Jewish Apple Cake


A traditional Jewish dessert recipe, my Ema Ljuba would frequently make this apple cake on Friday for Shabbat, and it would stay moist all week long. A parev (kosher) dessert, this cake can be eaten with either meat or dairy. A huge family favorite among all of Ljuba’s seven children and many grandchildren.

Sliced apple cake.

Hanukkah is quickly approaching, and with it comes my craving for my Ema Ljuba’s delicious Apple Cake. While she now lives in Israel, and I won’t be able to celebrate the holiday with her, I love how food and family recipes can make us feel close to loved ones even when they are far away. If you aren’t familiar with Apple Cake, it’s a traditional Jewish dessert, and my bubbe’s recipe is the best. I may be biased, but I stand by it!

This holiday season, I’m partnering with America’s egg farming families to share favorite global holiday food traditions featuring eggs! Whether you’re celebrating the holidays at home or across the globe, gather around the table and start a new holiday recipe tradition this season.

Importance of Eggs

National egg board and egg farming families.
  • Eggs add moisture, color, flavor, and nutritional value to recipes.
  • Eggs are a holiday staple. In fact, more eggs are consumed during the winter holiday season than any other time of the year.
  • Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, with one egg containing 6 grams of high-quality protein and 8 essential nutrients, all for 70 calories. Plus, eggs are naturally free of sugars and carbohydrates.
  • Eggs are one of the few foods that are a naturally good source of vitamin D.
  • There’s a good chance the eggs you’ll use for holiday baking came from an egg farm in your state! Nationwide, the United States produces over 75 billion eggs per year.
  • America’s egg farmers are proud to work hard 365 days a year to ensure that grocery store shelves remain stocked with affordable, nutritious eggs.

How to Make Apple Cake

Liz slicing apples

Start by peeling and thinly slicing your apples. I like to use Granny Smiths for my apple cake.

Adding cinnamon to apples

Then put your apples slices in a large bowl, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Stirring apples with seasonings

Give your apples a good toss so they’re evenly coated and set them aside.

Liz pouring flour in a bowl

In another large bowl, pour in your flour.

Liz adding salt to flour

Then stir in the salt and baking powder.

Adding sugar to flour

Finish by mixing in the remaining sugar, and set this bowl aside as well.

Adding oil to large measuring cup

In another bowl or a large measuring cup (I prefer a measuring cup), measure out your canola oil.

Cracking eggs into measuring cup

Next add the 4 large eggs and vanilla extract.

Adding orange juice to oil and eggs

Finish off your wet ingredients with the orange juice.

A person stirring ingredients

Whisk it all together until the egg yolks are broken and it’s all incorporated.

Adding wet ingredients to dry ingredients

Slowly mix your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

A person mixing ingredients

Mix until the flour is fully mixed in. It’ll be a very thick, almost dough like batter.

A person adding ingredients to a cake pan

Next, assemble your cake! In your prepared angel food tube pan, pour 1/3 of the batter, and top with 1/2 of the apple slices. Continue with batter, apples, then batter again until it’s all used up.

adding butter to a cake pan

Sprinkle the with the brown sugar and remaining flour, and top with your bits and cubes of butter.

Jewish Apple Cake.

Bake at 375 for a little over an hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

When do you eat Apple Cake?

While it’s a classic for my family during Hanukkah or Shabbat (our sabbath), it’s a delicious dessert that can be enjoyed any time! It doesn’t have any symbolic significance.

What can I use in place of a tube pan?

If you have a Bundt pan with minimal embellishments, that can work. Or, you can fake your own angel food pan using this hack.

I have extra large eggs, how many should I use?

Here is a great conversion chart to use if you ever aren’t sure how many eggs you should use in a recipe.

How do I store leftover cake?

In an airtight container, Apple Cake will be good at room temperature for 3 days, or up to 5 days in the fridge.

Slice of Apple Cake.

More Jewish Recipes

Like It, Eat It, Share It!

Did you try this Apple Cake? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials. Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your cake.

Liz serving a slice of Apple Cake.

This delicious Apple Cake represents warmth and Hanukkah to me, but most importantly, the love of my family. What will it mean to you?

Your fork is waiting.

Jewish apple cake closeup

Jewish Apple Cake

4.27 stars average
A traditional Jewish dessert recipe, my Ema Ljuba would frequently make this apple cake on Friday for Shabbat, and it would stay moist all week long. A parev (kosher) dessert, this cake can be eaten with either meat or dairy. A huge family favorite among all of Ljuba’s seven children and many grandchildren.
PREP: 15 minutes
COOK: 1 hour 15 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pin
Servings: 16

Ingredients
 

  • 4 apples (peeled and sliced (such as granny smith))
  • 2 ⅓ cups white sugar (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup canola oil (or oil of choice)
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 4 tablespoons butter (or parev margarine) (cut in small cubes)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour an angel food tube pan and set aside.
  • Toss apple slices to coat with 1/3 cup of sugar and the cinnamon; set aside.
    apples in a bowl
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, remaining 2 cups of sugar, baking powder and salt.
    salt and flour in a bowl
  • In a third small bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla.
    A person stirring ingredients
  • Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
    adding egg to a flour mixture
  • Pour 1/3 of batter into tube pan then layer with 1/2 of the apples. Add in another 1/3 of the batter and layer with remaining apples. Pour in the final 1/3 of the batter on top.
    A person adding ingredients to a cake pan
  • In another small bowl, mix the brown sugar with 1/4 cup remaining flour and sprinkle evenly on top of the cake batter.
  • Dot with butter then bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
    Jewish apple cake closeup

Recipe Video


Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 433kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 5gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 192mgPotassium: 192mgFiber: 2gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 189IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2mg

SHOW AND TELL ON INSTAGRAM!Show me your creation and rate it below! Mention @thelemonbowl or tag #thelemonbowl! I would LOVE to see!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by America’s egg farming families, who are proud to provide safe, healthy eggs for holiday celebrations around the world. Thoughts are my own.

2 thoughts on “Jewish Apple Cake”

  1. Hi there – To clarify – 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour is different from ¼ cup flour? 🤷🏼‍♀️

    Could you teach me the distinction? Thank you very much.

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