This Spiced Apple Cake features Greek influences, with olive oil and Greek yogurt, and a reduce apple cider honey glaze that adds a concentrated apple flavor to the cake. It's a super moist, rustic cake studded with loads of fresh diced apples.
In a small saucepan, bring the apple cider (1 cup), 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon to a boil. Continue simmering until liquid is reduced by half. Measure out ⅓ cup of it and set aside. In the remaining liquid (you should have at least 2 tablespoons left), stir in the honey (2 tablespoons) and set aside (this will be your glaze for the cake).
While the cider is reducing, peel, core, and finely dice your apples and place them in a medium bowl. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of the ground cinnamon, the ground nutmeg (1 teaspoon), and 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar. Mix together and set aside.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9" circular cake pan with parchment paper (I use a pencil to trace an outline of the bottom of the pan on the paper, then cut slightly inside the line) and grease generously with olive oil, under and over the parchment paper and up the sides of the pan.
In a large mixing bowl, add the olive oil (½ cup), Greek yogurt (½ cup), remaining ¾ cup brown sugar, eggs (3), baking powder (1 teaspoon), baking soda (1 teaspoon), salt (½ teaspoon), and ⅓ cup of reduced apple cider set aside from before. Whisk together until very well combined.
Add the flour to the bowl and mix until just combined (do not over-mix). Fold in the apple mixture. Add batter to prepared cake pan, shaking or banging it gently to make sure it's settled in the pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool for at least 20 minutes in the pan on a cooling rack. Run a knife along the edge to loosen it, then place a cutting board on top and flip it over to dislodge it. Invert it onto a serving platter. Brush reserved glaze on top of the cake. Cut into 12 slices. Serve, topped with whipped cream and/or drizzled with any leftover glaze you have.
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Notes
This recipe was inspired by "Greek Apple Cake with Honey and Cinnamon" from Milk Street Magazine, the September - October, 2022 issue.
Ingredient substitutions: white sugar can be used in place of brown sugar; firm pears may be used instead of apples; other warming spices, like pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, cloves, etc., may be added in addition to the cinnamon and nutmeg, 1/3 cup regular plain yogurt may be used in place of Greek yogurt.
Don't have a 9-inch cake pan? Use an 8-inch square pan instead.
Store this cake at room temperature or up to 3 days, or in the fridge for longer.
Use any extra glaze to drizzle on top of each slice of cake when serving, or to add to tea or coffee for a spiced, sweet addition.