Apple Cake with Buttermilk Sauce

Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by Kimberly

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During the fall semester of my first-grade year, the teacher asked every child to bring a copy of an apple recipe to class. We then cut out these recipes in the shape of an apple, cut out two pieces of red construction paper in the shape of an apple, and stapled all the papers together. My mom still has this first-grade recipe book all about apples. One recipe we have made from this book every fall is apple cake with buttermilk sauce.

Why You’ll Love this Apple Cake with Buttermilk Sauce

Simple and Easy Recipe – This recipe is very easy to mix up, but tastes like you spent a lot of time!

Flavor – The apples paired with the buttermilk brown sugar sauce is divine.

Nutrition – Fresh milled soft white wheat flour is full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

Ingredients & Substitutions for Apple Cake with Buttermilk Sauce

• Apples ( I used Gala apples for this recipe.)
• Lemon Juice
• Fresh milled flour ( or substitute 3 cups all-purpose organic flour)
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Baking powder
• Organic olive oil
• Organic sugar
• Eggs
• Milk
• Vanilla
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Buttermilk (Or add 1/2 tsp. lemon juice to 1/4 cup milk to make the buttermilk needed for this recipe.)
• Baking soda

How to Make Apple Cake with Buttermilk Sauce

Step 1: Peel and chop four apples. To keep the cut apples from turning brown, I add a spoonful of lemon juice to the bowl and stir.

Step 2: Mill soft white wheat berries. Put 3 ¾ cup fresh milled flour in a mixing bowl along with ½ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. salt, 1 tsp. of ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp. of baking powder. Set aside.

Step 3: In a different mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of olive oil with 2 cups organic sugar. Add 3 eggs, ¼ cup of milk, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Slowly incorporate your flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Lastly, stir in the diced apples with a silicone spatula.

Step 4: Pour into a greased and floured 9×13 baking dish and bake for 45 minutes at 350°F. Check to see if it’s done by poking a toothpick in the middle. If the toothpick comes out clean or with only a few crumbs attached, the cake is done.

Step 5: As soon as you take the cake out of the oven, make the buttermilk sauce. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a pan. Whisk in 1 cup of brown sugar and ¼ cup of buttermilk. Bring to a boil and whisk in 1/8 tsp of baking soda. Turn off the burner and take pan off the heat. Let the buttermilk sauce sit while the cake cools for ten minutes.

Step 6: Once the cake has cooled for ten minutes, poke the top with a toothpick several times. Pour hot buttermilk sauce over the entire cake. Let sit for one hour before serving.

Apple Cake with Buttermilk Sauce

Moist apple cake paired with a buttermilk brown sugar sauce. A match made in heaven!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Servings 15 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup organic olive oil
• 2 cups organic sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 3/4 cups fresh milled soft white wheat flour Use 3 cups if substituting all-purpose flour.
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. b. soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 4 apples peeled and diced
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• Buttermilk Sauce:
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Peel and chop 4 apples. Put in a bowl with 1 tsp. lemon juice. Stir and set aside.
• Add 3 3/4 cups freshly milled flour (3 cups if using all-purpose flour), 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp. baking powder to a mixing bowl. Stir and set aside.
• Pour 1 cup of olive oil and 2 cups sugar in a different mixing bowl. Combine, then add 3 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix and gradually add flour mixture. Fold in diced apples with a spatula.
• Grease and flour a 9×13 pan. Pour batter in pan and bake for 45 minutes.
• When cake is done baking, melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a pan on the stove. Add 1 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of buttermilk. (If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice to 1/4 cup of milk and let sit 5 min.) Whisk and bring to a boil. When boiling, add 1/8 tsp. of baking soda and whisk in. Turn off the burner and take pan off the heat.
• After the cake has cooled for 10 minutes on the counter, poke several tiny holes in the top with a toothpick. Gradually pour hot buttermilk sauce over the cake. Let sit 1 hour before serving.
• If you make this recipe, please scroll to the comments and give it a rating. This helps my website so much!

Notes

• This recipe works great with freshly milled flour. But if you don’t have any available, organic all-purpose flour is delicious too! Instructions in the recipe.

How to Store Apple Cake with Buttermilk Sauce

Airtight container: I store this cake in a 9×13 baking dish with a lid on the counter. Storing cakes in the refrigerator can dry them out. It never lasts long, so I don’t have to worry about it going bad! You could also put this cake in an airtight container. This cake actually tastes better the next day once the flavors have had a chance to blend.

Freezer: If freezing the whole baking dish, you can wrap the baking dish in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. You could also divide the apple cake into smaller portions and freeze in freezer safe containers or freezer bags. 

FAQS

I don’t have fresh milled flour. Can I still make this apple cake recipe?

Of course! You can substitute all-purpose flour. Simply use 3 cups of flour for this option.

Can I make this apple cake with buttermilk sauce ahead of time?

Of course you can! If making more than a day in advance, I would advise sticking the whole pan in the freezer to retain freshness.

More Fresh Milled Flour Fall Recipes

Easy Pumpkin Bread with Caramel Glaze – This pumpkin bread is so easy to whip up, but so delicious! Serve with caramel glaze and a cup of coffee, perfection!

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