4 Ingredient Apple Pie Cake
This apple pie cake is a cross between apple pie and cake. It only needs 4 ingredients and is a from- scratch version of classic dump cake made without cake mix or canned filling. With a buttery, golden topping and simple pantry ingredients, it’s an easy dessert that feels homemade in every bite.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) apples, peeled, core and seeds removed and cut into ¼-inch slices (about 5 cups sliced), see note before starting
- 3/4 cup (92g) self-rising flour, see note before starting
- 7 tablespoons (63g) granulated sugar, divided
- 1/2 cup (113g) cold unsalted butter, cut into thin slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, toss apple slices with 3 tablespoons sugar and spices (if using) until evenly coated. Spread apples in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, stir together self-rising flour and remaining 4 tablespoons sugar until evenly combined.
- Sprinkle the flour mixture evenly over the apples. Lay the butter slices across the top, covering as much of the surface as possible. I cut my butter into about 25 slices. If you have some large gaps of uncovered surface, you can add a little more butter to cover.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges. About 30 minutes into baking, check on the cake. The apple mixture should be bubbling and the butter on top should be melted. Check to see if there are any floury spots not being touched by the liquid butter or the bubbling apple mixture. If you see any spots, use a spatula to gently push down any floury spots so that they get covered in liquid.
- After the cake is done, let the cake cool slightly, allowing the liquid to thicken. Then cut into slices. You can serve the cake plain or top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Store any uneaten cake in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- Apple note: This recipe works best with a sweet and firm apple variety like Fuji, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady. The apples cook for a long time and using a firmer variety will prevent the apples from getting too mushy. You also want to use a sweet apple variety because there is not much sugar added to the recipe.
- Self-rising flour note. There are 2 main kinds of self-rising flour sold in the US. One that is a lower protein (2 grams per 1/4 cup serving) flour and one that has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup (30g) serving). The amount of protein affects how much liquid is absorbed. For this recipe, I tested it with Gold Medal self-rising flour* (regular amount of protein). Please use a self-rising flour with a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup), or make your own self-rising flour with the recipe below.
- *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Homemade self-rising flour: Whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1.5 tsp baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Make sure your all purpose flour has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup). Most brands in the US contain this amount but there are some brands with higher protein (4 grams per 1/4 cup) such as King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill, which will not work well for this recipe. Measure out 3/4 cup for the recipe.
- Spice note: If you like Fall spices, you can add 3/4 tsp cinnamon or 3/4 tsp apple pie spice to the apples.
- This cake is topped with vanilla ice cream. Estimated nutrition does not include optional vanilla ice cream.
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 197kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Sodium: 117mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 17g, NET CARBS: 25
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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