Slow Cooker Apple Cake is what dreams are made of! Fluffy vanilla cake with a cinnamon swirl stuffed with moist apple pieces topped with vanilla glaze. Grocery store ingredients and a couple of hours results in a delicious dessert the whole family will love.
Recipes like the Croissant Bread And Butter Pudding, Microwave Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding, Blueberry Croissant Bake and the Baileys Pudding are all about unique dessert ideas.
The Apple Cinnamon Blondies, Apple Custard Tarts and the Apple Crumble Tartlets also embrace the joy that is cooking with apples as a primary ingredient.
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🤍 Slow Cooker Apple Cake
I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE ❤) about the recipe in the points below:
- Tastes delicious.
- Set and forget.
- Homemade satisfaction.
- Knowledge of all ingredients: simple ingredients are great. What is even better is knowing exactly what has gone into your cake. When using box cake mixes you can never be too sure.
- Like a warm cinnamon donut, only better!
🥗 Apple Cake Ingredients
The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the slow cooker cake recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.
The photo above is for the cake layer. These ingredients are:
- Vanilla.
- Milk: I use skim milk for this recipe. Whole milk will work well also.
- Greek yogurt.
- Self raising flour.
Then we have the apple layer. The ingredients needed for this layer are:
- Ground cinnamon.
- Brown sugar.
- Apples: I like to use an apple pie filling that comes from a tin. This keeps things in the 'set and forget' mindset where we don't need to peel or core fresh apples as part of the prep work.
Next we have the cinnamon butter layer. For this layer we need:
- Cinnamon sugar: this is a different ingredient to the ground cinnamon we use above.
- Butter: my preference is to use unsalted butter. This leans towards the flavor profile of 'sweet' moreso than salted butter which leans towards 'savory'.
😉 Variations
Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:
- Apples: you can use chopped up pears or tinned pears in place of the apples if you wish to.
- Cinnamon sugar: you can add 1 teaspoon of either white or caster sugar to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon if you don't have cinnamon sugar and or don't want to purchase it just for 1 recipe.
👩🍳 How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Cake
To make the apple cake we start by making the vanilla cake batter.
🍳 Instructions
- Make the batter (Photo 1)
- Separately make the apple layer (Photo 2)
- Line the slow cooker insert (Photo 3)
- Add the batter (Photo 4)
Grab a large mixing bowl. To that add the sifted self raising flour, milk, Greek yogurt and vanilla extract. Then stir until these ingredients are consistently combined.
Next we make the apple topping. You will need another bowl, this one can be a smaller medium sized bowl.
Add the brown sugar, apples and ground cinnamon to this bowl and stir to combine.
Now just like we would if we were using a baking dish we lightly grease the slow cooker insert with cooking spray. Then we layer 2 overlapping sheets of baking paper into the bowl. Place one sheet left to right and the other sheet top to bottom. See photo 3 above for what this looks like.
From here pour the cake batter into the lined slow cooker insert and use a spatula to gently spread it out evenly across the base.
- Add the topping (Photo 5)
- Place a tea towel on top, add the lid and cook (Photo 6)
- After 2 hours on high, remove the lid and add the butter (Photo 7)
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top (Photo 8)
Apple Cake In Slow Cooker
Next pour the apple layer across the top of the cake layer. Then put a folded tea towel across the opening and the slow cooker lid on.
Set the temperature to high and the timer to 2 ½ hours.
With ½ hour on the clock to cook (has been cooking for 2 hours), remove the lid and tea towel and set aside.
- Add the butter (Photo 9)
- Sprinkle over the cinnamon sugar (Photo 10)
- Make the glaze (Photo 11)
- Once cool glaze the cake (Photo 12)
Add the butter (no need to melt) and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar across the surface of the cooked cake. Let it continue to cook for 30 minutes. During which time the butter will melt.
The cake is now cooked. You can remove it by grabbing the baking paper and pulling it up and out of the slow cooker. Now rest the cake on a wire rack. The melted butter will be visible on top of the cake and this will be absorbed as it cools.
We need for the apple cake to be at room temperature before we glaze it. So walk away and let it cool. Or put it in the fridge if you are in a hurry.
Next whisk together the icing mixture (I don't sift it) and the milk. It will be consistent when ready with no lumps.
When the cake no longer feels warm pour the glaze over the top. Then let it set for a couple of minutes.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
When it comes to the fun part of serving your slow cooker dessert you have loads of choices. Cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, custard take your pic!
Of course this easy dessert recipe goes down perfectly well on its own but you can add your favorite extras to it if you wish too.
Here I serve it with vanilla custard on top. The only reason I stayed away from using ice cream was because I used that last week in the Croissant Bread Pudding recipe and wanted to style this week's recipe differently as to not be 'same, same' each week.
Additional fresh fruit will work on the side too if you want to pair the cake with fresh apple pieces, berries, or dust with icing sugar for something different.
👍 How to Guide
How to Store
Storage in a large airtight container is recommended. This can let be put in the fridge. Consume within 3 days.
How to Freeze
Or you can portion individual pieces of the cake into zip lock bags. Push to remove the air and seal. Then stack these in the freezer for a maximum of 3 months.
How to Reheat
If you want to serve the cake warm that will work. The glaze will melt a little but the taste will still be there. 1 minute on high in the microwave will be plenty.
Or you can thaw frozen pieces of the cake, then reheat them in the microwave as per above. This is a great idea if you want to then top it with cream or vanilla ice cream.
💡 Tasty Tips
Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:
- Sifting: I do sift the flour for the cake batter. I don't however sift the icing sugar. This is mainly because I don't think it has a negative impact to not sift the icing mixture. It does mix well with the milk regardless. If you want to sift it, be my guest 😉.
- Stirring: there is no need to use an electric mixer or beaters for the recipe. We only need a rubber spatula (I use a long handled one) to mix the ingredients together. This works perfectly.
- Baking paper: this technique helps to ensure that the cake cooks without burning around the outside as well as allowing it to be easily pulled from the slow cooker when cooked. It is not recommended to cook the cake without the use of baking or parchment paper.
🤓 Slow Cooker Apple Cake FAQ's
I haven't tried to do that, so I can't say for certain. However, using gluten free flour in place of the self raising flour would be the no 1 change to make this a gluten free cake. But then you would need/want to add some gluten free baking powder also.
I tried this idea throughout my testing process. The results were that the butter pooled at the base of the cake and it was very oily. So my recommendation is to add it at the end as per the recipe instructions. This will give you the best results.
Technically no, this is not a dump cake recipe. They usually use less ingredients and focus on being able to dump everything into the slow cooker recipe that this cake method does. It is still very easy though and can be considered as simply a matter of adding one layer after the other.
No. If you do this the cake will be too hot for the glaze and it will simply melt and slide off.
😍 More Easy Recipes
Whether this recipe appeals to you because it really is that easy or because you love slow cooking or because you want to try something new, its always a good idea to have plenty of options up your sleeve. Here are some more of those options.
- Blondies recipes: Oreo Blondies, Raspberry And White Chocolate Blondies, White Chocolate Macadamia Blondies.
- Cookies: Mini Shortbread Cookies, Lemon Curd Shortbread Cookies, Macadamia Nut Shortbread
- Other desserts: Baileys Cheesecake Brownies, No Bake Caramel Cheesecake, Caramel Cheesecake Brownies.
- More cake recipes: Lemon Polenta Cake, Orange Polenta Cake.
- Festive ideas: Fruit Mince, Fruit Mince Tarts, Baileys Fruit Cake.
It is time to get our apple cake on my friend! You can also find all of my dessert recipes or slow cooker recipes in the one spot.
Adrianne
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📖 Recipe
Ingredients
Cake layer
- 3 cups self raising flour sifted
- 1 ⅓ cup milk Note 1
- 1 cup/250 ml greek yogurt Note 2
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Note 3
Apple Layer
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 400 grams/14 oz apple pie filling Note 4
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Butter Layer
- 2 tablespoons/40 grams butter
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar Note 5
Vanilla glaze
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Cake layer: add the self-raising flour, milk, Greek yogurt and vanilla to a large mixing bowl and stir till consistently combined. Then set aside.
- Apple layer: add the brown sugar, apples and ground cinnamon to a medium sized mixing bowl and stir to combine. Then set aside.
- Slow cooker insert: lightly grease the base and sides of the slow cooker insert. Then insert 2 overlapping (left to right and top to bottom) pieces of baking paper with overhang.
- Layers: transfer the cake batter into the lined slow cooker insert using a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Next use the spatula to spread the cake batter out across the base of the slow cooker. Once done, transfer the apple mixture into the slow cooker, on top of the cake batter. Again, use a spatula to spread this out to form its own layer.
- Cook: place a folded tea towel over the opening and put the slow cooker lid on top. Set the temperature and timer to 2 ½ hours on high.
- Cinnamon butter layer: after the cake has been cooking for 2 hours, remove the lid and tea towel and set aside. Place the cubes of butter on top and sprinkle the whole top of the cake with the cinnamon sugar. Leave the lid off for the final 30 minutes as the butter melts.
- Cool: turn the heat off at the 2 ½ hour mark and pull the baking paper to lift the cake up and out of the slow cooker. Then let it cool to room temperature.
- Vanilla glaze: add the icing sugar and milk to a small bowl and use a whisk to stir until consistently combined. Pour this over the cooled cake and let it set for a minute or so (will be sticky still) before using a knife to slice the cake into pieces.
- To serve: portion the pieces onto plates and serve with fresh cream, ice-cream, vanilla custard or as is.
Video
Notes
- Note 1 - Milk: I have used both skim milk and full cream milk to make the recipe. Both work well and I didn't notice a lot of difference between the two.
- Note 2 - Greek yogurt: I use full fat Greek yogurt.
- Note 3 - Cake batter: this is based off my savory bread recipe in the Slow Cooker Cheese And Bacon Bread. Adding a touch of vanilla extract leans it more towards the sweet than savory flavor combination.
- Note 4 - Apple pie filling: from the most common local supermarkets you can purchase tins of 'apple pie mix' or 'apple slices in syrup'. This product is apples that area already peeled and cored. To keep things simple I use 1 x standard 400 gram (14 oz) tin of this. As is, simply open and mix it with the sugar and cinnamon. I did throughout the recipe development and testing process consider stewing my own apples but I resolved that it is more of a priority for this cake to stick with the slow cooker 'set and forget' mindset.
- Note 5 - Cinnamon sugar: this is a different ingredient to the ground cinnamon we use in apple mixture. If you don't have it or don't want to purchase another ingredient you could mix 1 teaspoon of the ground cinnamon with 1 teaspoon of white or caster sugar.
Teegan S says
Definately trying this one. I can almost smell it from my place.