This easy apple sheet cake recipe is the perfect fall apple dessert—moist, spiced, and full of comforting flavor.

Celebrate fall with this easy apple sheet cake! Moist, spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings.

As the crisp air of fall begins to roll in and the leaves start to change, there’s nothing quite like the cozy comfort of baking with seasonal flavors. This easy apple sheet cake recipe is the perfect way to celebrate autumn—packed with tender apples, warm spices, and a soft, moist crumb that feels like a hug in dessert form. It’s simple to make, yet impressive enough to serve for gatherings, potlucks, or even a cozy family dinner. Best of all, it’s baked in a sheet pan, so there’s no fussing with layers or decorating.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cinnamon Sheet Cake

  • Easy to make – one bowl, one pan, no fuss.
  • Full of fall flavors – cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh apples.
  • Feeds a crowd – perfect for holidays, potlucks, and family dinners.
  • Moist and delicious – thanks to the apples, it stays tender for days.

This is the kind of fall apple dessert you’ll make again and again.

Celebrate fall with this easy apple sheet cake! Moist, spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings.

Ingredients to make Apple Cinnamon Sheet Cake

  • Unsalted butter * room temperature (1 stick)
  • Brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Large eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Baking soda
  • Ground nutmeg
  • Cinnamon
  • Chopped apples

How to make Apple Cinnamon Sheet Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350℉ and grease a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
  2. Cream butter with sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well
  3. In a separate medium bowl, sift flour, salt, spices, and baking soda. Stir well.
  4. Working in 2 batches, add the dry mixture to the wet. Mix just until incorporated, making sure to scrape down sides of bowl.
  5. Stir in apples and nuts.
  6. Bake for 40 mins before adding the glaze.

Celebrate fall with this easy apple sheet cake! Moist, spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings.

Can Apple Sheet Cake Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes! This is one of the best make-ahead apple desserts. In fact, it tastes even better the next day because the apples and spices have time to meld together. Simply bake the cake, let it cool, and cover it tightly until you’re ready to serve.

How to Store Apple Sheet Cake

  • Room Temperature: Cover tightly with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • Refrigerator: Store for up to 1 week.
  • Freezer: Slice into squares, wrap individually, and freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw at room temperature or warm gently in the microwave.

Serving Suggestions

This moist apple cake is wonderful on its own, but it really shines with a glaze.

Classic Vanilla Glaze – sweet, simple, and timeless.
Brown Butter Glaze – adds a nutty depth of flavor.
Maple Glaze – the ultimate fall pairing with apples.

Serve slices warm or at room temperature, topped with a drizzle of glaze, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For an extra treat, add a swirl of caramel sauce.

Quick Vanilla Glaze Recipe

The perfect finishing touch for your sheet cake with glaze!

Ingredients:

* 1 cup powdered sugar
* 2 tablespoons milk (plus more if needed)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Adjust consistency: add more powdered sugar if too thin, or a splash more milk if too thick.
3. Drizzle over the cooled apple sheet cake before serving.

Celebrate fall with this easy apple sheet cake! Moist, spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings.

🍎 Apple Sheet Cake FAQ

Can you make apple sheet cake ahead of time?

Yes! This apple sheet cake is an excellent make-ahead dessert. The flavor actually improves overnight as the apples and spices blend together.

How do you store apple sheet cake?

Store at room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

What is the best glaze for apple cake?

A vanilla glaze is classic, but brown butter or maple glaze pair beautifully with apple and spice flavors.

What can I serve with apple sheet cake?

Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or caramel drizzle make perfect accompaniments.

Celebrate fall with this easy apple sheet cake! Moist, spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings.

Print Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Sheet Cake
Celebrate fall with this easy apple sheet cake! Moist, spiced, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Breakfast, dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Passive Time 1 hour
Servings
servings
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • chopped and paried apples small chunks, about 2 1/2 med apples
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Breakfast, dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Passive Time 1 hour
Servings
servings
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • chopped and paried apples small chunks, about 2 1/2 med apples
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350℉ and grease a 9 inch springform pan. Set aside.
  2. Cream butter with sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well
  3. In a seperate medium bowl sift flour, salt, spices and baking soda. Stir well.
  4. Working in 2 batches add dry mixture to wet. Mix just until incorporated making sure to scrape down sides of bowl.
  5. Stir in apples and incorporate.
  6. Bake for 40 mins before adding topping.

 

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