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Cocoa Apple Cake – A delicious chocolate cake with fresh apples, chocolate chips and walnuts.
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?
- Cream together butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla and water
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt
- Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients
- Fold in chocolate chips, grated apples and chopped walnuts
- Grease and flour a bundt pan
- Add cake batter to pan
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 60 – 70 minutes. Remove from oven and all cake to fully cool before removing from pan.
- To remove from pan, invert pan and gently shake.
How do I prepare the bundt pan?
- Start by spraying the pan well with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Then take a small amount of flour and sprinkle it in the pan.
- Gently rotate the pan around and tap the sides.
- Shake out any excess flour.
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?
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!
Moist chocolate cake made with fresh apples, chocolate chips and walnuts
- 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
- Cream together eggs, sugar, butter, water, and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt.
- Add dry mixture to creamed mixture.
Fold in walnuts, chocolate chips, and apples.
- Place into a bundt pan that has been sprayed with a non-stick spray and dusted with flour.
- Bake at 350 for 60 - 70 minutes.
Allow cake to cool before removing from pan.
- 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.
This recipe was originally posted in September of 2015. The recipe, post and pictures have been updated.
27 Comments
Laura
October 15, 2019 at 12:03 pmMy family loved this chocolate apple cake!!! Looks like I’ll be making it again and again.
Kathy
October 15, 2019 at 7:49 pmIt’s one of our favorites too! 🙂
Rosie
September 16, 2019 at 4:31 amThis looks so delicious! I’ve never tried the apple/ chocolate combo in a cake and now I really want to!
Kelly | Foodtasia
September 13, 2019 at 7:00 amOh yum, Kathy! So glad you rediscovered this in your recipe box! It looks wonderful! Love the addition of chocolate to the cake!
Valentina
September 11, 2019 at 8:47 amI don’t think I’ve ever combined apples and chocolate and I love the idea! Loving apple recipes turning up as we step into fall. 🙂 ~Valentina
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
September 10, 2019 at 9:37 amDivine!
What a lovely combination! A perfect cake to enjoy with my coffee 🙂
Kathy
September 10, 2019 at 6:45 pmSo delicious with a cup of coffee!
annie@ciaochowbambina
September 10, 2019 at 6:18 amI just so happen to have everything I need! The perfect autumn cake! Wonderful!!
Kathy
September 10, 2019 at 6:46 pmTime to get baking! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
September 10, 2019 at 5:21 amFamily recipes are always the best and this one sounds and looks so good, especially with all those warming spices and fall vibes! Bet your house smells AMAZING as it bakes! Wish I had a big hunk right now for breakfast 🙂 If only I could grab some from my screen 😉
David @ Spiced
September 10, 2019 at 4:36 amThis sounds delicious, Kathy! We make apple cake (a couple different kinds actually) every Autumn, but I must admit that I’ve never done a chocolate apple cake. I’m thinking this needs to happen this year…with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
September 9, 2019 at 5:36 amThis is so perfect for fall Kathy! It looks so moist. I’ll need to get this one on my fall baking list for sure!
Neia
December 29, 2018 at 12:52 pmHow kind of you, Kathy, to put up this delicious recipe. I took the liberty of swapping walnuts for cranberries, to be festive. I accidentally made cookies, as I overfilled the little Christmas stocking moulds and the tops crisped up and spilled over onto the tin, so I sliced them off and now have both cookies and tiny cakes.
Km Koesler
December 24, 2016 at 11:56 pmI’ve been hunting this recipe since the mid 1980’s! Thank you so much for posting it. I found it in a magazine once, made it, and lost the issue. I’ve been trying to replicate it ever since! It is the best apple cake in my memory. Thank you again.
Kim | Low Carb Maven
June 28, 2016 at 8:23 amKathy, I popped on over here from your Cherry Crisp recipe… The photo of this bundt cake would not be denied. It sounds like a wonderful recipe. Family recipes, passed down and shared, are often the best. I’m so happy you shared this stunner with us. Your photos are beautiful.
Kathy
June 29, 2016 at 7:08 amThanks, Kim! Many of my best recipes are old family favorites! They are a favorite for a reason! 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali
September 18, 2015 at 3:19 pmI love bundt cakes! this cake sounds delicious! 🙂
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
September 18, 2015 at 9:10 amThis apple cocoa cake looks absolutely yummy. So stunning and full of delish flavors! 🙂
Kathy
September 14, 2019 at 8:28 amThanks!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness
September 17, 2015 at 3:41 pmI totally agree. Anything baked in a bundt pan looks gorgeous. I really need to buy one..
This cake sounds so good!
Kathy
September 18, 2015 at 4:57 amYou do need to get yourself a bundt pan! You’ll love it!
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
September 16, 2015 at 8:08 pmKathy,I’ve recently been on a diet and lost 15 pounds, but maybe I can sneak a piece of this delicious cake!
Kathy
September 18, 2015 at 4:58 amCongrats to you! This cake is awfully tempting…approach with caution!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden
September 16, 2015 at 8:14 amYou know Kathy, bundt cakes just make me happy. I have no clue why. It must be the shape. Or maybe just the fact I own one and lately I’ve been actively seeking recipes with cocoa powder to satisfy my chocolate cravings without heading down to the nearest chocolate shop and buying 2 pounds chocolate. Because that does nothing for me! And apples, excited this recipe calls for apples as my tree is thriving this year. Yay!
Kathy
September 16, 2015 at 4:51 pmThis recipe sounds like it was made just for you!
Danielle @ So Munch Love
September 16, 2015 at 7:31 amApple cake is delish, but cocoa apple cake?! That sounds divine. I am sooooo ready for fall apple picking!
Kathy
September 16, 2015 at 4:52 pmMost of our apples need a light frost. But we have a few early eaters right now! So yummy….especially in this cake!