Cinnamon Apple Sheet Pan Cake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-30 · Updated 2026-05-30

Moist and tender cake baked on a sheet pan, bursting with cinnamon-spiced apple chunks and topped with a crunchy cinnamon sugar crust. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks), softened unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 cups medium apple (such as Granny Smith), peeled and diced
• for topping cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup granulated sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon)

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch sheet pan.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp salt.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4. Step 4: Add 3 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in 2 tsp vanilla extract.
5. Step 5: Alternately add the flour mixture and 1 cup whole milk to the butter mixture in three parts, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just combined.
6. Step 6: Gently fold 2 cups peeled and diced apple into the batter.
7. Step 7: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared sheet pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
8. Step 8: Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top of the batter.
9. Step 9: Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
10. Step 10: Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing into squares and serving warm or at room temperature.