Cocoa Apple Cake

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Cocoa Apple Cake – A delicious chocolate cake with fresh apples, chocolate chips and walnuts. This is a super moist cake baked in a bundt pan. No need for frosting, just add a dollop of whipped cream for a perfect dessert. 

Cocoa apple cake is the perfect fall dessert.  Well, actually it would be perfect for anytime of the year, but I seem to only make it in the fall when we pick fresh apples.

This recipe comes from my aunt.  I remember her making it when I was a teenager.  I loved it and asked for her recipe. Yep, I collected recipes even way back then! That recipe sat in my recipe card file for years until recently when I was flipping through the cards and found it! I quickly made this cocoa apple cake.

It was just as good as I remembered as a kid – moist, chocolaty with little bits of apple.  There’s nothing better than finding an old forgotten recipe and it becoming a new favorite!

How do I make a Cocoa Apple Cake?

1. Cream together butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla and water
2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt
3. Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients
4. Fold in chocolate chips, grated apples and chopped walnuts
5. Grease and flour a bundt pan
6. Add cake batter to pan
7. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 60 – 70 minutes. Remove from oven and all cake to fully cool before removing from pan.
8. To remove from pan, invert pan and gently shake.

How do I prepare the bundt pan?

1. Start by spraying the pan well with a non-stick cooking spray.
2.  Then take a small amount of flour and sprinkle it in the pan.
3. Gently rotate the pan around and tap the sides.
4. Shake out any excess flour.

Check out this article from Pioneer Woman on Using a Bundt Pan. 

How do I know when the cake is done?

Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake. If the toothpick is covered with wet crumbs, allow 5 more minutes of baking. If there are just a few crumbs on the toothpick, the cake is done. If your toothpick comes out covered with melted chocolate, just use a new toothpick and select another spot to test. 

Do I need to frost this cake?

Nope. This apple cake does not need a frosting. I like to serve it with a dusting of powdered sugar or a dollop of freshly whipped cream. 

Do I have to use walnuts?

The walnuts are optional. You could use pecans instead or just leave the nuts out altogether. 

What equipment do I need?

• Bundt Pan
• Grater
• Baking Rack
• Mixer

Tips for making Cocoa Apple Cake

• Use a crisp, tart apple for best results.
• Grate apples on the large holes of a grater.
• To avoid sticking, spray bundt pan with a nonstick spray and then add a light coat of flour. Knock off excess flour.
• Allow cake to cool completely before removing cake.

Other great desserts

• raspberry brownies
• chocolate mayonnaise cupcakes 
• oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
• peach cobbler
• raspberry almond coffee cake

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If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

If you loved this recipe you’ll LOVE all the others in this category. Check out all my dessert recipes here!

5 from 12 votes

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Cocoa Apple Cake

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 20 mins

 

Moist chocolate cake made with fresh apples, chocolate chips and walnuts

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cake, cake with apples, chocolate apple cake

Servings: 12 people

Calories: 513 kcal

Author: Kathy

Ingredients

• 3 whole eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups grated apples
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Cream together eggs, sugar, butter, water, and vanilla.

2. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt.

3. Add dry mixture to creamed mixture.

4. Fold in walnuts, chocolate chips, and apples.

5. Place into a bundt pan that has been sprayed with a non-stick spray and dusted with flour.
6. Bake at 350 for 60 - 70 minutes.

7. Allow cake to cool before removing from pan.

Recipe Notes

• Use a crisp, tart apple for best results.
• Grate apples on the large holes of a grater.
• To avoid sticking, spray bundt pan with a nonstick spray and then add a light coat of flour. Knock off excess flour.
• Allow cake to cool completely before removing cake.

Nutrition Facts

Cocoa Apple Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 513 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 13g81%

Cholesterol 44mg15%

Sodium 287mg12%

Potassium 110mg3%

Carbohydrates 68g23%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 45g50%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 518IU10%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 40mg4%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe was originally posted in September of 2015. The recipe, post and pictures have been updated.