliced apples in neat rows on top of the cake batter. Here at Mostly Homemade Mom, we take shortcuts where we can – and I just simply love the bites of apples throughout the entire cake! How to make German Apple Cake: In a mixing bowl, beat together sugar, eggs, and oil. Add in flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Fold in chopped apples. Spread batter evenly into a baking dish sprayed with non stick spray. Bake and cool completely. For the frosting, beat together cream cheese, melted butter, and powdered sugar. Spread evenly onto cooled cake. Slice and serve! Can leftover cake be kept on the counter? No, because of the dairy content in the cream cheese frosting, keep leftover slices of this cake covered and in the refrigerator. Do the apple pieces cook through? Yes, the high temperature and long baking time allow the apple pieces to completely cook until tender. Ways to shortcut this recipe: Use pre-sliced and cut apples Use store-bought cream cheese frosting Don’t worry – this cake will still taste absolutely fantastic if you’re short on time! More favorite cake recipes: Cherry Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting Fresh Strawberry Jello Cake Peach Walnut Dump Cake Fluffy Homemade Vanilla Cake German Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting German Apple Cake recipe with fresh chopped apples and topped with homemade cream cheese frosting. 3.99 from 113 votes Print Pin Rate Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanKeyword: recipe for german apple cake Prep Time: 10 minutes minutesCook Time: 1 hour hourTotal Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes Servings: 12 Calories: 446kcal Author: Kelly Miller Ingredients▢ 3 eggs▢ 1 cup oil▢ 2 cups sugar▢ 2 cups flour▢ 1 tsp baking soda▢ 1/4 tsp salt▢ 1 tsp cinnamon▢ 4 cups apples peeled, cored, and choppedFor cream cheese frosting:▢ 3 tbsp butter melted▢ 8 oz cream cheese room temperature▢ 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar InstructionsBeat eggs, oil, and sugar until smooth with an electric mixer.Add in flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until batter is thick.Stir in apples. Spread batter into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish that has been sprayed with non stick spray.Bake at 325 degrees for one hour, or until a cake tester comes out crumbly. Cool completely.For frosting, beat together butter and cream cheese.Gradually add in powdered sugar beating well after each addition.Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake. Video NutritionCalories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 256mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 62g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 1.9mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.3mg Tried this recipe?Follow me @mostlyhomemademom or tag #MostlyHomemadeMom! 3.2K 7
Julie Ruble says February 26, 2015 at 6:18 pm I love apple desserts too! This one looks SO good! Reply
Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says February 27, 2015 at 1:33 am This looks so delicious, Kelly! I love apple desserts…and cream cheese frosting, too. I couldn't be trusted around a bowl of the stuff either! 🙂 Reply
Rebecca Tweedy says September 25, 2021 at 2:56 am I haven’t made this recipe yet, but before I do, can I use butter instead of oil? Reply
CathyMac says September 26, 2021 at 2:59 pm The cake is beautiful. It is not very sweet & the frosting doesn’t seem to taste good with this type of cake. It is really pretty though! I am considering trying it again with more cinnamon & possibly brown sugar with the crumb topping. Reply
Kelly Miller says September 26, 2021 at 8:51 pm I’m sorry you didn’t like the frosting with the cake! I’ve actually made this cake without the frosting several times, with no topping at all actually, and it tastes great. It’s a great brunch/coffee cake type recipe that way. If you try it with a brown sugar topping, let me know how that turns out! Reply
Marita L.Perry says September 26, 2021 at 8:40 pm I love apple recipes. Can I add raisin and walnuts to this recipe? Reply
LuAnn Sewell says October 18, 2021 at 6:20 pm Been using this exact recipe for 35 years😊 Folks rave about it. Reply
Gayle P. says October 22, 2022 at 10:09 pm This cake is DELICIOUS! Followed the instructions exactly and I couldn’t be happier with the results!! Reply
Linda says April 11, 2023 at 3:53 pm Hi, I haven’t made this yet, I have to make it for a potluck in a couple days and I was wondering if I could use a yellow cake mix Reply