Hey, y'all! This ain’t your average apple cake. My Appalachian Apple Stack Cake is a labor of love and a true mountain tradition. Made with layers of spiced cake and slow-cooked apple filling, it’s the kind of dessert that tells a story with every bite.

Appalachian Apple Stack Cake

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Folks used to bring one layer to a gathering, and the host would stack them all together. Now that’s community cooking! It’s warm, spiced, and just the right amount of sweet. If you want to impress your guests or honor your Appalachian roots, this cake’s the way to do it.

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Appalachian Apple Stack Cake Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ c. granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the Apple Filling:

• 6 c. tart apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped (Granny Smith or a mix of tart apples work well)
• 1 c. brown sugar
• ½ c. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• ¼ c. apple cider
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoon apple cider
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make Appalachian Apple Stack Cake

1. Cook the apples, sugars, spices, cider, and lemon juice in a pan over medium heat until soft and thick, about 20-25 minutes. Let the filling cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour five 9-inch round cake pans.
3. Mix the dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—in one bowl.
4. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
5. Alternate adding the dry mix and buttermilk to the butter mixture until combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the pans.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the cakes on wire racks.
8. Place one cake layer on a plate and spread apple filling on top. Repeat with the remaining layers.
9. Mix powdered sugar, apple cider, and vanilla until smooth.
10. Pour the glaze over the cake, letting it drip down the sides.
11. Let the cake sit for 30 minutes before serving.

Pro Tips For Making This Recipe

1. Use tart apples like Granny Smith for the best flavor.
2. Cook the filling low and slow so it gets thick and jammy.
3. Stack carefully. A little filling between each layer goes a long way.
4. Let it sit before serving so the flavors meld together.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Appalachian Apple Stack Cake

Appalachian Apple Stack Cake

JC Phelps

My Appalachian Apple Stack Cake features multiple layers filled with a slow-cooked apple filling. A traditional Appalachian dessert!

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Assembly & Glaze 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 661 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For the Cake:

• 3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• 1 c. unsalted butter softened
• 1 ½ c. granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the Apple Filling:

• 6 c. tart apples (Granny Smith or a mix of tart apples work well) peeled, cored, and finely chopped
• 1 c. brown sugar
• ½ c. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• ¼ c. apple cider
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoon apple cider
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Cook the apples, sugars, spices, cider, and lemon juice in a pan over medium heat until soft and thick, about 20-25 minutes. Let the filling cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour five 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix the dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—in one bowl.
• In another bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
• Alternate adding the dry mix and buttermilk to the butter mixture until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the pans.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the cakes on wire racks.
• Place one cake layer on a plate and spread apple filling on top. Repeat with the remaining layers.
• Mix powdered sugar, apple cider, and vanilla until smooth.
• Pour the glaze over the cake, letting it drip down the sides.
• Let the cake sit for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Use tart apples like Granny Smith for the best flavor.
• Cook the filling low and slow so it gets thick and jammy.
• Stack carefully. A little filling between each layer goes a long way.
• Let it sit before serving so the flavors meld together.

Nutrition

Calories: 661kcalCarbohydrates: 117gProtein: 8gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 261mgPotassium: 156mgFiber: 2gSugar: 70gVitamin A: 589IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Appalachian Apple Stack Cake

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My best,

JC