Cosy Irish Apple Cake

Name: Cosy Irish Apple Cake
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 58 min
Ingredients: 3 cups plain flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1/8 tsp. salt; ¼ tsp. ground cloves; ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg; ¾ cup sugar; 170g cold butter, chopped; 4 large green apples (peeled, cored, and sliced); 2 eggs, lightly whisked; ¾ cup milk; 2 tbs. extra sugar (for topping)

Original Video Tutorial HERE.

This recipe brings back so many fond memories. My mum has been making Irish Apple Cakes for as long as I can remember. It was always, and still is, an absolute favourite of mine.

Traditional Irish Apple Cake is less of a fluffy, sponge-style cake and more of a rustic, dense, and satisfying bake. It has a beautiful, crumbly texture that leans closer to a scone or a shortcake, which makes it the perfect vessel for holding up those juicy, tender apples. It’s comforting, classic, and truly reminds me of a warm hug in cake form.

This recipe is super simple to pull together. You don’t need any fancy equipment! Just a big bowl and a wooden spoon to whip up the batter. Pop it in the oven, and 45 minutes later, your kitchen will smell like pure heaven. Serve it for afternoon tea, as a comforting dessert, or even grab a sneaky slice for breakfast. While it’s traditionally served with warm custard, being here in Australia, I personally love a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side!

Jump to Recipe

Why This Works

The Texture: The “rubbing in” method for the butter creates a dense, scone-like crumb that perfectly complements the soft, spiced apples.

Simple Ingredients: It relies on pantry staples, making it the perfect “I need something sweet now” bake.

Spiced Perfection: The combination of cloves and nutmeg gives it that authentic, cosy warmth without being overpowering.

What you will need:

3 cups plain flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¾ cup sugar
170g cold butter, chopped
4 large green apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (I use Granny Smith)
2 eggs, lightly whisked
¾ cup milk
2 tbs. extra sugar (for the crunchy top)

Em’s Pro Tips:

To get the perfect texture, ensure your butter is cold. Working quickly with your fingertips prevents the heat of your hands from melting the butter too early. This is the secret to that signature dense, crumbly Irish-style cake!

Change It Up

Add Crunch: Toss in a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans with the apples for a bit of extra texture.

Zesty Twist: Add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the dry ingredients to brighten up the flavour of the apples.

Spice it your way: If you love spice, you can add a tiny pinch of ground ginger to the mix.

How to make it:

Prep: Preheat your oven to 160°C (fan-forced) and lightly grease a springform tin.

Combine Dry: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, and nutmeg.

Rub in Butter: Add the chopped, cold butter to the flour mixture. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Sweeten: Stir in the sugar and mix well.

Add Apples: Toss the apple slices into the flour mixture, ensuring they are thoroughly coated.

Form the Batter: Add the whisked eggs and milk. Mix until just combined. The batter should have a thick, dough-like consistency.

Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared springform tin and level the top. Sprinkle the extra sugar over the surface for that lovely crunch. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Serve: Allow to cool slightly before removing from the tin. Serve warm with your choice of ice cream or custard.

How to store:

This cake stays lovely and moist for a few days. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you prefer it warm, a quick 10-second blast in the microwave before serving brings back that “fresh from the oven” feel.

Happy Baking!

I can’t wait to see your versions of this cosy classic. Don’t forget to tag me in your photos. I love seeing what you’re creating in your kitchens!

More Cosy Recipes

Cosy Irish Apple Cake

Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy

Servings

slices

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

This Irish Apple Cake is a true family favourite that feels like a warm hug. Unlike lighter sponge cakes, this rustic, dense bake has a lovely, scone-like crumb that perfectly cradles tender, spiced green apples. It’s simple, comforting, and best served with a generous scoop of ice cream or warm custard.

Ingredients

3 cups plain flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¾ cup sugar
170g cold butter, chopped
4 large green apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
2 eggs, lightly whisked
¾ cup milk
2 tbs. extra sugar (for topping)

Method

Preheat oven to 160°C (fan-forced) and lightly grease a springform tin.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, and nutmeg.
Add cold, chopped butter to the dry mixture. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add the sugar and mix well.
Fold in the apple slices, coating them thoroughly in the flour mixture.
Combine: Add the whisked eggs and milk. Mix until just combined; the mixture should have a thick, dough-like consistency.
Pour batter into the prepared springform tin and sprinkle the extra sugar over the top. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool slightly before removing from the tin. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or custard.

Notes

Em’s Pro Tip: Ensure your butter is fridge-cold when you start rubbing it in; this is the secret to achieving that signature dense, crumbly texture.
How to Store: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. It warms up perfectly with a quick 10-second zap in the microwave!
Change it up: Toss in a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans with the apples for a bit of extra texture.

About Em

Hi, I’m Em. A self-taught baker, sweet tooth, and the creator behind Em’s Sweet Life. I believe baking doesn’t need to be complicated to be delicious.

Here you’ll find easy, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, a few shortcuts, and a whole lot of heart.

What started as a weekend hobby has turned into my happy place. A space to share the treats I love baking for family and friends.

Whether it’s a last-minute dessert, a nostalgic classic, or something new to impress at your next gathering, my goal is to help you feel confident (and calm!) in the kitchen.

Grab a cup of tea, preheat your oven, and let’s bake something sweet together.

YouTube Videos

Want to hang out in the kitchen with me? If you’re a visual learner (or just like watching butter and sugar come together), I’ve filmed step-by-step videos for all my favourite recipes! You can find the full tutorials over on my YouTube channel now. Let’s bake something delicious together!