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    Foody Schmoody Blog Recipes For Everyone » All Recipes

    Published: Jul 26, 2021 by foodyschmoody ·

    Apple Cake Recipe (CopyCat Tastefully Simple Nana's Apple Cake Mix)

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    This moist and delicious apple cake recipe tastes every bit as good as the popular boxed mix at a fraction of the price. Serve this apple treat for dessert, with your midday coffee or even for breakfast!

    This is the perfect kind of recipe to use up some apples from apple picking, if you do that. We always do and I'm always looking for more apple recipes.

    I originally published this recipe for Nana's Apple Cake in 2014. Post and photos updated 2021, but recipe hasn't changed a bit!

    Jump to:
    • 🛒Ingredients
    • 🔪Video instructions
    • 📃 Step-By-Step Instructions With Photos
    • 🍽 Serving suggestions
    • 🍎More apple recipes
    • 🍳Recipe (printable)
    • Printable Recipe Card
    baked apple cake on parchment paper. Cake sits upon kitchen towel with apple to the side and dishes to the other side.

    I'm not going to get into what Tastefully Simple is, if you know you know... you know? Anyway, I'm not a fan of MLM's so I'll just say this about it - they charge $7.99 for a boxed of their Nana's Apple Cake Mix.

    I'm sharing my homemade version, which still has all the apple, cinnamon, nutmeg flavors but it won't break the bank.

    This apple cake has warm fall flavors all over it but I enjoy it all summer long too!

    🛒Ingredients

    • apples - granny smith
    • eggs
    • sugar - both brown sugar and granulated sugar
    • shortening
    • vanilla extract
    • all-purpose flour
    • baking powder & baking soda
    • salt
    • spices - cinnamon, nutmeg & ginger
    all ingredients in bowls on white countertop

    🔪Video instructions

    📃 Step-By-Step Instructions With Photos

    Start by creaming together the shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix.

    wet ingredients in bowl with mixer mixing them

    In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients.

    dry ingredient in bowl with wooden spoon next to bowl

    Stir together wet and dry ingredients.

    batter mixed in bowl with white spoon in bowl too.

    Fold in diced apples. Don't worry if mixture seems thick, that's normal.

    batter in glass bowl with apples being stirred into batter

    Spread mixture into prepared cake pan and bake in pre-heated oven.

    batter spread in round cake pan

    Allow to cool a few minutes before slicing.

    apple cake cooked and sliced with one slice being removed. Green apples around and dish towel in back.

    🍽 Serving suggestions

    Of course this apple cake is fabulous straight from the oven but if you want some toppings, give these a try:

    • drizzle of caramel sauce
    • dollop of whipped cream
    • vanilla ice cream or even a cinnamon ice cream
    apple cake served on a white plate, topped with ice cream and caramel sauce

    🍎More apple recipes

    • Apple Bread
    • Apple Monkey Bread Cups
    • Apple Pie Cheesecake

    🍳Recipe (printable)

    Printable Recipe Card

    slice of apple cake held above the rest of the cake on a serving spoon

    Copycat Tastefully Simple Nana’s Apple Cake

    foodyschmoody
    Every bit as delicious as the expensive boxed mix, this copycat version is moist and much more affordable.
    4.42 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 slices

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ Cup shortening
    • ½ Cup granulated sugar
    • ½ Cup brown sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 Cup flour all purpose
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ginger
    • 2 ½ Cup diced Granny Smith apples peeled

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350.
    • Prepare a 9 inch round cake pan or an 8x8 square baking pan with butter, non-stick spray and/or parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Cream together shortening and sugars with electric mixer. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to mix until smooth
    • In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
    • Stir together wet ingredients and dry ingredients.
    • Fold in apples. Mixture will be thick.
    • Spread mixture into pan and bake in preheated oven 25-35 minutes. Test with a toothpick and when toothpick comes out clean out of middle, cake is done.
    • Cut and serve with drizzled caramel, whipped cream and/or ice cream.
    Keyword apple, bake sale, baked goods, baking, copycat
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Recipe was adapted from a recipe I found on a site called Eat.Heat.Repeat.

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Amy @Very Culinary says

      September 11, 2014 at 8:53 am

      It's hard not to love anything with "Nana" in it. HA. But $70 is obnoxious, for sure. Love how you recreated it!

      Reply
      • Sheryl Ann Roy says

        April 08, 2018 at 12:39 pm

        Hi I am thrilled with your recipe because I agree that the cost of the Nana cake apple cake recipe is expensive but I too love it. I'm going to use your recipe with all the dry ingredients and make up my own dry mix so I can use it like a cake mix whenever I wish and only add the eggs shortening and vanilla and apples later. I have done this very successfully with pancake mix will let you know how it goes

        Reply
        • foodyschmoody says

          April 08, 2018 at 7:18 pm

          That’s a great idea!

          Reply
    2. Martha @ A Family Feast says

      September 11, 2014 at 10:06 am

      A perfect recipe - just in time for apple picking season!

      Reply
    3. Crystal Barrett says

      September 11, 2014 at 11:56 am

      I LOVE apple cake. I drizzle mine with honey glaze but your idea with caramel sounds amazing!!!!! Looks great!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        September 11, 2014 at 12:19 pm

        Oh honey sounds great too, Crystal!

        Reply
    4. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says

      September 11, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Yes, I am familiar with Tastfully Simple. They are really good but way too expensive! Love your homemade version.

      Reply
    5. Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says

      September 11, 2014 at 2:43 pm

      It does sound amazing...I could easily get hooked. Glad you've provided a tasty homemade version! 🙂

      Reply
    6. claire @ the realistic nutritionist says

      September 12, 2014 at 9:08 am

      oh my god I love love love apple cake!

      Reply
    7. Karissa | Sweet as a Cookie says

      September 12, 2014 at 2:35 pm

      I need to try apple cake. It sounds so delicious!

      Reply
    8. Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says

      September 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm

      I don't think I could EVER bring myself to pay 7 bucks for a cake mix - that's insane! Especially when this recipe looks so amazing.

      Reply
    9. Angela {Mind Over Batter} says

      September 15, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      My, word - This looks amazing! I'd also have it with whipped cream. Oooh, maybe a caramel flavored whipped cream. I'd still douse it with caramel. It's how I roll.

      Reply
    10. Elizabeth @ Food Ramblings says

      September 17, 2014 at 4:47 am

      I love copycat recipes-- especially when you can make them so much cheaper!

      Reply
    11. SMC says

      October 01, 2014 at 12:27 pm

      How many eggs? Recipe says to add eggs, but no eggs are listed in the ingredient list. Thanks.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        October 01, 2014 at 12:33 pm

        Aye! Sorry about that 2 eggs. I'll edit right now. Thanks!

        Reply
    12. Kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox says

      October 07, 2014 at 8:26 am

      I've never tried Tastefully Simple products just because I think their prices are steep but this cake looks amazing. I love apple cake and will definitely be trying this out very soon!

      Reply
    13. Sherry says

      December 28, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Love Tastefully Simple but, like others, can't pay the price when 10 more minutes saves dollars and preservatives. Plus I can involve more family members to measure and chop.
      The only change I have to this recipe is to cream the shortening before adding sugars. And I always add a little more nutmeg to all recipes since it is my favorite!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        December 28, 2014 at 12:11 pm

        The way you add nutmeg to everything, is how I am with vanilla to everything. I always double what a recipe calls for! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

        Reply
    14. Marion McNeely says

      January 22, 2016 at 10:11 pm

      I haven't tried recipe yet, but going to. i made a Tastefully Simple Apple Cake but prefer to do the extra "work" and save the extra $$$$. Thank you for offering it to us.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        January 23, 2016 at 12:23 pm

        I hope you enjoy it Marion! Yes, those mixes while delicious are very pricey!

        Reply
    15. Marion McNeely says

      January 23, 2016 at 4:06 pm

      I sent some TS Apple Cake over to my neighbor. She loved it. Asked for recipe. I said was TS cake mix but I will try to find one for you. I copied yours down and made her a copy and gave it to her today so she is anxious to try it. So...your recipe is making two families in El Paso very happy. Thanx again.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        January 23, 2016 at 9:35 pm

        Great! So happy to hear Marion!

        Reply
    16. Diane Costa says

      February 24, 2017 at 6:18 pm

      I found a TS mix in my pantry - made it today and LOVE it so I went researching the net and didn't remember how expensive they are. So I found you recipe and am excited to try it. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        February 24, 2017 at 6:34 pm

        Thanks. I hope you love it. I have a friend who absolutely loves this one in place of the TS.

        Reply
    17. Michelle says

      February 26, 2017 at 2:02 pm

      Thank you for the recipe. I can't wait to try it. I used to make these all the time for special occasions, but my son has a nut allergy and there is an allergy warning on the mix box, so I am very happy to find a homemade alternative that I can make now.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        February 26, 2017 at 8:53 pm

        I can totally relate, my daughter is allergic to peanut, tree nut, sesame, soy, egg & chick peas! Glad I could help! Enjoy!

        Reply
    18. Brooke says

      April 28, 2018 at 9:25 pm

      Love the idea of making it with already on hand ingredients, and not paying $7. Making things "on the cheaper side" as you said is a great and appreciated idea, thanks. My question is that no where can I find the directions on how you store the leftovers? This answer will be greatly appreciated.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        April 29, 2018 at 3:22 pm

        I stored on the counter but in all fairness it wasn't there very long as it was gobbled up by the next day.

        Reply
    19. Alicia says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:21 am

      I'm making my last box now and saw this as I was going to order more - will definitely try this recipe - I love this cake!!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        March 25, 2019 at 11:56 am

        Please let me know what you think!

        Reply
    20. Amanda Homer says

      January 26, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Does this crisp up on top like TS?
      Looks good, but I'm obsessed with the crisp on top lol

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        January 28, 2020 at 9:36 am

        It's been so long now since I've had the actually TS version but the top of this does get a crisp top.

        Reply
    21. Cindy Coulson says

      April 23, 2020 at 11:37 am

      I've made this cake 4 times now in the last month.. it's very, very good and fills the house with the most wonderful smells of apple. I made one small substitution only because I didn't have shortening. I used 1/2 cup coconut oil and it worked great!

      Reply
    22. Brenda Empie says

      August 07, 2020 at 2:00 am

      This one is a keeper! My daughter turned 21 today and wanted a carrot cake without raisins. I used to make it for her as a kid using Tastefully Simple's Mama's Apple cake mix. When I went to order the mix it was out of stock. In a mad scramble to find a recipe, I came across this recipe. I thought I would give it a try but substitute carrots for apples. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Thank you for coming up with this copy cat recipe! I'll not be buying the box again.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        August 07, 2020 at 12:22 pm

        So glad to have been a help! Happy Birthday to your daughter!

        Reply
    23. Melanie Thompson says

      April 11, 2021 at 7:11 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful recipe! The two things I always buy at TS parties is a few Apple Nana Cake Mixes and couple of the Caramel Sauce mix. (of course I also buy the dips and spreads that I rarely end up using) And when I check out I find I have spent $100...so now I place my orders with my friend who throws the parties - if I don't go, I only needed to buy those two things! Now, after your recipe, I only need to buy the caramel sauce!

      I wanted to share that I use any apples I have on hand, I've used everything from Red Delicious to Granny Smiths. I use the ones I have to get through before they go soft. Also, I stopped peeling them, chop them up with skins on, cores out. The TS rep at the party recommended this, and I like it better - plus it is easier!

      Thanks for sharing, so glad I found you!
      Melanie

      Reply
    24. Savannah says

      March 05, 2022 at 10:22 am

      Do I need to cook apples before hand? Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        March 05, 2022 at 12:59 pm

        No, I did not cook the apples prior to adding them. 🙂

        Reply

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