Sandra This Paula Deen Grandgirl’s Fresh Apple Cake is a moist and old-fashioned recipe, which is made with fresh apples and chopped pecans. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, a dense and delicious cake soaked in a hot buttermilk glaze, ready in about 2 hours, plus cooling time.
Paula Deen Grandgirl’s Fresh Apple Cake Ingredients
An old-fashioned combination for a super-moist, glaze-soaked cake.
For the Cake:
- 3 cups peeled and finely chopped apples
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
How To Make Paula Deen Grandgirl’s Fresh Apple Cake
A step-by-step guide to this incredibly moist and flavorful cake.
- Prep the Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Generously grease a tube pan.
- Make the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of sugar, the eggs, oil, and orange juice; mix well. In a separate motion, add the flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract and mix until just combined.
- Fold in Add-ins: Using a spatula, fold the finely chopped apples, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans into the batter until they are evenly distributed.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the thick batter into the prepared tube pan. Bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until a long wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make the Buttermilk Sauce: Shortly before the cake is done, prepare the sauce. Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Stir in 1 cup of sugar, the buttermilk, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Bring the mixture to a good rolling boil, stirring constantly, and let it boil for exactly 1 minute.
- Soak the Cake and Cool: As soon as you remove the hot cake from the oven, pour the hot sauce all over it while it is still in the pan. Let the cake stand in the pan for 1 hour to absorb all the sauce, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
For the most decadent, moist apple cake every time.
- How to prevent the cake from sticking? For a tube or Bundt pan, proper preparation is crucial. Generously grease the pan with solid vegetable shortening, making sure to get into every crevice, then dust it with flour or sugar, tapping out the excess.
- Why pour the hot sauce on the hot cake? This is the most important step for the signature texture of this cake! Pouring the hot, thin sauce over the hot, porous cake allows it to soak deep into the crumb, creating an incredibly moist, self-glazed cake that is dense and delicious.
- What are the best apples to use? Use a firm, crisp apple that will hold its shape during the long bake. Granny Smith is a great choice for its tartness, which balances the sweetness of the cake and glaze. Honeycrisp or Braeburn would also work well.
- Why does the sauce bubble up so much? When you add the baking soda to the acidic buttermilk in the hot saucepan, it creates a chemical reaction that will cause the sauce to foam and bubble up vigorously. Be sure to use a large enough saucepan to prevent it from boiling over.
What To Serve With Fresh Apple Cake
This rich, moist cake is a complete dessert on its own.
A warm slice of this glaze-soaked cake is the ultimate comfort food. It’s wonderful served with:
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
- A dollop of fresh, lightly sweetened whipped cream
- A hot cup of black coffee or a spiced tea
How To Store Fresh Apple Cake
Keeping your cake fresh and moist.
- Room Temperature: Store the cake in a cake dome or an airtight container at room temperature. Because it is so moist, it will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days.
Paula Deen Grandgirl’s Fresh Apple Cake Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per serving.
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 85 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Fat: 36 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, but the baking time will need to be adjusted. A 10-inch Bundt pan would be the best substitute, with a similar baking time. A 9×13-inch pan would also work, but the baking time would be significantly shorter, likely around 45-55 minutes.
Yes, you can leave them out if you have an allergy or a preference. The cake will still be wonderfully moist and flavorful, just with a slightly less complex texture.
Absolutely. This is a perfect make-ahead cake. Its flavor and texture are fantastic on the second and third day as the glaze continues to meld with the cake crumb.
Try More Recipes:
- Paula Deen Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake Recipe
- Paula Deen Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe
- Paula Deen Texas Sheet Cake Recipe
Paula Deen Grandgirl’s Fresh Apple Cake Recipe
Description
An incredibly moist, old-fashioned apple cake packed with finely chopped apples, coconut, and pecans, baked in a tube pan and soaked while hot with a rich, buttery buttermilk glaze.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously grease a tube pan.
- In a large bowl, mix 2 cups sugar, eggs, oil, and orange juice. Add the flour, 1 tsp baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla and mix well.
- Fold in the chopped apples, coconut, and pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Just before the cake is done, make the sauce: in a saucepan, melt the butter, then stir in 1 cup sugar, the buttermilk, and 1/2 tsp baking soda. Bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute.
- Pour the hot sauce over the hot cake immediately after removing it from the oven, while it is still in the pan.
- Let the cake stand in the pan for 1 hour to absorb the sauce before turning it out to cool.
Notes
- Pouring the hot sauce over the hot cake is the secret to this incredibly moist, self-glazing dessert.
- Use a firm, tart apple like Granny Smith that will hold its texture during the long bake.
- The sauce will foam up significantly when you add the baking soda, so use a large enough saucepan.
- This cake is very dense and moist and keeps exceptionally well for several days.
