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overhead view of sliced Irish apple cake
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5 from 2 votes

Irish Apple Cake

This Irish apple cake is cozy, rustic, and buttery—with a cinnamon-spiced base, tart Granny Smith apples, and the perfect crumbly oat streusel. Serve it warm with a cup of tea or a scoop of custard for the ultimate treat.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Cooling15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Irish-American
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 10 slices
Author: Nora from Savory Nothings

Ingredients

Streusel:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup oats
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter cubed

Apples:

  • 3 medium Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, quartered and each quarter thinly sliced crosswise into short slices
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cake:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temp
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Streusel

  • Prepare the streusel: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, oats, and salt. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Refrigerate until ready to use.
    ½ cup granulated sugar, ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup oats, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ cup cold unsalted butter
    overhead view of streusel in glass bowl

Cake batter & apples

  • Preheat & prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan with parchment paper.
  • Prepare the apples: Toss thinly sliced apples with lemon juice and cinnamon. Set aside while preparing the cake batter.
    3 medium Granny Smith apples, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    overhead view of sliced apples in bowl
  • Cream cake ingredients: In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar using a handheld mixer until light and fluffy (2 minutes). Mix in eggs one at a time, beating well on high speed after each addition (30-60 seconds each). Beat in vanilla until smooth.
    ½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    overhead view of creamed butter and eggs in bowl
  • Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
    1¼ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt
    overhead view of flour mix in bowl with whisk
  • Make batter: Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture on low speed, alternating with milk, mixing just until combined (do not overmix).
    3 tablespoons milk
    overhead view of cake batter in glass bowl

Assemble & bake

  • Spread the cake batter into the prepared pan.
    overhead view of cake batter in springform pan
  • Layer the sliced apples evenly over the batter.
    overhead view of sliced apples in springform pan
  • Sprinkle the chilled streusel topping evenly over the top.
    overhead view of streusel topped apple cake before baking in springform pan
  • Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool & Serve: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before slicing. For clean slices, you need to allow it to cool in the pan fully, at least a few hours.
    overhead view of streusel topped apple cake after baking in springform pan

Notes

  • Use cold butter and chill the streusel before baking for the best texture.
  • Slice apples thinly and layer them over the batter—not mixed in—for even baking.
  • Use a 9-inch springform pan so the cake bakes properly under the apples.