Oh my heart 🥹🍎—the first dessert to disappear is the highest compliment there is. This has family favorite written all over it. Let’s give your mom’s Swedish Apple Cake the big, warm, nostalgic recipe it deserves 💛👇
🍎 Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)
Simple • Cozy • Always the first to go
This classic Swedish Apple Cake is the kind of dessert that feels like a hug from the past. Soft, lightly spiced, buttery, and filled with tender apples, it’s the cake that quietly steals the show at family gatherings. No frosting. No fuss. Just pure comfort. Every bite tastes like tradition, love, and a recipe that’s been made over and over because it never fails.
It’s easy, humble, and unforgettable—exactly the kind of cake moms are famous for 💛
🧾 Ingredients
For the Cake:
½ cup butter, room temperature
1⅔ cups sugar
2 eggs
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
For the Apples:
3–4 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work beautifully)
1–2 teaspoons extra cinnamon
1 tablespoon sugar (optional, depending on apple sweetness)
🧑🍳 Instructions & Method
1️⃣ Prep the Oven & Pan
Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and lightly flour a round or square baking pan.
2️⃣ Cream Butter & Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step builds the cake’s soft texture.
3️⃣ Add Eggs & Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla until smooth.
4️⃣ Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined.
5️⃣ Assemble the Cake
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Arrange apple slices over the top, slightly pressing them into the batter. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon and a little sugar if desired.
6️⃣ Bake
Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let cool slightly before serving—the aroma alone will bring everyone into the kitchen 🍎
🔬 Formation: Why This Cake Is So Beloved
Butter + sugar create a tender crumb
Cinnamon adds warmth without overpowering
Apples baked on top soften and sink slightly, keeping the cake moist
Simple batter lets the fruit shine
Nothing fancy. Everything perfect.
📜 A Little Swedish History
Swedish apple cakes like äppelkaka are rooted in home baking traditions where desserts were meant to be simple, seasonal, and shared. Apples were abundant, spices were used sparingly, and cakes were designed to pair perfectly with coffee. These recipes were passed down through generations—often handwritten, often memorized, always loved.
This cake carries that legacy 🍂
💛 For Lovers of Cozy Baking
This cake is perfect for:
Family gatherings
Afternoon coffee breaks
Holidays and potlucks
Anyone who loves old-fashioned desserts
Serve it:
Warm with vanilla custard
With whipped cream
Or just as it is, straight from the pan
🔁 Methods for Lovers (Tips & Variations)
Add sliced almonds on top for crunch
Use brown sugar instead of white for deeper flavor
Mix cardamom with cinnamon for a true Nordic twist
Even better the next day (if any is left)
🍰 Conclusion
This Swedish Apple Cake isn’t just a dessert—it’s a memory. Soft, fragrant, and filled with tender apples, it’s easy to see why it was always the first to disappear. Recipes like this remind us that the simplest cakes are often the most loved.
One bite, and you understand everything 💛🍎
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