If you’re into soft, cozy, melt-in-your-mouth desserts, this Apple Milk Cake is going to be your new obsession.
It’s a dreamy mix between a fluffy sponge and a creamy pudding, layered with buttery caramelized apples and soaked in warm, silky milk. Think apple pie meets tres leches — but easier, homier, and packed with comfort in every bite.
Perfect for chilly evenings, brunch parties, or a family gathering, this cake blends sweetness, warmth, and fruity goodness like a hug on a plate. The warm milk mixture sinks into the tender crumb, creating that iconic melt-away texture everyone falls in love with.
🕒 Time & Intensity
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 40–45 minutes
Soak + Cool Time: 30 minutes
Total: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Servings: 8–10
🧈 Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 medium apples (peeled, cored, thinly sliced)
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional but amazing)
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup melted butter (slightly cooled)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup warm milk
For the Milk Soak
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- 1 tbsp butter
For the Apple Topping
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 medium apple (diced or sliced)
Optional Garnish
Whipped cream · Caramel drizzle · Toasted nuts · Extra cinnamon
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Caramelize the Apples
Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 pan or round cake pan.
In a skillet, melt butter → add sliced apples → sprinkle brown sugar + cinnamon.
Cook 5–7 minutes until soft, golden, and lightly caramelized.
Set aside to cool.
This adds that rich “apple pie” flavor to your cake.
Step 2: Make the Batter
In one bowl: mix flour + baking powder + salt + cinnamon.
In another large bowl:
Beat eggs + sugar until pale and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
Stir in melted butter + vanilla.
Add dry ingredients in batches, alternating with warm milk.
Mix gently — batter should be smooth and slightly thick.
Step 3: Assemble & Bake
Add half the batter to the pan.
Layer your caramelized apples on top.
Pour the remaining batter over them.
Bake 40–45 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
Cool for 10 minutes, then poke holes all over the top — this helps the milk syrup sink in.
Step 4: Warm the Milk Syrup
In a saucepan, warm whole milk + condensed milk + evaporated milk + butter.
Heat on low for 3–4 minutes until smooth (don’t boil!).
Slowly pour the warm mixture over the warm cake.
Let it soak for 30 minutes or chill for super-moist texture.
Step 5: Finish with Apple Topping
Quickly sauté the last apple in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Spoon the glossy mixture over the cake.
Add whipped cream, caramel drizzle, or toasted nuts if you’re feeling fancy.
💡 Tips for the Best Apple Milk Cake
- Pick crisp apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala.
- Mix the batter lightly to keep the cake tender.
- Add less syrup for a fluffier cake, more syrup for a pudding-style cake.
- Swap some milk with heavy cream for extra richness.
- Adjust the sweetness by reducing condensed milk if needed.
🍴 Serving Ideas
Warm:
Serve with vanilla ice cream or warm caramel.
Cold:
Chill for a few hours — it turns rich, custardy, and tres-leches-like.
Perfect with chai, latte, cappuccino, or even iced coffee.
🧮 Nutrition (Per 1 of 10 servings)
Calories: 295
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 38 g
Sugar: 24 g
Fat: 13 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Cholesterol: 80 mg
Sodium: 120 mg
Fiber: 2 g
(Approximate values.)
🌟 Final Thoughts
This Apple Milk Cake is the kind of dessert that instantly feels like home. It’s simple, rustic, creamy, and filled with warm apple-cinnamon flavor that tastes like comfort in every bite.
Whether you’re serving it after dinner, taking it to a gathering, or baking it just because — this cake will disappear fast. The soft sponge, the caramelized apples, and the silky milk soak create a dessert that’s nostalgic, cozy, and completely irresistible.
One bite and you’ll understand why homemade desserts will always have a special place in our hearts. ❤️🥛🍎
