Moist and Easy Apple Cake with Sunflower Seeds

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This simple Moist and Easy Apple Cake with Sunflower seeds is a light, fluffy, delicious, and satisfying treat. This great recipe uses simple ingredients to make a tasty cake that celebrates all things fall and apple season. So get ready to indulge in a warm slice of cake with tea or coffee.

Soft and Simple Apple Cake with Cream Cheese

I love going to places with lots of apple trees and doing some apple picking. It’s something we all do as a family together and has just become a fall tradition. It’s my favorite fall tradition. I enjoy apple picking so much because I end up making delicious apple treats at home like my Baked Apple Tart, Apple Sharlotka Recipe, or the Celery and Apple Salad.

This Apple with Cream Cheese and Sunflower Seeds Cake is amazing. It will get everyone who’s tried it asking for the recipe. I always get rave reviews when l make this one and you will too. Guaranteed!

The moist cake is made of delicious, juicy fresh apple slices that sit between layers of cake batter. The soft cake batter is made from cream cheese and butter. Before popping this cake into the oven, I like sprinkling it with one of my favorite goodies which is sunflower seeds baked right on top.

This delicious recipe is perfect for any occasion and is a refreshing change from the popular apple pie. Next time you’ve got some extra apples on hand, make this Apple Cake with Cream Cheese and Sunflower Seeds! It will definitely become one of your favorite apple recipes!

Table of Contents

Key Ingredients for the Easy Apple Cake Recipe

Ingredients spread- flour, sugar, butter, cream cheese, sunflower seeds, brown sugar, eggs, apples, and baking powder.

Fresh Apples: Granny Smith apples are firm and have a great ratio between sweet and tart so they’re perfect for this cake. But feel free to use any type of apple you prefer for this recipe.
All-purpose flour: Use the unbleached variant which brings out a moist cake.
Cream cheese: Adds a rich and creamy texture and unique taste to the cake. Make sure it’s softened at room temperature.
Unsalted Butter: It has low salt content, is fresh, and allows the natural flavor of the cake to come through.
Eggs: Use large-sized eggs to add stability to the batter and make the cake moist.
Regular sugar: Use fine sugar to add sweetness. You can substitute this with maple syrup.
Baking powder: Helps the cake to rise.
Vanilla: For a hint of flavor and to create a soft and fluffy texture.
Sunflower seeds: These should not be roasted. Adds texture and they’re healthy.
Brown sugar: It’s better than white sugar as it adds a rich, caramel-like flavor to the cake and also complements the fall colors well.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make the Delicious Apple Cake with Sunflower Seeds

Step 1: Preheat

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Step 2: Prepare the apples

Wash the apples, peel, and dice them into small pieces with a thin knife.

Step 3: Combine the batter

In a stand mixer on low speed, beat together softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and blended.

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Step 4: Add the sugar

Add sugar to the mixer and beat together for 1 more minute.

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Step 5: Beat the eggs in

Add in eggs, one at a time, beating between each one.

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Step 6: Finish the batter

To the mixer add baking powder, vanilla, and flour. Combine.

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Step 7: Prep the pan

Line the bottom of a tart or cake pan with parchment paper and spray the sides with cooking spray.

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Step 8: Transfer the batter to the prepared pan

Layout half of the batter into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the diced apples.

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Step 9: Add the rest of the batter

Cover the diced apples with the rest of the batter.

Step 10: Add cake toppings

Sprinkle the top of the batter with sunflower seeds and brown sugar.

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Step 11: Bake the cake

Place the cake tin in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Take it out of the oven and let it cool on a baking rack for a few minutes.

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Step 12: Sift powdered sugar, serve and enjoy!

Sift some powdered sugar on top and enjoy a piece of the soft and fluffy apple cake!

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Expert Tips

The best apples to use are the fresh and firm kind of apples. Examples are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala apples. They hold their shape and offer a balanced sweet-tart flavor.
Properly line the baking pan with parchment paper to prevent the cake from sticking. This will also help with easy removal.
If the cake is browning too fast, before the center of the cake is baked through, cover it with foil for the last few minutes in the oven
Over-mixing can result in a tough cake. Mix until just combined after adding the dry ingredients.
If you can, use a springform pan as it avoids ruining the top, sides, and base of the cake. It also makes for an elegant presentation.
For best results use a toothpick test to ensure the doneness of the cake. Once you can pull a toothpick out clean, you’re good to go.
Instead of apples, try using other fruits like pears, peaches, or berries for a different flavor.
You can add chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the batter before baking.

How to Store leftover Apple Cake

Keep cooled leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You can freeze slices of this homemade apple cake for up to three months. To freeze, wrap the cooled cake with storage wrap or plastic wrap then cover with aluminum foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then heat in the microwave and serve.

Recipe FAQs

What other toppings can l use?

I like to add some brown sugar on top for a caramelized flavor. You can substitute this with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of caramel, a quick dusting of confectioners’ sugar, or unsweetened apple sauce to increase the flavor of the apple in every bite.

Is it necessary to sift the powdered sugar on top?

Sifting powdered sugar on top is for decoration and sweetness. It’s optional but adds a nice finishing touch.

How can l make this into a vegan apple cake recipe

Use oat flour or almond flour, raw sugar or cane sugar, and use a vegan egg substitute like aquafaba.

Can l omit the sunflower seeds?

Absolutely. The sunflower seeds are for added crunch and flavor, but the cake will still be delicious without them.

What can l serve with this Moist Apple Cake?

Serve it warm topped with whipped cream, custard, or ice cream. You can also just enjoy the cake with a cup of tea or coffee.

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I love enjoying apples in these recipes, too:

You can make a quick Homemade Apple Cider right at home for the holidays! It’s certainly the perfect fall drink.
This healthy Apple Banana Smoothie with Cinnamon is a great way to bring the fall flavors to your kitchen.
The Apple Spinach Avocado Salad is a great side dish to healthy dinners with the family during the autumn season.
Try this Quick And Easy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp which is warm and gooey in the center, with a crispy, perfectly textured top.

More Tasty Apple Recipes to Try

If you tried this Moist and Easy Apple Cake with Sunflower Seeds or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!