YaYa’s Merryfield Apple Cake
Merryfield Apple Cake is a moist, dense Southern-style bundt cake filled with tender chunks of fresh apple, crunchy nuts, and warm cinnamon spice. The batter is thick and bakes up beautifully into a golden, flavorful cake that only gets better with time. It’s ideal for holiday tables, Sunday dinners, or just a cozy afternoon treat. This cake freezes well, travels nicely, and makes a thoughtful gift. Serve it plain, or with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special touch.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup salad oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 cups peeled and diced apples
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube or bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, oil, eggs, baking soda, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon. The batter will be stiff.
- Fold in diced apples, chopped nuts, and coconut (if using) by hand.
- Spoon batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely
Yaya’s Tips for Success
This cake may seem simple, but following a few tried-and-true tips will help it bake up tender and delicious:
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp so they hold their shape while baking.
- Chop the apples and nuts just before stirring them in to keep the batter fresh.
- The batter will be very thick, don’t be tempted to thin it.
- Grease and flour your 10-inch tube or bundt pan very well so the cake releases without breaking.
- Let the cake cool at least 20 minutes before turning it out to finish cooling on a rack.
Yaya’s Customization Ideas
You can absolutely make this your own with a few small touches.
- If you love coconut, stir in ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut for added chew and sweetness.
- You can also mix up the nuts – pecans, walnuts, or even hazelnuts work great.
- If you’re looking for something more spiced, try adding a dash of nutmeg or cloves to deepen the flavor.
And if you’re feeling extra creative, this cake would be right at home alongside my Apple Fritters and makes for a great dessert Crescent Roll Chicken!
Yaya’s Original Recipe Card
