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Craving our classic apple cake with an extra kick of warming spices? This apple spice cake recipe builds on our beloved traditional apple cake by adding cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg for the ultimate fall dessert.
Why You'll Love This Apple Spice Cake
This apple spice cake takes everything you love about our classic apple honey cake and elevates it with a warming blend of fall spices. The addition of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg creates layers of flavor that perfectly complement the natural sweetness of honey and fresh apples.
Unlike our traditional version, this spiced variation offers:
- Complex flavor profile with five warming spices
- Perfect fall and winter dessert for cozy gatherings
- Enhanced aroma that fills your kitchen with holiday scents
- Ideal for Rosh Hashanah celebrations and seasonal entertaining
Whether you're a fan of our original recipe or looking for something with more depth, this apple spice cake delivers incredible moisture and sophisticated flavors that make it perfect for special occasions.
How This Differs from Our Classic Apple Cake
If you've tried our traditional apple cake recipe, you'll notice this spiced version includes:
- Five warming spices: cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and a hint of coffee
- Optional whiskey: adds depth and complements the spices
- Thicker batter consistency: creates an even more moist texture
- Layered assembly: alternating batter and apple layers for better distribution
Both recipes use honey as the primary sweetener, but this spice cake offers a more complex flavor profile perfect for fall and winter celebrations.
Ingredients for Apple Spice Cake
Dry Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ground allspice
- Ground nutmeg
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Coconut sugar
- Salt
Wet Ingredients
- Orange juice
- Whiskey (optional, but recommended)
- Melted coconut oil
- Strong coffee, cooled
- Bee Inspired Honey
- Large eggs
- Vanilla extract
Fresh Apples
Medium apples, peeled and chopped into ½-inch pieces.
The coffee and whiskey enhance the spice flavors without overpowering the honey and apple base.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Oven
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease only the bottom of your pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. This recipe works beautifully in an angel food pan, tube pan, or loaf pans - the same options as our classic apple cake.
Step 2: Create the Spiced Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients, ensuring the spices are evenly distributed. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, vanilla, orange juice, and whiskey.
Combine the warm coconut oil, coffee, and honey in a measuring cup. Using an electric mixer on low speed, gradually blend wet ingredients into dry ingredients until you achieve a thick, smooth batter.
Step 3: Layer Assembly Technique
This is where our apple spice cake differs from the traditional version:
- Spoon half the batter into your prepared pan
- Add a single layer of chopped apples
- Add remaining batter just shy of the pan's top
- Top with remaining apples
- Tent with foil to prevent over-browning
Step 4: Baking to Perfection
Place on two stacked baking sheets for even heat distribution. Baking times:
- Angel food/tube pans: 60-70 minutes
- Loaf pans: 45-55 minutes
- Sheet cake pans: 40-45 minutes
Let rest 15 minutes before removing from pan and cooling completely.
Perfect Cinnamon Honey Glaze
Enhance your apple spice cake with this complementary glaze:
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (extra for the spice theme)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons plant milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Pinch of salt
The extra cinnamon in the glaze reinforces the spice profile throughout the cake.
Cultural Significance & Holiday Traditions
This apple spice cake holds special meaning in Jewish tradition, particularly during Rosh Hashanah, when apples and honey symbolize hopes for a sweet new year. The warming spices make it especially appropriate for fall celebrations.
Whether you're planning a complete Rosh Hashanah dinner or looking for traditional Rosh Hashanah desserts, this spiced variation offers a sophisticated twist on classic holiday flavors.
Pro Tips for Apple Spice Cake Success
Spice Balance: The key to great apple spice cake is balancing the spices so no single one dominates. Our ratio creates harmony between all five spices.
Coffee Enhancement: The coffee doesn't make the cake taste like coffee - it deepens the spice flavors and adds richness.
Apple Selection: Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that won't break down during baking, just like in our traditional apple cake.
Honey Quality: Using premium varietal honey adds subtle complexity that complements the spices.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Store your apple spice cake the same way as our classic version:
- Room temperature: 2 days in airtight container
- Refrigerated: Up to 1 week
- Frozen: Up to 4 months when properly wrapped
The spices actually improve the flavor over time, making this cake even better the next day.
Delicious Variations
Gluten-Free Spice Cake: Use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Extra Nutty: Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans for texture contrast.
Different Honey Varieties: Try Buckwheat Honey for deeper, molasses-like notes that complement the spices perfectly.
Holiday Presentation: For Rosh Hashanah gifts, serve alongside kosher honey products.
Apple Spice Cake vs. Traditional Apple Cake
Choose Traditional Apple Cake when you want
- Clean, simple apple and honey flavors
- A lighter, more subtle dessert
- A cake that highlights the honey's floral notes
Choose Apple Spice Cake when you want
- Complex, warming spice flavors
- A more sophisticated dessert for special occasions
- Perfect fall and winter comfort food
Both recipes celebrate the beautiful combination of apples and honey, but this spice version adds seasonal warmth that makes it extra special.
The Perfect Spiced Ending
This apple spice cake recipe builds beautifully on our beloved apple cake foundation, adding layers of warming spices that create a truly memorable dessert. The combination of five spices with pure honey and fresh apples results in a cake that's both comforting and sophisticated.
Using premium honey from Bee Inspired ensures your spice cake has the perfect balance of sweetness and complexity that only pure, unprocessed honey can provide.
All of our honey at Bee Inspired is Star K certified kosher, making this recipe perfect for Rosh Hashanah traditions and special occasions throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from your regular apple cake?
This spice version includes cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and coffee for a more complex flavor profile, while our traditional apple cake focuses on pure apple and honey flavors.
Can I make this without the whiskey?
Yes! The whiskey is optional, though it does enhance the spice flavors. You can substitute with additional orange juice.
Which version should I make for beginners?
Start with our classic apple cake recipe to master the basic technique, then try this spiced variation.
Can I use the same glaze for both cakes?
Yes, but this spice cake benefits from the extra cinnamon in the glaze to reinforce the spice theme.
Do the spices change the baking time?
No, the baking times remain the same as our traditional apple cake recipe.
