Old-Fashioned Spiced Apple Cake with Brown Butter Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-29 · Updated 2026-07-29

A moist apple cake infused with warm spices and topped with a nutty brown butter glaze, perfect for cozy gatherings or dessert. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder 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 280 calories and feeds 8, 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

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup grated tart apple (like Granny Smith)
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter for glaze
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp heavy cream

Bakeware worth owning for recipes like this → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp salt.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup milk until smooth. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.
3. Step 3: Fold in 1 cup grated tart apple gently, then pour batter into a greased 8-inch square baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. Step 4: While cake bakes, melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally until it turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tbsp heavy cream until smooth.
5. Step 5: Cool cake for 15 minutes, then drizzle the brown butter glaze evenly over the top before slicing and serving.