Homemade Jamie Oliver Apple Pie Cake Recipe

If you ask me, apple pie cake is pure comfort food magic.

This Jamie Oliver creation gives you all the cozy flavors of apple pie without the fussy pastry work. Tender apples and warm spices meet a simple cake batter that practically mixes itself.

The cake bakes up moist and golden, with chunks of sweet apples throughout. A light dusting of cinnamon sugar on top creates a nice textural contrast that reminds you of pie crust.

It’s the kind of dessert that makes your kitchen smell like fall, perfect for when you want homemade goodness without spending all day in the kitchen.

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

For this apple pie cake, you’ll want to choose apples that hold their shape well when baked and won’t turn to mush. Granny Smith apples are a classic choice because they’re tart and firm, but Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Jonagold also work great. You can even mix different varieties for more complex flavor – try combining a tart apple like Granny Smith with a sweeter one like Gala. Just avoid really soft apples like Red Delicious, as they tend to break down too much during baking and can make your cake soggy.

Options for Substitutions

This apple pie cake is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps – here’s what you can switch up:

• Yellow cake mix: You can use white cake mix or even spice cake mix for extra flavor. If you want to make it from scratch, combine 1¾ cups flour, 1½ cups sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt.
• Vegetable oil: Melted butter, canola oil, or even applesauce work great here. If using applesauce, use ¼ cup instead of ⅓ cup for a slightly lighter cake.
• Apples: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn apples all work well. You can even mix different varieties for more complex flavor. Pears also make a nice substitute if you’re feeling adventurous.
• Brown sugar: White sugar works fine, though you’ll lose some of that caramel-like flavor. You can also use coconut sugar or maple sugar for a different twist.
• Cold butter: For the crumb topping, you can use cold margarine or even coconut oil that’s been chilled. The key is keeping it cold so you get those nice crumbly bits on top.
• Lemon juice: Apple cider vinegar or lime juice work just as well to keep those apples from browning and add a little tang.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest mistake when making this apple pie cake is not slicing your apples thin enough – thick chunks won’t cook through properly and can make your cake soggy, so aim for slices about ¼ inch thick for even baking.

Another common error is forgetting to toss the apple slices with lemon juice, which prevents browning and adds a nice tartness that balances the sweetness of the cake mix.

For the crumb topping, make sure your butter stays cold and work it in with your fingers or a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs – warm butter will create a paste instead of that perfect crumbly texture.

Don’t skip checking the center with a toothpick before removing from the oven, as the apples release moisture during baking and can make the cake appear done on top while still being wet underneath.

What to Serve With Apple Pie Cake?

This apple pie cake is absolutely perfect on its own, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side makes it feel like a real celebration. I love serving it warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce or even just a dollop of freshly whipped cream for that extra cozy factor. A hot cup of coffee or black tea pairs beautifully with the cinnamon and apple flavors, making it ideal for afternoon gatherings or after dinner. If you want to get fancy, try it with a small glass of dessert wine or even some warm spiced cider during the fall months.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This apple pie cake keeps wonderfully at room temperature for up to 3 days when covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container. If your kitchen is really warm, pop it in the fridge where it’ll stay fresh for up to a week – just let it come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.

Freeze: You can absolutely freeze this cake for up to 3 months! Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag, or freeze the whole cake wrapped well. It’s great to have on hand when you need a quick dessert for unexpected guests.

Serve: To enjoy frozen slices, just thaw them at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. If you want to warm up the whole cake, cover it with foil and heat in a 300°F oven for about 15 minutes until warmed through.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 3550-3850
• Protein: 32-38 g
• Fat: 135-150 g
• Carbohydrates: 545-590 g

Ingredients

For the cake layer:

• 1 box (15 oz) yellow cake mix
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

For the apple mixture:

• 6 apples, peeled and sliced
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the streusel topping:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter, diced

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Pan and Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent the cake from sticking.

Getting this ready first ensures everything comes together quickly.

Step 2: Mix the Cake Batter

• 1 box (15 oz) yellow cake mix
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs.

Mix everything together until the batter is smooth and well combined.

Make sure there are no lumps in the batter for the best texture.

Step 3: Add Batter to Pan

• cake batter from Step 2

Pour the prepared cake batter evenly into your greased and floured 9×13 inch baking pan, ensuring an even layer across the bottom.

Step 4: Prepare Apple Mixture

• 6 apples, peeled and sliced
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and sliced apples with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.

Stir until the apples are thoroughly coated in the sugar and spice mixture.

I like to gently toss everything by hand to make sure every apple slice gets some cinnamon-sugar flavor.

Step 5: Layer the Apples over the Batter

• coated apples from Step 4

Spread the coated apple mixture evenly over the cake batter in the pan, covering the entire surface.

Step 6: Make the Streusel Topping

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter, diced

In another bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and salt.

Add the cold, diced butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend it in until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

For the best crumbly texture, try not to overwork the butter—small, cold bits make the topping extra crisp.

Step 7: Add Topping and Bake

• streusel topping from Step 6

Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples in the pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

I recommend rotating the pan halfway through for even baking.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan before serving so the layers can set nicely.

If you like, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Homemade Jamie Oliver Apple Pie Cake Recipe

Delicious Homemade Jamie Oliver Apple Pie Cake Recipe recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 26 minutes mins

Cook Time 54 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings 4

Calories 3700 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the cake layer:

• 1 box (15 oz) yellow cake mix
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

For the apple mixture:

• 6 apples, peeled and sliced
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the streusel topping:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter, diced

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan to prevent the cake from sticking. Getting this ready first ensures everything comes together quickly.
• In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix everything together until the batter is smooth and well combined. Make sure there are no lumps in the batter for the best texture.
• Pour the prepared cake batter evenly into your greased and floured 9x13 inch baking pan, ensuring an even layer across the bottom.
• In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and sliced apples with brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir until the apples are thoroughly coated in the sugar and spice mixture. I like to gently toss everything by hand to make sure every apple slice gets some cinnamon-sugar flavor.
• Spread the coated apple mixture evenly over the cake batter in the pan, covering the entire surface.
• In another bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add the cold, diced butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend it in until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. For the best crumbly texture, try not to overwork the butter—small, cold bits make the topping extra crisp.
• Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples in the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. I recommend rotating the pan halfway through for even baking.
• Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan before serving so the layers can set nicely. If you like, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.