Sourdough Discard Apple Cake

A slice of sourdough apple cake on top of a brown plate with cream cheese frosting.

4.84 from 6 votes

A moist and delicious apple cake made with sourdough discard, apples, walnuts, cinnamon and topped with a cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Total Time55

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Emily Christensen

Equipment

Pyrex Deep 9x13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid

Ingredients

Apple Cake

120 grams sourdough discard ½ cup
120 grams unsweetened applesauce ½ cup
120 grams vegetable oil ½ cup
3 large eggs 150 grams
350 grams granulated sugar 1 ¾ cups
280 grams all-purpose flour 2 cups
5 grams baking soda 1 teaspoon
2 grams cinnamon 1 teaspoon
3 grams salt ½ teaspoon
200 grams apples, finely diced 2 cups
115 grams walnuts, finely chopped 1 cup

Cream Cheese Frosting

113 grams butter, salted ½ cup
225 grams cream cheese 1 cup
450 grams powdered sugar 3 ¾ cups
30 grams milk 2 Tablespoons
1 gram cinnamon ½ teaspoon
80 grams caramel sauce, optional ¼ cup

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Whisk together the discard, applesauce, oil, and eggs.
120 grams sourdough discard, 120 grams unsweetened applesauce, 120 grams vegetable oil, 3 large eggs
Add in the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the finely diced apples and chopped walnuts.
350 grams granulated sugar, 280 grams all-purpose flour, 5 grams baking soda, 2 grams cinnamon, 3 grams salt, 200 grams apples, finely diced, 115 grams walnuts, finely chopped
Pour the mixture into a greased 9 by 13 inch pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean with no wet batter. Let cake cool completely.
To a small bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk and cinnamon together until smooth.
113 grams butter, salted, 225 grams cream cheese, 450 grams powdered sugar, 30 grams milk, 1 gram cinnamon
Once cooled, top the cake with frosting and drizzle caramel sauce on top.
80 grams caramel sauce, optional

Notes

Don't over-mix the batter. Mixing it too much will cause the
gluten to start to develop which will make a tougher cake. After you add the flour in, just mix until it is combined, and then stop. And then gently fold in the apples and walnuts.

The total time for baking can vary on your oven. To know if the cake is fully cooked, insert a toothpick into the middle. If it comes out clean it is fully cooked.

Let the cake fully cool before adding on the frosting to prevent it from melting.

For extra creaminess, serve a la mode with a scoop of ice cream!

Nutrition