Mary Berry Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

This old fashioned apple cake is a comforting, home-style bake that feels straight out of a country kitchen. Soft, lightly spiced sponge surrounds tender chunks of apple, giving a moist crumb with a gentle sweetness. It is an easy, no-fuss cake that suits beginners perfectly and needs no special equipment. From start to finish, you can have it ready in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Ingredients

For the apple cake

• 225g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 175g soft light brown sugar
• 175g unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tbsp milk
• 3 medium cooking apples, peeled, cored, and diced

For the topping

• 2 tbsp demerara sugar
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

How to Make Mary Berry Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

• Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Grease and line a deep 20cm round cake tin and place it on the middle shelf so the cake bakes evenly.
• Mix the dry ingredients: Sift the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the light brown sugar, breaking up any lumps with your fingers.
• Add the wet ingredients: Add the softened butter, eggs, and milk to the bowl. Beat everything together with a wooden spoon or electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Fold in the apples: Gently fold in the diced apples so they are evenly distributed through the mixture.
• Fill the tin: Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and level the surface with the back of a spoon.
• Add the topping: Mix the demerara sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the top of the cake.
• Bake the cake: Bake for 45–50 minutes until well risen, golden on top, and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Cool before serving: Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips

Why did my cake sink in the middle?

This usually happens if the oven door is opened too early. Keep the door closed for at least the first 35 minutes of baking.

How do I keep the apples from sinking?

Dice the apples fairly small and fold them gently into the mixture so they stay evenly spread.

Can I make this cake extra moist?

Using cooking apples such as Bramley helps, as they release moisture while baking and soften beautifully.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with custard or pouring cream
• Enjoy with a cup of tea as an afternoon treat
• Dust lightly with icing sugar before serving

Storage

Room temperature

Store the cake in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Refrigerator

If your kitchen is warm, keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Freezing

Wrap individual slices well and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost fully before eating.

Nutrition

• Calories: 410 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 52g
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Sodium: 220mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs

Mary Berry Old Fashioned Apple Cake Recipe

Recipe by Milli RoseCourse: DessertCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

A classic old fashioned apple cake with soft sponge, warming spice, and tender apple pieces. Simple, comforting, and perfect for everyday baking.

Ingredients

• 225g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 175g soft light brown sugar

• 175g unsalted butter, softened

• 3 large eggs

• 2 tbsp milk

• 3 medium cooking apples, diced

• 2 tbsp demerara sugar

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• Butter and parchment for lining

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a 20cm cake tin.
• Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl.
• Add butter, eggs, and milk and beat until smooth.
• Fold in the diced apples gently.
• Spoon mixture into tin and level the top.
• Sprinkle with demerara sugar and cinnamon.
• Bake for 45–50 minutes until golden and cooked through.
• Cool slightly before turning out and serving.

Notes

• Use cooking apples for best texture.
• Avoid opening the oven early.
• Store in an airtight container to keep moist.