Oh, Apple Earthquake Cake — such a cozy, indulgent treat! It’s called an “earthquake” cake because it’s so loaded with chunks of apples and cream cheese that it practically “erupts” with flavor and texture. Imagine a super moist, cinnamon-spiced cake with pockets of luscious cream cheese and tender apples throughout. Pure comfort!
🍎 Apple Earthquake Cake
🕒 Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12–15
🧾 Ingredients:
For the Cake:
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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½ teaspoon salt
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1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
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1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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2 cups granulated sugar
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3 large eggs
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
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3 cups peeled, chopped apples (about 3 medium apples; Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work great)
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
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8 oz cream cheese, softened
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
🔪 Instructions:
🔹 1. Preheat Oven & Prep Pan
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking dish or line with parchment.
🔹 2. Make the Cake Batter
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In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
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In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
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Stir in vanilla and sour cream.
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Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
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Fold in chopped apples.
🔹 3. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
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In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
🔹 4. Assemble the Cake
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Pour half the cake batter into the prepared pan.
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Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly over the batter (it will be thick).
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Dollop the remaining cake batter over the cream cheese filling. Don’t worry about perfect spreading; it will swirl naturally.
🔹 5. Bake
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Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake part (not cream cheese swirl) comes out mostly clean.
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Let cool completely before slicing.
🧊 Storage:
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Store covered at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
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Reheat gently if desired.
🍽️ Tips & Variations:
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Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
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Sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar before baking for a little crunch.
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Use different apples for varied tartness or sweetness.
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Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!