Easy Apple Oatmeal Cake

This is the easiest and most delicious Apple Oatmeal Cake! It has fresh soft apples, cinnamon spice, applesauce, hearty oats, and incredible flavours in every bite. This cake melts-in-your-mouth and before you know it you'll be going for seconds!

After making my Easy Apple Cake last week, I know I had to make an oatmeal version soon enough.

There is nothing like an apple cake fresh out of the oven. The aromas, the soft cake, the first bite...I'm in heaven just thinking about it!

This cake is perfect for any occasion. Whether it's a breakfast prep or a simple weekend treat. It is decadent and spectacular.

My favourite part about this cake is how easy it is. You don't even need an electric mixer.

For more apple bakes, try Apple Breakfast Cake, Applesauce Coffee Cake, and Apple Oatmeal Muffins.

Why this recipe works

• Breakfast idea – This is a great recipe to make ahead of time and then enjoy with your morning coffee!
• Easy to make – This cake comes together with just a few simple steps!
• Apples – Perfect to use up apples any time of the year.

Ingredients Notes

Full recipe and ingredients are in the recipe card below. Feel free to scroll through this section to view certain key ingredients we’re using!

• Apples – I used 2 large Granny Smith apples. You can use any kind of apples though. I prefer using a tart apple in this cake as it compliments well with the sweetness. I had 2 cups total, with 1 cup being shredded and 1 cup sliced into small cubes. I chopped them with the skin off, but you can keep it if you wish.
• Applesauce – I used unsweetened applesauce.
• Cornstarch – This helps add a tender crumb to the cake and keeps the apples from sinking to the bottom.
• Eggs – Make sure they’re at room temperature before beginning.
• Flour – All-purpose flour is used in this recipe.

Step by step instructions

Here is how to make and bake this easy apple oatmeal cake. You will need a 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper, 3 mixing bowls, a spatula, and a whisk.

Step 1 – Prep. Grease the pan. For easy removal of the cake, place parchment paper on the bottom and 2 sides of the pan. Gently grease the other two sides and then set aside. Peel and cut one of the apples into small cubes, and shred the other one. Gently toss the apples in 1/4 tsp cinnamon and set aside to use later.

Step 2 – Mix dry ingredients. In a medium sized bowl, add in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, rolled oats, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.

Step 3 – Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add oil, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs. Mix for 2-3 minutes until well combined. Make sure to scrap the sides of the bowl.

Step 4 - Add the dry ingredients. Add the dry into the wet and using a spatula, mix until just combined and no flour streaks appear. Do not over-mix!

Step 5 - Add the apples. Add them into the batter and mix until just combined and evenly distributed. Don't over-mix!

Step 6 – Bake. Spread the batter into the prepared pan evenly. In a small cup, mix together 3 tsps sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Sprinkle that on top. This will give you a sweet crunchy top. 

Bake this easy apple cake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. It took me 47 minutes exactly in my oven, but ovens do vary so keep an eye on it after 40 minutes 🙂

Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy! This apple oatmeal cake is soo good! It stays good on the counter for a day in an airtight container, and in the refrigerator for 5 days!

FAQ

Can I use sweetened applesauce?

Yes, your cake will just be a bit sweeter! If you do use sweetened applesauce, please use tart apples to compliment the sweet and sour.

Can this recipe be doubled?

Yes, bake it in a 9×13 pan and increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes.

Do I have to add applesauce?

If you don’t want to add applesauce, you can replace it with room temperature yogurt, buttermilk, or kefir.

Can I bake this in an 8×8 pan?

Yes, but the cake will be taller.

Do I have to add oats?

Check out Easy Apple Cake for an oat-less version!

Check out more oatmeal recipes

PS : If you enjoyed this recipe, please make sure to leave a STAR REVIEW down below! I'd love to stay connected on Instagram @taffeybakery! To get more recipes follow me on TikTok @taffeybakery!

Easy Apple Oatmeal Cake

Ania

Apple Oatmeal Cake has fresh soft apples, cinnamon spice, applesauce, hearty oats, and incredible flavours in every bite. This cake melts-in-your-mouth and before you know it you'll be going for seconds!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 9 squares

Calories 302 kcal

Need metric measurements?Use the buttons below to click between US cups and Metric grams!

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

For the cake

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups rolled oats or large flake oats
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon + 1/4 tsp for dusting apples
• Dash of allspice optional
• Dash of cloves optional
• Dash of nutmeg optional
• 1/2 cup oil
• 3/4 cups unsweetened applesauce* room temperature
• 3/4 cups light brown sugar room temperature
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2 large eggs room temperature
• 1 medium-sized Granny Smith apple* shredded
• 1 medium-sized Granny Smith apple cut in cubes

For the topping

• 3 tsp white sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Equipment

9x9 Baking Pan

Parchment Paper

Gram Scale

Whisk

Spatula

Instructions

 

Prep

• Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃. For easy removal of the cake, place parchment paper on the bottom and 2 sides of the pan. Gently grease the two sides without parchment paper and then set aside.
• Peel and cut one of the apples into small cubes, and shred the other one. I like to do both as it brings more texture to the cake, but you can do one or the other with your 2 apples. Gently toss the apples in 1/4 tsp cinnamon and set aside to use later.
  1 medium-sized Granny Smith apple*, 1 medium-sized Granny Smith apple

For the cake

• In a medium sized bowl, add in flour, rolled oats, cornstarch, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.
  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cups rolled oats, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 3/4 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, Dash of allspice, Dash of cloves, Dash of nutmeg
• In a large bowl, add oil, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and applesauce. Whisk for 2-3 minutes until it's well combined. Make sure to scrap the sides of the bowl.
  1/2 cup oil, 3/4 cups unsweetened applesauce*, 3/4 cups light brown sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla, 2 large eggs
• Mix in the dry ingredients and using a spatula, gently fold until a batter forms. Do not over-mix!
• Add the apples into the bowl. Gently mix until JUST combined, don't over-mix!
  1 medium-sized Granny Smith apple*, 1 medium-sized Granny Smith apple
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan evenly. In a small cup, add white sugar and cinnamon and mix together. Then sprinkle on top evenly. This will give you a sweet crunchy top.
  3 tsp white sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, depending on your oven. It took me 48 minutes exactly. Allow it to cool, slice, and enjoy!
• This cake is best enjoyed fresh day of and next day. Store in an airtight container for 3 days on your counter, or up to a week in the fridge.

Notes

*Apples – I used 2 large Granny Smith apples. You can use any kind of apples. I prefer using a tart apple in this cake as it compliments well with the sweetness. I had 2 cups total, with 1 cup being shredded and 1 cup sliced into small cubes. I chopped them with the skin off, but you can keep it if you wish. You can also JUST chop them or shred them, I prefer doing both for more texture 🙂

*Applesauce - You can use unsweetened or sweetened, but if you use sweetened the cake will be sweeter (obviously haha!)

Nutrition

Serving: 1squareCalories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 134mgPotassium: 90mgFiber: 2gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg

Keyword apple oatmeal cake

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