Here’s a cozy, moist, and flavorful Apple Cocoa Cake — a delightful twist on traditional apple cake with rich cocoa and warm spices. The result is a soft, chocolaty cake studded with tender apples, perfect for fall baking or anytime you want comfort in cake form.
🍎🍫 Apple Cocoa Cake
Ingredients:
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1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
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1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
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1 tsp baking soda
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1 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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1 tsp ground cinnamon
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½ tsp ground nutmeg
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1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
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2/3 cup brown sugar
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1/3 cup granulated sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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½ cup plain yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk
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1 ½ cups peeled, diced apples (tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
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Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven:
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Preheat to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease and flour a 9-inch round or 8×8-inch square baking pan, or line with parchment.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
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In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients:
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In a large bowl, beat oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.
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Stir in yogurt or sour cream until smooth.
4. Combine:
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Add dry ingredients to wet and mix just until combined (do not overmix).
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Fold in diced apples (and nuts or chocolate chips if using).
5. Bake:
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Pour batter into prepared pan.
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Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
6. Cool & Serve:
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Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
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Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate glaze if desired.
Serving Ideas:
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Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
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Try it with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce for an extra indulgent touch.
Tips:
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This cake gets moister the next day!
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For a vegan version, use flax eggs and dairy-free yogurt.
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Add a pinch of clove or allspice for deeper spice notes.