Parisian Apple Cake

There’s something wonderfully elegant about a simple apple cake, especially when it has that unmistakable French-inspired charm. This Parisian Apple Cake is tender, buttery, lightly sweet, and packed with thin slices of apple.

It’s the kind of dessert that feels special without requiring complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients. The apples are folded right into a simple batter, with a few slices arranged on top for a beautiful finish.

And when that golden cake comes out of the oven? The kitchen smells absolutely wonderful!

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What Is Parisian Apple Cake?

This cake is a simple, tender apple dessert made with thinly sliced apples, flour, eggs, sugar, whole milk, melted butter, vanilla, and a little lemon juice.

Most of the apples are folded into the batter, while the remaining slices are arranged over the top before baking. A final sprinkle of granulated sugar gives the surface a lightly sweet finish.

Once baked, the cake becomes golden brown, tender, and wonderfully apple-filled.

You can serve it slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled—and a dusting of powdered sugar is optional.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cake

There’s so much to like about this recipe!

Simple ingredients: Everything is straightforward and easy to work with.

Plenty of apples: Four medium apples give the cake its signature fruit-forward texture.

Tender and buttery: Melted unsalted butter and whole milk make a lovely cake batter.

Beautiful presentation: Apple slices arranged on top give the finished cake a pretty homemade look.

Easy preparation: No complicated decorating is required.

Versatile serving temperature: Enjoy it warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

What Does Parisian Apple Cake Taste Like?

This cake is tender, buttery, lightly sweet, and full of apple flavor.

The apples bring natural sweetness and moisture, while vanilla adds a warm, familiar note. A tablespoon of lemon juice brightens the apple flavor without overpowering it.

The small amount of sugar sprinkled over the top creates a delicate sweetness on the golden surface.

And if you like a simple dessert where the fruit really gets to shine, this one is especially appealing.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cake

4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

½ cup (120 ml) whole milk

⅓ cup (75 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon granulated sugar, for sprinkling

Powdered sugar, for serving (optional)

Tools You’ll Need

You’ll need just a few basic baking tools:

9-inch round cake pan

Parchment paper

Medium mixing bowl

Large mixing bowl

Whisk

Spatula or mixing spoon

Wire rack

Ingredient Notes

Apples

Use 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced. The thin slices make it easy to fold the fruit into the batter and arrange the remaining slices over the top.

Butter

The recipe calls for unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled before it is added to the wet ingredients.

Lemon Juice

The lemon juice is tossed with the sliced apples before they are added to the batter.

Powdered Sugar

Powdered sugar is optional and is used for serving rather than in the cake batter.

How to Make Parisian Apple Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.

This gives you a prepared surface for the cake and makes removing it easier once it has cooled.

Step 2: Prepare the Apples

Peel and core the apples, then slice them thinly.

Toss the sliced apples with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

Set them aside while you prepare the batter.

Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together:

1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Set the mixture aside.

Step 4: Make the Batter

In a large bowl, whisk the 2 eggs and ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar until smooth and slightly pale.

Add:

½ cup (120 ml) whole milk

⅓ cup (75 g) melted and slightly cooled unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk until everything is combined.

Step 5: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Stir just until you have a smooth batter.

Don’t overmix.

Once the flour has been incorporated and the batter is smooth, you’re ready for the apples.

Step 6: Add the Apples

Fold most of the sliced apples into the batter, making sure they are evenly distributed.

Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan.

Arrange the remaining apple slices over the top.

Step 7: Bake

Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.

Place the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 45–50 minutes.

The cake is ready when it is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Step 8: Cool

Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.

Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool further.

Step 9: Serve

Once ready to serve, dust the cake with powdered sugar if desired.

This apple cake can be enjoyed slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

What to Serve With Parisian Apple Cake

This cake is lovely served on its own, especially with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

Because it can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled, it also works beautifully as a flexible dessert for different occasions.

The original recipe does not specify additional accompaniments, so the cake itself remains the star of the plate.

Tips for Making the Best Apple Cake

Slice the Apples Thinly

Thinly sliced apples are important to the texture of this cake. They can be folded into the batter easily and also arranged attractively across the top.

Don’t Overmix the Batter

Once you begin adding the dry ingredients, stir only until you have a smooth batter.

Overmixing isn’t necessary and can affect the texture of the finished cake.

Cool the Melted Butter

The butter should be melted and slightly cooled before it goes into the batter.

Save Some Apples for the Top

Fold most of the apples into the batter, but reserve some for arranging over the surface. This gives the finished cake a beautiful apple-topped appearance.

Check the Cake With a Toothpick

Begin checking toward the end of the recommended baking time. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Storage Instructions

The provided recipe does not include specific storage or reheating instructions, so those details are not specified here.

General Recipe Information

Recipe: Parisian Apple Cake

Oven temperature: 350°F (175°C)

Pan: 9-inch round cake pan

Bake time: 45–50 minutes

Cooling time in pan: About 15 minutes

Main fruit: Apples

Serving options: Slightly warm, room temperature, or chilled

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of apples should I use?

The recipe simply calls for 4 medium apples and does not specify a particular variety.

Do I need to peel the apples?

Yes. The recipe calls for the apples to be peeled, cored, and thinly sliced.

Why do you toss the apples with lemon juice?

The sliced apples are tossed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice before being added to the batter. This is part of the recipe’s preparation.

Can I use powdered sugar in the batter?

No. Powdered sugar is listed as an optional serving ingredient. The cake itself uses granulated sugar.

How do I know when the cake is finished?

The cake should be golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

How long should the cake cool?

Let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool further.

Can I serve the cake cold?

Yes. The recipe specifically notes that the cake is delicious slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Final Thoughts

This Parisian Apple Cake is such a lovely example of how simple ingredients can create an impressive homemade dessert.

Thinly sliced apples, a tender buttery batter, vanilla, and just enough sugar come together in a cake that feels both comforting and elegant.

I especially love the way the remaining apple slices are arranged over the top before baking. Once the cake turns golden brown, those apples make it look like you spent far more time in the kitchen than you actually did!

Serve it slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled, and add a little powdered sugar if you like.

Simple, beautiful, and wonderfully apple-filled—this is the kind of cake that makes an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special.

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you make this Parisian Apple Cake, I’d love to hear how it turned out!

Leave a review and share your experience. And if you take a photo of your golden apple cake, share it on Pinterest so other home bakers can discover this simple and beautiful dessert, too!