Apple Walnut Spice Cake is a sweet and delicious way to celebrate apple season.
At this time of year, I love to make use of fresh, local apples, like in this Apple Chicken Stew, or Roasted Beet & Apple Salad, but baking with apples is my favourite. Last season, I made Apple Cheddar Muffins with Rosemary, which was amazing.
How Can We Have Local Apples Any Time of Year?
Local apples are available all year round. This is because, after harvest, many of them are kept in what is called controlled atmosphere storage. In controlled atmosphere storage, apples are kept in a sealed room where the temperature, oxygen levels, and humidity are controlled to keep the apples at the peak of freshness. The apples are kept in peak freshness, then accessed throughout the year according to the market demand.
Apple Harvest Time
Although it is, indeed, a great thing to be able to eat a fresh, local apple in February, there’s nothing better than fresh-picked apples at harvest time. Depending on the variety, harvest time for apples is mostly in the fall. It’s a perfect autumn experience to bite into a cold, crisp apple, picked from the tree in October.
Fun Facts About Apples
- There are 7500 different varieties of apples that grow throughout the world.
- Apples are a member of the rose family.
- ” Bobbing for apples” is possible because apples are made up of 25% air, so they float.
- The science of apple growing is called Pomology.
- The Law of Gravity was born from an apple falling from a tree on Sir Isaac Newton’s head
Apple Nutrition
The old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” isn’t far off the mark. A medium apple has about 80 calories, almost zero fat, and no sodium or cholesterol. Apples are very high in fibre, and rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. They are good sources of Vitamin C, B Vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, potassium, and phosphorous. Find out why all of these are good for you here: Apples: Health Benefits, Research, and Facts.
About this Apple Walnut Spice Cake
This Apple Walnut Spice Cake is easy to make. And, it’s full of apple goodness, the crunch of toasted walnuts, and warm fall spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. An optional caramel glaze adds a perfect finishing touch, especially when poured over the still-warm cake. It soaks into the cake, adding a delicious caramel apple flavour. You will love the way your kitchen smells while this cake is baking, too. I used a bundt pan for this cake, but any cake pan will work. A slice of this scrumptious apple cake is perfect for an afternoon coffee break or a lunchbox treat.
Apple Walnut Spice Cake
Ingredients
- 4 large apples peeled, cored, and diced
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups flour all purpose
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1 cup walnuts chopped and toasted
Caramel Glaze
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Prepare a 10-inch bundt pan by spraying with cooking spray.Â
- Peel, core and dice apples. There should be around 2 cups when diced
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a bowl using an electric hand mixer, add eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
- Beat at low speed about 1 minute.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
- Add dry ingredient mixture to the egg mixture, and using a spoon, stir until combined.
- Stir in apples and walnuts.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan
- Bake in center of oven 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for about 30 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack and pour caramel glaze over the cake, if using. Allow to cool completely
Caramel Glaze
- In a glass bowl, melt butter in the microwave, about 30 seconds
- Whisk in brown sugar, cream, and vanilla until smooth
- Return to the microwave and heat on high about 2 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved
- Whisk again and allow to cool
Notes
Nutrition
Mmmmm… there are few things that are better than apples and walnuts! This looks so delicious! And I love your ‘fun facts about apples’. I didn’t know most of them! The fact about apples being a member of the rose family surprised me the most!
Thanks Terri, I think that rose family fact surprised me the most, too!
What a scrumptious looking apple cake Colleen and when it’s choke-full of Apple goodness I’m in!
Thanks Marisa. It’s a perfect fall treat!
I definitely eat an apple a day! One of my favourite on the go snacks. Also love adding them to salads and desserts. And speaking of desserts, this cake sounds wonderful. Love the pairing of apple with walnut!
I’m with you, Leanne, I always eat an apple a day. This cake really is wonderful!
This cake looks delicious! It would be perfect with coffee on a fall afternoon.
Hi Cathy, I think that is just the most perfect way to enjoy this yummy cake!
I cannot get enough of apples right now and we are so lucky to have such a variety available to us, aren’t we, Colleen? I love the inspiration of your lovely Apple Walnut Spice cake recipe – it sounds incredible! I learned some great fun facts too! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome post and 5 star recipe with us!
Denise, I agree! We are so lucky! I love the fall and this one has been glorious. Apples are one of the best parts, and I think you’ll love this cake.
Thanks for all those amazing facts about apples. Your description of this apple spice cake and the caramel glaze is making me drool. I am sure with all those pumpkin spices you have added it must be really flavorful. So perfect for this time of the year, I am definitely going to try it out.
Hi Fouzia, You’ll be glad you did! This cake is a perfect slice of fall 🙂
So delicious for these cool fall days and the perfect recipe for all my apples, thanks!
Hi Sabrina! Glad to help you with a way to use your apples! Enjoy!
Apple and walnut are such a great autumn flavour combination…much better than that other veggie that begins with a ‘P’ lol
Hey Bernice, sounds like you are not a fan of that “P” fall star! I think apples & walnuts are every bit the food stars as that one. 🙂
This looks really good, and I love that glaze! And I really enjoyed reading about the facts of apples.
Stine, the glaze really makes this cake extra special! And I’m so glad you liked my fun facts!
Spiced apple cakes are a classic part of Autumn baking, and this sounds amazing. Apple adds a lovely moist consistancy, and wonderful flavours.
Definitely one of the highlights of fall, Helen!
I have a big bowl of apples and I am definitely using some of them to make this. I love walnuts and apples together!
Sara, that big bowl of apples is calling for you to make this cake. You won’t be disappointed!
Oh god this cake is incredible! Wow, I want to eat it every day! I’m sure this is very tasty. This is a great recipe for me.
Hi Mary! I hope you love this and, I for sure would eat it everyday! ♥
That looks delicious, apple based cakes are always so good, I must try this soon as our apple trees are coming to the end of fruiting.
Brian, this is a perfect cake for apple harvest time. Enjoy! ♥
The idea of this recipe makes my heart happy! That caramel glaze, OMG it looks sooooooo good! Great recipe.
Thanks, Adrianne, you are going to love this cake if you love the caramel glaze! Enjoy ♥
This cake looks absolutely amazing. I love the smell of pumpkin spice in my home this time of year.
Thanks, Alexis! It’s the most amazing smell in the fall, isn’t it? I love it, too.
What a great Fall cake to make! I am loving all the apple recipes so I cannot wait to make this one!
Hi Kelsey, I know that you’ll love this one!
This sounds simply delicious. Love a good apple cake, plus walnuts and all that spice. I was satisfied there and then you added the caramel glaze, omg how good!!
Hi Sara! This cake is absolutely yummy all by itself, but the caramel glaze makes it amazing.
I absolutely love fall inspired bundt cakes. What a great recipe!
Thanks Krissy, I hope you love this as much as we do!
I can almost smell the aroma of the cake! What a perfect dessert for fall. Anything with caramel and I’m in.
Hi Iryna, the aroma of this cake is amazing! And, I’m with you, anything with caramel, I’m there!
This sounds delicious! I’d love a bite of that spice cake! My uncle loves spice cake and my mom is always making him some! I need to share this recipe with her!
Hi Cindy, I think your mom, uncle, and you, will love this cake!