This apple sour cream cake feels like a warm hug on a cool afternoon. It’s soft, buttery, and just tangy enough to keep each bite interesting. I first made it on a whim when I had apples that were heading toward their last days—what came out of the oven was pure gold. The kind of cake that makes people think you’ve got some old family recipe stashed away. The sour cream keeps it tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth tender. And the cinnamon-sugar swirl? It sneaks in just the right amount of sweet crunch. Whether you’re making it for a fall potluck or sneaking a slice with your morning coffee, it holds up. This recipe fits right into those sweet easy recipes cake lovers crave. It’s one of those simple desserts with few ingredients that delivers big flavor. So grab your whisk and get ready—because once you smell this baking, you won’t want to wait the full cool-down time. Trust me, I’ve burned my tongue more than once out of impatience.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Apple Sour Cream Cake Recipe
3) Ingredients for Apple Sour Cream Cake
4) How to Make Apple Sour Cream Cake
5) Tips for Making Apple Sour Cream Cake
6) Making Apple Sour Cream Cake Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Apple Sour Cream Cake
8) Try these cakes next!
9) Apple Sour Cream Cake
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This sweet easy recipes cake is perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike
The sour cream makes the cake incredibly moist and rich
Apples add just the right amount of natural sweetness and soft texture
It’s a great way to use up aging fruit and surprise guests with a homemade dessert

2) Easy Apple Sour Cream Cake Recipe

This recipe for apple sour cream cake fits squarely into the category of sweet easy recipes cake fans adore. If you like desserts that don’t require a special mixer or rare ingredients, this one’s for you. The batter comes together with everyday pantry staples and a spoon, and there’s something almost nostalgic about the cinnamon-sugar layer tucked into the middle. I’ve made it for holiday mornings, midweek coffee breaks, and once for a neighbor who’d never had homemade cake before. He didn’t talk for two full bites, which says a lot.

The first thing you’ll notice while it bakes is the smell. It fills the whole place with this cozy aroma of warm spice and buttered apples. It’s the kind of thing that makes you reach for a blanket and maybe forget your to-do list for the afternoon. That’s the power of a good sweet easy recipes cake — it slows you down in the best way.

If you’re used to dry, bland coffee cakes, this one flips the script. It’s soft, light, and just sweet enough. The apple chunks soften during baking and melt right into the sponge. The cinnamon swirl? It’s like a bonus bite of fall with every forkful.

3) Ingredients for Apple Sour Cream Cake

Unsalted Butter: You’ll need it softened so it creams nicely with sugar. It brings richness and a tender crumb.

Granulated Sugar: Regular white sugar gives this cake a classic sweetness. It also helps with the golden top.

Eggs: Two eggs bind everything together and give structure to the batter. Let them sit out a bit before using.

Sour Cream: This is the secret weapon. Sour cream adds moisture and a subtle tang that keeps the cake interesting.

Vanilla Extract: Just a splash lifts all the flavors and ties everything together.

All-Purpose Flour: A basic flour works great here. No need for anything fancy or self-rising.

Baking Powder: This helps the cake rise and get that light texture you want in a sweet easy recipes cake.

Salt: A little salt goes a long way in rounding out the flavor. Don’t skip it.

Apple: Go for a firm one like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Peel and chop it small so it bakes evenly.

Walnuts (Optional): These give a bit of crunch and a nutty flavor if you’re into that. I love the texture contrast.

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture: Combine sugar and cinnamon for that sweet-spiced swirl that makes each slice irresistible.

4) How to Make Apple Sour Cream Cake

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prep your baking pan with butter and flour. This keeps the cake from sticking and gives a nice edge.

Step 2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until it’s fluffy and light in color. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. This builds the cake’s structure.

Step 3. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla until smooth. It may look a little loose but don’t worry. It tightens up with the flour.

Step 4. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add dry to wet ingredients in batches, stirring until just combined. No overmixing — nobody likes a tough cake.

Step 5. Gently fold in the chopped apples and nuts if you’re using them. The batter will be thick, like muffin batter.

Step 6. Spoon half the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of your cinnamon-sugar mix over it. Then layer the rest of the batter and top with remaining cinnamon-sugar.

Step 7. Bake for about an hour. Check with a toothpick — if it comes out clean, it’s ready. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes before turning it out.

5) Tips for Making Apple Sour Cream Cake

This cake is forgiving, but a few tricks make it even better. Start with room-temperature ingredients. Cold eggs or butter can mess with the texture and slow down the mixing.

Don’t overmix once you’ve added the flour. Stir until the dry bits disappear and stop. The less you mix, the more tender the cake will be. Think soft and fluffy, not dense and chewy.

Grease your pan well and flour it too. That swirl of cinnamon sugar has a habit of sticking, and you want that crust to stay on the cake, not the pan. Sweet easy recipes cake like this deserves a clean release and a proud plate presentation.

6) Making Apple Sour Cream Cake Ahead of Time

This is one of those cakes that almost improves overnight. You can bake it the day before a gathering and feel zero guilt about not making it fresh that morning. It holds together beautifully and keeps its flavor.

If you want to freeze it, wait until it cools completely. Wrap it tightly in plastic and then foil. You can freeze the whole thing or individual slices for sweet easy recipes desserts later in the month.

Let the cake sit at room temperature for an hour before serving, or give slices a quick warm-up in the microwave. It brings back the soft crumb and that warm apple scent.

7) Storing Leftover Apple Sour Cream Cake

This cake stores well in an airtight container on the counter for two to three days. After that, pop it in the fridge to keep it fresh. A quick zap in the microwave brings back the softness.

<pIf you’ve sliced it, lay parchment between pieces so they don’t stick. The cinnamon-sugar swirl likes to glue things together if given the chance.

Looking for a simple desserts few ingredients sweets easy recipes option for your next weekend bake? This cake might just become your go-to. I’ve made it three times in one month. That’s love.

8) Try these cakes next!

9) Apple Sour Cream Cake