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    Home » Cakes and Desserts » Cardamom Cake

    Cardamom Cake

    Published: Oct 24, 2018 · Modified: Nov 9, 2022 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cardamom cake is perfect for dessert and any leftovers travel well in lunch bags during the week. Apples, brown sugar and cardamom come together into a moist and tender cake with a deliciously warm flavor and fine crumb so let's get baking!

    Easy Apple Coffee Cake
    Easy Apple Coffee Cake

    What Inspired This Cake

    I have a wonderful small apple tree which produces hundreds of delicious apples each fall. My family loves baked apple desserts and of course, I like easy recipes. Inspired by my Finnish friends who love cardamom, I think cardamom and apples are a perfect pairing.

    You can find a lot of delicious apple recipes on my site. From the sweet Best Apple Oatmeal Cake and French Apple Beignets Recipe to the savory Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese with Hot Honey, Crisp Apple Fennel Salad with Grainy Mustard Dressing and my Japanese style Ginger Dressing. Check them out and let me know your favorite way to use apples.

    Jump to:
    • What Inspired This Cake
    • Ingredients
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Tips
    • FAQ's
    • Recipe
    • PS. (From a mother of a teen)

    Ingredients

    Just a few simple ingredients are all it takes to make this easy cardamom cake.

    8 Ingredients ready for cake. Apples, cardamom, flour, butter, eggs and baking powder.
    • Cardamom - Cardamom is a delicious, fragrant that is very common in India, (where it originated) Asia, Scandinavian countries like Finland and the Middle East. It is delicious in sweet breads and baking as well as savory dishes like curries.  Cardamom works well in most recipes that use spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
    • Apples - A delicious combination, apples keep this cake moist and help naturally sweeten it.

    Step By Step Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350"F and lightly grease a 9"x13" pan.

    2. Melt butter and then stir in brown sugar and vanilla.  Once stirred well, beat in eggs.

    One cup of butter is melting with brown sugar in a stainless steel pot.
    Add Eggs Into Melted Butter and Brown Sugar
    Add Eggs Into Melted Butter and Brown Sugar

    3. In a 2 cup (or larger) measuring cup, add flour, cardamom and baking powder and mix well, then add to butter mixture and stir gently until combined.

    Mixing dry ingredients into the melted butter mixture in the stainless steel pot.

    4. Mix in apples and then pour into baking pan.  

    Cardamom cake batter in a 9 x 13 inch pan. You can see the chunks of apple mixed throughout.

    5. Bake 20-25 minutes. Test with a toothpick and when if comes out clean, cardamom cake is done. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then carefully move to cooling rack and serve warm or let cool before putting back in pan to store. 

    A square piece of cardamom cake on a plate with a swirl of whipped cream. There is a coffee cup in the background.

    Substitutions

    Cardamom - If you don't have cardamom, you could make your cake using a half teaspoon each of cinnamon and nutmeg but I think it is a delicious and versatile spice worth trying if you haven't already.

    Apples - This bakes up lovely with ripe but still firm pears too. Substitute equal amount pears for apples.

    An Apple A Day - My Pink Lady Apples

    Tips

    • On baking with minimal dishes - I mix up the wet ingredients in the same pot I melt the butter in. I then mix my dry ingredients right in a large measuring cup after measuring them in starting with the flour. From there the dry ingredients get added to the pot of wet ingredients leaving me with one cup to dust out and one pot and spatula to wash.
    • On feeding kids raw apples - sometimes kids are picky about their apples turning brown when you were kind enough to cut them up ahead of time for their school lunch. A quick "trick" I picked up from our local strong start program is to sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar over them.  Not a lot, just a quarter teaspoon of each should be enough for a whole apple.  Not only does it hide the brown, the kids think it's a great treat.

    FAQ's

    Is this cake healthy?

    Apples are so good for you, full of antioxidants, phytonutrients, fiber, have been shown to lower your risk of stroke and promote healthy gut bacteria-it's no joke that an apple a day keeps the doctor away! So although this cake is not quite as healthy as a whole fresh apple by itself, it is loaded with 2 cups of them and comes in at under 270 calories per slice.

    What does cardamom taste like?

    A very aromatic blend of citrus, menthol, a hint of licorice, nutmeg and clove. Some also taste coriander and allspice. It is truly it's own special blend and is a very warming spice. Delicious is both baking and curries.

    Where can I buy cardamom?

    You can buy cardamom at most large grocery stores in the spice aisle. Most recipes (this one included) call for ground cardamom which is readily available. Whole cardamom are pods that need to be ground for most recipes but will stay fresh longer.

    Cheers to the deliciousness of fall, friends!

    ox Sabrina

    For more on what I'm cooking up, follow me on Instagram or Facebook. You might also like my FREE printable weekly meal planner.

    Cheers friends! Sabrina

    Apple Brown Sugar Cardamom Cake with whipped cream and a cup of coffen.

    Recipe

    Apple Brown Sugar Cake

    Cardamom Cake

    Only 8 ingredients to make this comforting apple filled cardamom cake. An easy and quick cake recipe for dessert or afternoon coffee. Makes one 9" x 13" cake. 
    5 from 65 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Baking, Cake, Dessert
    Cuisine: canadian, PNW, West Coast
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 261kcal
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    • ½ c Salted Butter
    • 1 ½ c Brown Sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Vanilla
    • 3 Eggs
    • 1 ½ c Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Cardamom
    • 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
    • 2 c Apples, Peeled And Chopped To ¼" Pieces

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350"F and lightly grease a 9"x13" pan.
    • Melt butter and then stir in brown sugar and vanilla.  Once stirred well, beat in eggs.
    • In a 2 cup (or larger) measuring cup, add flour, cardamom and baking powder and mix well, then add to butter mixture and stir gently until combined.
    • Mix in apples and then pour into baking pan.  
    • Bake in oven 20-25 minutes. (My oven is on the cool side and took 25 min but I suggest setting your timer for 20 and checking then) Test with a toothpick and when it comes out clean, cake is done. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then carefully move to cooling rack and serve warm or let cool before putting back in pan to store. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 307IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!

    PS. (From a mother of a teen)

    PS.  Anyone else have tweens or teens that use all sorts of "new" words to indicate things that are cool or awesome? Well, my teen recently went through the MOIST phase. He and his friends took a neutral seeming word and made it irritating FAST.  As I was writing this post and describing my cake, I got stuck on the word moist.  I felt it was a very apt word for my cake but...I couldn't bring myself to use it.

    So I polled a few friends and the ensuing text banter got hilarious but I was told more than once that I simply couldn't use the word moist yet no one could think of a better word!!! (Spongy was the best, wet and damp were clearly the worst options)  I googled and compared other cake descriptions with no suitable equal and then decided I would not try to replace the word but simply describe it in other ways.  (Feel free to scroll back up and see the creative descriptions I decided on)

    I'm pretty sure this dilemma will present again...any ideas??? Help a girl out!

    Easy Apple Brown Sugar Cake-Only 8 Ingredients!
    Easy Apple Brown Sugar Cake-Only 8 Ingredients!
    « Chickens In The City
    Cauliflower Mushrooms And Wild Mushroom Gratin »

    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica

      October 29, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      I love the simplicity of this recipe for the season! Just give me anything with apples - love the cardamom in this cake too!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        October 29, 2019 at 7:12 pm

        Thanks Jessica, apples are the best, aren’t they?!?!

        Reply
    2. Bernice M Hill

      October 29, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      LOL. I can't help you out, I've had exactly the same internal monologue with myself . There just is no other word. Claim the word, and type it with pride MOIST!!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        October 29, 2019 at 7:13 pm

        Yep, that’s the conclusion I finally came too as well lol. Have a great day Bernice!

        Reply
    3. Sharon

      May 19, 2020 at 9:45 am

      5 stars
      Can we get a ban on moist?? Hahaha! Love this cake. The portability is awesome. I adore a cake that can travel. 🙂

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 19, 2020 at 11:45 am

        Yes to the ban but what’s the alternative?! Thanks for reading along and I hope you enjoy the cake 🙂

        Reply
    4. Heidi Fink

      May 19, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      Wow, this cake looks fantastic! I adore cardamom but I've never combined it with apple before. I will definitely be making this cake! Thanks for the great recipe.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 19, 2020 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks Heidi! I hope you enjoy it 🙂

        Reply
    5. Ayngelina

      May 19, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      5 stars
      I'm not big on sweets so I usually choose not to eat frosted cakes but this looks like the right balance, especially with the cardamom.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 19, 2020 at 12:44 pm

        Thank you so much Ayngelina! I’m with you, too sweet is not for me. This gets its lovely natural sweetness and moisture from fresh apples 🙂

        Reply
    6. Kelly Neil

      May 19, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      I stumbled on this recipe in May, but I love the cozy feeling of fall it evokes! Pinned to make later!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 19, 2020 at 4:18 pm

        Thanks Kelly, definitely a warm and cozy cake!

        Reply
    7. Vanessa

      May 19, 2020 at 9:22 pm

      5 stars
      Simple cakes like this are my absolute favourite! Love the combo of apples and cardamom.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 20, 2020 at 7:51 am

        Thank you so much Vanessa!

        Reply
    8. julia

      May 20, 2020 at 12:35 am

      5 stars
      What an absolutely fantastic sounding cake. I love cardamom and I bet it's delicious!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 20, 2020 at 7:51 am

        Thanks! I really lobe the combination of apples and cardamom:-)

        Reply
    9. [email protected]

      May 22, 2020 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      What delightful timing! I was just grinding some cardamom for a curry and the wonderful scent left me wanting to make a cake, and now here you are! Wonderful recipe, perfect in its simplicity. Apples and cardamom are such a natural fit together. Cheers!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 23, 2020 at 4:20 pm

        Thanks so much Sean! That is a happy coincidence! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    10. NANCY @Instanomss

      May 23, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds perfect for my morning snack with tea!

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 23, 2020 at 4:21 pm

        Thanks Nancy! I bet it will be, sweet but not too sweet with freshness of the apples. Have a great day 🙂

        Reply
    11. Cynthia Priest

      May 24, 2020 at 9:31 pm

      5 stars
      I can't help but laugh when you tried to avoid the word moist. I think I am guilty of using it. It's too bad "moist" has become a 2020 Justin Trudeau meme. I also love the use of cardamom; it's my favourite spice in baking. We are going to give your recipe a try as we will have a lot of apples this year.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        May 24, 2020 at 10:29 pm

        Trendy or infamous words are funny, aren’t they?! Despite that, this cake is MOIST and I hope you and your family love it!

        Reply
    12. NANCY

      October 14, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      5 stars
      love this simple recipe! It sounds sooo delicious and MOIST hahaa

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        November 03, 2020 at 10:21 pm

        Right?!? 😆

        Reply
    13. shailaja

      October 14, 2020 at 5:08 pm

      5 stars
      Love all the wonderful flavours in this apple cake especially cardamon which is a nice twist versus cinnamon! Lovely images too Sabrina:))

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        November 06, 2020 at 9:28 am

        Thank you so much Shai, enjoy!

        Reply
    14. Swathi

      September 27, 2021 at 12:58 pm

      5 stars
      This easy apple brown sugar cake with cardamom looks delicious.

      Reply
    15. Maur

      September 27, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      I love that you added cardamom to this cake. One of the best spices to pair with apples. Can't wait to try it

      Reply
    16. Jill

      September 28, 2021 at 4:34 am

      5 stars
      The perfect cake for Fall!

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        September 28, 2021 at 1:41 pm

        Thanks Jill!

        Reply
    17. nancy

      November 29, 2021 at 2:54 pm

      5 stars
      wow what a delicious and easy to make recipe!

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        November 29, 2021 at 4:18 pm

        Thanks Nancy, I’m glad you liked it!

        Reply
    18. Jeannie

      November 29, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      I like how easy to make this cake, I have all the ingredients!

      Reply
    19. Shilpa

      January 09, 2022 at 7:31 am

      I tried this recipe. Delicious! BUT I’m getting an after taste of soap?!? I added both cinnamon and cardamom. Maybe those two flavors don’t mix? Or should I scale back the cardamom?? I love cardamom, it’s a popular spice in Indian cooking. We use it a lot, I’m used to its flavor

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        January 09, 2022 at 8:50 am

        Hi Shilpa, I’m so sorry, the recipe should read 1 tsp cardamom, not 1 tablespoon. Yes, a little less should fix the flavour. Thanks for catching that.

        Reply

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