Apple Yogurt Cake

This simple apple yogurt cake is packed with sweet apples, creamy yogurt, and hints of lemon. It’s wonderfully moist, tender, and delicious. The perfect way to celebrate the autumn apple season!

Published on October 2019 /Updated on September 2024

I’m sharing this incredible apple yogurt cake again just in time for the weekend, as it’s my favorite fall treat. It’s one of the best apple cake recipes I’ve ever made, and I keep baking it on repeat now that the glorious apples are in season.

I love that it is packed with apples and yogurt rather than tons of butter or sugar. It’s so moist that I can devour two slices in a row without even realizing it. It’s ridiculously good!

The recipe is easy to follow and fairly quick (apart from the slicing). Ready?

The batter is simple: yogurt, sugar, eggs, some vegetable oil, and the classic dry ingredients, four apples, and a touch of cinnamon, which makes everything so comforting and fall-like. 

The next step is to combine dry and wet ingredients, scrape the batter into a cake pan, top with sliced apples, and bake!

You’ll love this freshly baked apple cake; it’s simple yet amazingly delicious. Let me state the obvious: it tastes a million times better than box cake mixes and sugar-packed cakes. 

Let’s make this apple yogurt cake now; it is the perfect weekend fall treat everyone will enjoy!

List of the ingredients

• Apples
• All-purpose flour
• Full-fat plain yogurt
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Vegetable oil
• Lemon
• Cinnamon & vanilla extract
• Baking powder + salt

How to make apple yogurt cake

(Note: this is a quick description; the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

• Peel and cut the apples into 1/2—or 1/4-inch slices, then mix with lemon juice and cinnamon.
• Beat the eggs and sugar until pale, then add the wet ingredients. To make the batter airy, I recommend using a stand mixer or an electric beater. Alternatively, a hand whisk will work, too.

• Add the flour mixed with salt and baking powder, and combine.
• Using a spatula, stir in part of the apples.
• Scrape the cake batter into the prepared pan, top with the remaining apple slices, and bake!

• Optional: Use a pastry brush to brush the cake with warm apricot or lemon jam. This little touch adds shine and color, keeping your apple yogurt cake moist for longer. I’m obsessed with this sweet coating and use it for my yogurt cake and fruit cake, too – I LOVE it!

RECIPE NOTES

Apple yogurt cake ingredients

Sugar + eggs: You can use caster or fine sugar, but regular or light brown sugar also works well.

Apples: Sweet, seasonal apples like Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp are great for baking. Remember that not-so-fresh and slightly wrinkled apples are perfectly fine as their natural sugars concentrate, making them softer and sweeter.

Yogurt: For the best result, I recommend using full-fat plain yogurt at room temperature. This gives the cake a lovely tangy flavor and a tender crumb. Vanilla or honey-flavored yogurt is great, too. This simple cake recipe also works with low-fat yogurt, although it’s not my favorite option.

Vegetable oil: It’s easy to use and excellent for keeping the crumbs moist—any neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable oil, works.

Flour + baking powder: All-purpose, self-raising, or sponge flour gives great results. You can also use a mix of plain flour and whole wheat flour.

Extract: Vanilla extract is a must; it adds so much flavor.

Lemon + cinnamon: This delicious combination adds flavor to the apple slices.

Glaze: Apricot or lemon jam adds a touch of sweetness and a lovely shine to this cake. It’s optional, but it is highly recommended.

Storage Tips

It keeps well and moist for up to 4 days at room temperature and is stored in an airtight container. It’s also freezable: wrap the cake or slices in plastic wrap (clingfilm), store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month. To serve it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and let it come to room temperature before serving.

More fruity desserts you’ll love!

• Apple fritters
• Orange cake
• Strawberry bread
• Fruit cake
• Coconut bread
• Chocolate beetroot cake
• Strawberry ricotta cake

Let me know if you make this delicious apple yogurt cake! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you!

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