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Moist Apple Dapple Cake with Buttery Brown Sugar Glaze

chef Laya
This Moist Apple Dapple Cake is an old-fashioned fall dessert filled with fresh apples, crunchy pecans, cinnamon, and warm spices. A rich buttery brown sugar glaze is poured over the warm cake, soaking into every bite for a tender, caramel-like finish. Perfect for Thanksgiving, holiday gatherings, and apple season baking.
Prepr Time 25 minutes
Cooking Time 1 hour 10 minutes
ToTal Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Type of plate Dessert
kitchen American
Serving 6

Ingredients
  

For the Apple Dapple Cake

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups peeled and finely chopped apples about 3 medium apples
  • 1 cup chopped pecans toasted if desired

For the buttery brown sugar glaze

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup whole milk or heavy cream
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan very well with baking spray, or coat it with butter and flour. Make sure every groove and the center tube are coated.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir with a sturdy spatula just until combined. The batter will be thick.
  • Fold in the chopped apples and pecans until evenly distributed. Do not overmix.
  • Spoon the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release large air bubbles.
  • Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover the cake with foil during the final 15 minutes.
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Carefully invert the cake onto a wire rack set over a baking sheet or parchment paper.
  • While the cake is still warm, use a skewer, chopstick, or thin knife to poke holes across the top of the cake.
  • For the glaze, combine the butter, brown sugar, milk, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the butter melts and the mixture reaches a gentle boil.
  • Boil the glaze for 2 minutes while stirring continuously. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Slowly pour about half of the warm glaze over the warm cake. Let it soak in for 10 minutes, then pour the remaining glaze evenly over the cake.
  • Let the cake cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Apples: Use firm baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, or Fuji. A mix of tart and sweet apples gives the best flavor.
  • Batter texture: The cake batter is very thick before the apples are folded in. This is normal; do not add extra liquid.