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    Easy Apple and Cinnamon Traybake

    Published: Sep 8, 2018 · Modified: Nov 12, 2018 by Jacqueline Bellefontaine ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    apple and cinnamon traybake cut into squares on a wooden board

    With lots of pieces of apple, this apple and cinnamon traybake is quick and easy to make and packed full of flavour. A perfect everyday treat that is made for sharing.apple and cinnamon traybake on a wooden board with apples behind

    The Perfect Traybake

    To my mind, the perfect traybake is quick and easy to make and not in the least bit fussy. Sure it can have a simple icing or a little decoration but it should be first and foremost about ease and flavour. The kind of cake you can't use the excuse you don't have time to bake because it really doesn't take that long. Something that is perfect for having with a cup of tea, packing into a lunch box, sending to a school cake sale or simply sharing with family and friends. It is very much my kind of cake. You may notice that there are not many fussy cupcakes on this blog, they have their place but I don't often make them, simply because they are often too much work for the few seconds it takes to eat them.

    Apples Galore

    At this time of year I start to find myself with a glut of apples, we have three mature trees in our holiday cottage garden and they produce a lot of fruit.  Some we eat fresh from the trees. A lot we juice and freeze for drinking later or turn into cider. But of course, I also like to use them in my cooking. This traybake is one I have made many times. I have also often been asked for the recipe. So when this week's Bake Off included a traybake I knew it was time to share.

    stack of apple and cinnamon traybake cakes

    Easy Apple and Cinnamon Traybake - The Basic Recipe

    This is my basic recipe and it is a pretty standard creamed cake mixture the same as you would use to make a Victoria sandwich. However in this recipe, I use light muscovado sugar which I think is what makes it so tasty, it has a depth of flavour that caster sugar doesn't. Then I add a generous spoon of cinnamon and lots of diced apples. I use a small roasting tin about 23 x 27cm (9 x 11in) or a cake tin 20 x 30cm (8 x12 in). I  have sprinkled this one with demerara sugar before baking alternatively you could lightly dust with icing sugar after or leave plain.

    Easy Variations

    As I make this a lot I also tend to vary it so that the family doesn't get bored with the same old cake - as yet that hasn't happened!

    • Core and slice an extra eating apple and arrange slices on top before baking. Brush with a little warm apricot jam or apple jelly after baking.
    • Add some chopped hazelnuts or walnuts.
    • Add some sultanas.
    • Cover with a little glace icing the elderflower icing from my rhubarb cake with elderflower icing works particularly well or make the icing with a little lemon juice.
    • Rub equal quantities of plain flour and butter together to resemble coarse breadcrumbs, stir in a little sugar and sprinkle over the top of the cake.
    • Replace the cinnamon with mixed spice or ground cardamon.
    • Cook in two 1lb (450g) loaf tins.
    apple and cinnamon tryabake on a wooden broad with knife by side

    Easy Apple and Cinnamon Traybake

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    A simple traybake which is easy to vary. Cut up and share with family and friends. Also delicious served warm with cream or custard
    Course Baking
    Cuisine British
    Keyword cake, traybake
    Skill Level Easy
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 55 mins
    Servings 20
    Calories 219
    Author Jacqueline Bellefontaine

    Ingredients

    • 250 g butter softened
    • 250 g light muscovado sugar
    • 4 large eggs
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 500 g apples peeled cored and diced
    • 300 g self-raising flour
    • 2 tablespoon demerara sugar (optional)
    metric - US cups

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180℃ (160℃ fan)/350°F/gas mark 4. Grease and line a rectangular baking tin about  23 x 27cm( 9 x 11 in).
    • Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
    • Beat in the cinnamon, then add the apples and mix well.
    • Gently fold in the flour until well combined. Spoon into the prepared tin and spread level.  Sprinkle over the demerara sugar if using
    • Bake in the centre of the oven for 45 minutes, until risen and golden. The cake will spring back when gently pressed in the centre with your finger.
    • Allow to cool in the tin. Transfer to a board and cut into squares to serve.

    Video

    Notes

    The cake freezes well for up to 3 months.
    Nutrition information is approximate and is meant as a guideline only. (It does not include the optional demerara sugar.) 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment or Mention @recipecrumbs or tag #RecipesMadeEasy

    Step by Step Easy Apple and Cinnamon Traybake

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    Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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    Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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    Beat in the cinnamon.

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    Add the apple and fold in.
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    Add the flour and gently fold in until well combined.
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    Spoon into prepared tin and level.

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    Sprinkle with sugar if using.
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    Bake until risen and golden

    More Apple Recipes Made Easy

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    Did I mention the tray bake is delicious served warm with custard, cream or ice cream.

    I'm linking this recipe to The #GBBOBloggers2018 / #GBBOBakeoftheWeek Linky Hosted by  Mummy Mishaps and Cassa Costello

    Bloggers bake off 2018 logo

    If you liked the recipe above, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below!

    Share your pictures on Instagram with the hashtag #recipesmadeeasy or Twitter (tagging me @jacdotbee) or on facebook tagging @recipesmadeeasy

    « Barley and Roasted Vegetable Salad with Tahini Dressing
    Traditional Chelsea Buns Made Easy »

    About Jacqueline Bellefontaine

    Jacqueline is a member of the Guild of Food Writers and has been a cookery writer and food stylist for over 25 years. She has written over 15 cookery books, in addition to writing for several major magazines. She likes to champion good basic home cooking and as the daughter of a master baker, she is passionate about home baking.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris

      October 12, 2021 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      Made this with a glut of garden apples. Thought it would be an everyday type of cake, but it is absolutely delicious- light, moist, fruity and spicy. Thank you - this is destined to be a real family favourite.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        October 15, 2021 at 10:31 am

        Glad you liked it so much you are so right it might seem a fairly ordinary cake and yet it is totally delicious and one of our family favourite too which I make a lot.

        Reply
    2. Sara Lincoln

      February 17, 2021 at 6:17 pm

      Does everyone leave in the tin to cool, or on a wire rack? Works with pears too or a apple pear mix, I add sultanas or blueberries sometimes.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        February 19, 2021 at 12:11 pm

        As its a traybake I mind it fine to cool in the tin because it is shallow it cools quickly. Deeper cakes can get a bit sweaty or even overcook as it retains the heat for longer if left in the tin to cool. I do usually put the tin itself on a trivet or cooling rack so that the air can circulate around it.

        I've not added pears as I always have a lot of apples from my tree and I do not have a pear tree but I'm sure a mix or even using just pears alone would be delicious. I do however sometimes add sultanas and blueberries would be nice too.

        Reply
    3. Julie S

      January 23, 2021 at 10:17 pm

      5 stars
      Had a glut of apples due to recently signing up for a Fruit and Veg box delivery and my husband is not a big fan of them. Made this cake today and we both absolutely loved it!

      Didn't have the correct sugar so I used 1/4 dark muscovado and 3/4 light soft brown which worked.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        January 25, 2021 at 12:15 pm

        Ah yes perfect when you have a glut of apples, I make a lot when we have apples from our trees and who doest love an apple cake? Glad you liked this one.

        Reply
    4. Peter McHugh

      October 03, 2020 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today. Grated the apple and added some sultanas. Turned out really well and tastes delicious. Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        October 06, 2020 at 2:07 pm

        So pleased you made and like this cake recipe. I sometimes add sultanas too although my son doesn't like them. I ave not tried grating the apple before as I like the apple pieces in my cake.

        Reply
    5. Debbie Needham

      September 20, 2020 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      Made this to help use up some eating apples kindly given to us from a neighbours tree . Easy to follow and turned out just as it looked. Tasted good too !

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        September 21, 2020 at 9:08 pm

        What a fab neighbour and so pleased you like the recipe.

        Reply
    6. Nice williams

      April 09, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      Great traybake reminds me of the cakes and traybake my mother baked plus you can tweek them a bit .thankyou

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        April 09, 2020 at 5:13 pm

        Hard to beat a simple traybake and lovely to have memories revived by food. So pleased you liked it.

        Reply
    7. Sue Myers

      September 23, 2019 at 7:38 am

      5 stars
      Every week I bake something for our evening church meeting. This week I was looking for something quick and simple which wouldn't need icing. Your apple and cinnamon tray bake was perfect. Unfortunately I didn't have enough fresh apples so added some tinned which I always keep in the cupboard. It went down very well and I'll definitely be making it again. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        September 23, 2019 at 12:27 pm

        Hi Sue, so pleased you were able to make it great to know you can use tinned apple too. Great that it went down so well. I love simple traybakes so its only a matter of time before I add another :).

        Reply
        • Sue Myers

          September 23, 2019 at 2:23 pm

          I can't wait for more tray bake recipes, especially when they don't entail having to make icing as well.

          Reply
          • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

            September 24, 2019 at 12:27 pm

            Make sure you check out my Baking Blog Only Crumbs Remain as well. There is a lovely pineapple and coconut tray bake there no icing required!

            Reply
    8. Jenny Paulin

      September 10, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      i adore this type of traybake and have intact made a similar one (but with grated apple) this morning for my boys lunch boxes this week! Yours looks o tempting!!! thank you for linking to #GBBOBloggers2018 / #GBBOBakeoftheWeek x

      Reply
      • Jacqui Bellefontaine

        September 10, 2018 at 4:54 pm

        Thanks Jenny

        Reply
    9. Shell Louise

      September 10, 2018 at 8:15 am

      It looks delicious and is one of my favourite flavours. We also have an apple tree and this time of year is really hard for me and my diet because we're always baking something to use up the apples!

      Reply
      • Jacqui Bellefontaine

        September 10, 2018 at 4:54 pm

        Diet - te;; me about it I now also have a load of plums to use. x

        Reply
    10. Monika Dabrowski

      September 09, 2018 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      I love apple dessert recipes, and I love how easy this lovely apple cake is to make! Shared around.

      Reply
      • Jacqui Bellefontaine

        September 10, 2018 at 4:55 pm

        Monika thanks for sharing. It is a classic I've been using for years.

        Reply
      • Sanya

        November 14, 2019 at 2:04 pm

        5 stars
        I made this today and it turned out perfect! I reduced the sugar to 150g and added some sultanas and chopped pecans.
        Delicious, especially served warm! Thank you!

        Reply
        • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

          November 14, 2019 at 3:02 pm

          Delighted it turned out so well for you. I wouldn't cut the sugar any further as it think it would start to affect the structure of the cake adversely. I quite often add sultanas too so great mind think alike Pecans would be delicious too I shall try that as I make this cake often.

          Reply

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    Jacqueline Bellefontaine.

    Hello I'm Jacqui
    I believe that great tasting home cooking need not be hard work, so I like to write and cook recipes that are as easy as they can be. But I won't compromise on taste!

    This blog is written and photographed by me at home and it's all about my favourite recipes, that I make for family, for friends and for fun. I hope you like them too.

    More about me →

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