Apple Cinnamon Sheet Cake Just Like Apple Pie, Only Easier

This cozy sheet cake is everything you love about apple pie, baked into a moist, cinnamon-spiced cake that’s simple to make and impossible to resist. Serve it warm with whipped cream, and you’ve got the perfect fall dessert or anytime treat.

Ingredients

• 5 large (or 6 small) apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into ½–1-inch chunks
• 1½ teaspoons freshly ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• ⅓ cup buttermilk

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 13×9×2-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, toss the chopped apples with cinnamon and ¼ cup sugar. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the canola oil, both sugars, and vanilla. Add the eggs, yolks, and buttermilk. Whisk until smooth.
5. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a spatula. A few small pockets of flour are okay.
6. Spread half the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out.
7. Drain any excess liquid from the apples if needed, then spread the apples evenly over the batter.
8. Add the remaining batter on top of the apples and smooth the surface as best you can.
9. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, rotating the pan after 30 minutes. Check doneness at 45 minutes. The cake is ready when a tester inserted into the cake (not an apple piece) comes out with moist crumbs.
10. Cool the cake to room temperature before slicing. Serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream if desired.
11. To store, do not cover the cake. Just press parchment against exposed sides. Keeps at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Tips and Variations

• For two loaf cakes: Use 2 apples, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Mix apples directly into the batter and divide between two greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Bake about 45 minutes.
• Best apples to use: Combine sweet and tart apples like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith for a more balanced flavor.
• Spice twist: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves for extra warmth.
• Buttermilk substitute: Mix ⅓ cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes.