Irish Apple Cake is a homey and tasty treat baked in a cast iron skillet. The ingredients are simple so you can appreciate the true apple flavor

Whenever I’m ready to post a new recipe I start in one of two places. If it’s a recipe I’ve been making forever, like my Vanilla Butter Cake or Italian Meringue Buttercream there’s no research or testing needed. I go ahead and make the recipe, take some photos and turn it into a new blog post. (Believe me, that still involves quite a bit of work.)
A totally new recipe starts with some research. First I peruse my own cookbooks and then my research continues on the interwebs.
The majority of recipes I found for Irish Apple Cake were something akin to an American Coffee Cake. A streusel topped cake filled with apples and served with custard sauce.
But I was intrigued by another type of recipe made with a thicker batter that was almost a dough. Those recipes made something that was a cross between a cake and a tart. Mmm, my happy place.
It was time to talk to the ultimate authority, my Irish mother. Frankly, mom has many wonderful qualities but cooking and baking are not among them. But her mother, my grandmother, was a wonderful baker.
I asked my mom to describe the type of apple cake my grandmother used to make. What she remembered was a cake much like the second type I found, the one between a cake and a tart.
I baked a test cake based on the recipes I found on-line. It was OK, but the actual cake part was a bit dry and bland and the spices tossed in with the apples (cloves and cinnamon) muted the fruit flavor.
To improve the flavor and texture of the cake I added an extra yolk, a little more salt and some vanilla. I took all the spice out of the apple filling and added a little lemon juice to enhance the fruit’s natural flavor.
Finally, I baked the cake in a cast iron skillet to create a wonderful brown crust and crisp sugary topping.
Scroll through the photos to see how to make an Irish Apple Cake:




Tip for making Irish Apple Cake in a cast iron skillet:
- I used a well-seasoned cast iron skillet for a crunchy crust and crisp topping. If you don’t have a good skillet you can bake the cake in a 9″ pie plate or cake pan.
- Use tart, firm baking apples for the best filling that doesn’t turn into applesauce. Granny Smith is a good basic baking apple.
- Taste the apples before putting them into the pan. At this point you can adjust the sugar and lemon to your taste.
- The cake comes together pretty quickly, but you can make the batter ahead of time. After mixing the batter, spread each half into parchment as described in the recipe. Chill until you’re ready to assemble the cake. Flip the bottom crust into the pan and tuck it into place. Continue the recipe as written.
- The cake is divine while it’s still warm from the oven. But it’s also really tasty the next day when the juice from the apples permeates and moistens the cake.
- I highly recommend serving the cake with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- The cake keeps at room temperature 2-3 days. After the first day I suggest removing the left over cake from the cast iron pan.

Looking for more Irish inspired recipes?
- Irish Soda Bread
- Irish Brown Bread
- Baileys Pot de Creme
- Baileys Bundt Cakes
- Baileys Cheesecake
- Baileys Chocolate Macarons
- Guinness Fudge Cake
- Triple Guinness Cake
- Irish Tea Brack
- Irish Coffee Trifle
- Irish Potato Farls
If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.
Irish Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 each eggs (room temperature)
- 1 each egg yolk (room temperature)
- 2 oz whole milk (1/4 cup, room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 7 1/2 oz all purpose flour (1 1/2 cups)
- 4 oz granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
- 4 oz Irish Butter (room temperature)
Apple Filling
- 2 each baking apples
- 2 oz granulated sugar (1/4 cup)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Butter a 10" cast iron skillet (or 9" pie plate or cake pan). Preheat the oven to 350°F. Use the convection setting if you have one.
- In a small bowl whisk 1 egg for egg wash and set it aside. In another small bowl or measuring cup whisk together the other egg, the yolk, the milk and the vanilla.2 each eggs, 1 each egg yolk, 2 oz whole milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, the baking powder and salt. With the mixer running, add the butter a tablespoon at a time. Continue mixing until the butter is incorporated. With the mixer running, add the combined eggs and milk.7 1/2 oz all purpose flour, 4 oz granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon table salt, 4 oz Irish Butter
- Spread half the batter into the prepared skillet so that the batter comes about 1/2 way up the sides of the pan. On a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper, spread the rest of the batter into a 9" circle. Cover with another sheet of paper then slide it into the freezer while you prepare the apples.
- Peel, core and chop the apples into 1/2" cubes. Toss the chopped apples with 1/4 cup sugar and the lemon juice. Taste the apples and adjust the flavor to your liking. Pour the apples into the pan and smooth them into an even layer.2 each baking apples, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 oz granulated sugar
- Remove the parchment wrapped batter from the freezer. Peel back the top layer of parchment then flip it over so the chilled batter is on top of the apples. Peel off the parchment. Tuck the sides of the batter into the pan to seal in the apples. Brush the top of the cake with egg wash, sprinkle generously with granulated sugar.
- Bake until the top of the cake is golden brown, the apples are tender and a toothpick or knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Total baking time is about 40-45 minutes.
- Serve slightly warm with whipped cream. The cake keeps at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Equipment
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Superchef
Sunday 19th of March 2023
This was perhaps the most frustrating recipe I’ve ever attempted. The dough is a sticky nightmare—I couldn’t figure out how to spread it in the pan nor could I get the frozen top layer to peel off in a single sheet (more like a pile of sticky pieces). Can you provide a video - and maybe add some advice? Paerhaps both sides of the dough need to be spread on parchment (and with a little dusting of flour) like the “make ahead of time” directions? Maybe I made a mistake but I would love some pointers on how to deal with the batter.
Superchef
Tuesday 28th of March 2023
@Eileen Gray, I’ll try again. Thank you for responding. I used good parchment. The cake I made tasted delicious but didn’t look too hot, lol. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Eileen Gray
Monday 20th of March 2023
I made this cake on Friday and did it exactly according to the directions and it worked perfectly. I spread the batter in the pan as you would spread frosting on a cake. The top layer needs to be in the freezer long enough to solidify a bit. You do need to be using proper baking parchment paper. If you use wax paper or another type of paper it may adhere too much. I find that if I put the top layer in the freezer while I prepare the apples it has enough time to firm up. I unpeel the top paper and flip it over the apples. Tap it into place then unpeel the paper.
Delia
Saturday 11th of March 2023
Your recipes have always been so good, and I am sure this one will taste good, but I found it a bit of a nightmare to prepare. The batter barely covered the bottom of my 10" cast iron pan.Spreading it was difficult. Without stating a set time to put the top part in the freezer, mine was too soft and stuck to the parchment. Perhaps one shouldn't preheat the oven until the batter is in the freezer? Anyway, I am sure it will taste good, all your recipes do.
DELIA
Sunday 12th of March 2023
@Delia, Okay so I was being whiney. This cake tastes sooooo good! I will be making this again.
Bonnie
Friday 27th of January 2023
The five stars are for the lovely recipe and clear directions. I stumbled with the chilling and placement of the upper half of the cake dough. Not your fault, perhaps my eggs were too large. After a couple of trips in and out of the freezer, trying to get it to firm up enough to handle it, I worked in a couple of tablespoons of flour until I could pat it into the required shape. It cane out just fine, despite that. I loved the crispy shiny top with the sugar. My husband is enjoying a second slice as I write. Thank you for sharing this. I greatly enjoy the professionalism of your recipes and directions.
Mary
Thursday 24th of March 2022
Another great recipe! I made this last night and we loved it. Fresh and lightly sweet not cloying like so many apple desserts. I used a heavy ceramic pie plate instead of cast iron. My tucking looked pretty rough going into the oven, but came out looking beautiful.
I used plain ol’ Tillamook butter instead of Irish butter. Does it make a big difference?
Eileen Gray
Thursday 24th of March 2022
Nah, any butter will make a good cake.
Janet Mackness
Tuesday 15th of March 2022
What if you do not have a cast iron frying pan. Will it work in any other type of pan?
Eileen Gray
Tuesday 15th of March 2022
Yes. You can use a pie plate or a cake pan.