Instant Pot Apple Cake is so moist and tender! I made it with fresh apples and full of rich cinnamon flavor! Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Or, let it cool and sprinkle some powdered sugar on top.
Do you sometimes find your fridge overwhelmed with too many apples? Or simply tired of enjoying only Instant Pot Cheesecake recipes? Well, look no further! This easy Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Cake recipe is a perfect excuse to use up all of these apples.
How to apply Pan inside the Pot Cooking Method
To make Instant Pot Apple cake, we will be using pan inside the pot method. Below are some key points to remember.
- First of all, we are using the inner pot of the Instant Pot (the one you usually cook in) to hold water only. The inner pot is NOT used to hold the cake.
- For this recipe will use a smaller pan. It’s 7 inches in size and fits inside the inner pot. A springform or removable bottom pan will cause more trouble than a sealed pan because the steam can easily penetrate tiny openings.
- The cake pan should be made out of metal (either stainless steel or aluminum).
- Cover this smaller pan TIGHTLY with foil to keep condensation from the water out of the cake. If the cake isn’t wrapped tightly enough in foil and water manages to get in – you will get a gooey undercooked cake. You can also overwrap the cake with plastic wrap, then over wrap it again with foil. By overwrap, I mean a full wrap over the top, around the bottom, and up over the top then halfway down the side of the pan. Repeat with the foil as an extra precaution.
- Next we will put this smaller pan comfortably on top of the trivet.
- Don’t be surprised if the cake batter is dense and thick. That’s how it should be.
- Finally, the Instant Pot Apple Cake is pressure cooked for 1 hour, followed by natural release method.
What type of cake pan will fit inside your Instant Pot
I made this Instant Pot apple cake in the 8 quart pot. Of course, it can and should be made in the 6 quart IP as well. And here are three cake pan options for both sizes. Just make sure that your cake pan is made out of metal and is NOT ceramic:
Note: your 8 inch round cake pan or removable bottom cake pan will fit in the 8 quart pot, however 8 inch spring form one won’t.
I personally think that removable bottom pan is a great option for 2 reasons:
- First of all, it doesn’t have a clip on the side like a spring form pan, which makes it really easy to fit inside the Instant.
- Second of all, it allows you to push up the bottom of the pan with the cake resting on.
- Finally, it causes no damage to the sides of the cake.
Can I use ceramic pan for Instant Pot Apple Cake?
Ceramic pan will not work in this Instant Pot Apple Cake recipe the same way. As you may know ceramic is less heat conductive than metal. Therefore the cake won’t be cooked through all the way.
Fortunately for us, most metal non-ceramic cake pans, like the cake pan used in this Apple Cake Instant Pot recipe, are made either from aluminum or stainless steel. Both of these materials take much less time to heat through than ceramic baking dishes.
I remember a reader who actually attempted to cook this cake inside the ceramic pot. She later reported that the cake batter was still not cooked even after 1 hour of pressure cooking. She had to increase cooking time from 1 to 1.5 hours in order for the cake to cook through.
Why use different rings for making Instant Pot desserts
When I turned my Instant Pot on with the apple cinnamon cake already in it, the strangest thing happened. It started smelling like a wonderful aroma of cinnamon apples. Wrong! Instead it started smelling like beef stew! I forgot to change the ring! This is exactly why I keep two separate rings: one – for desserts, and the other – for savory dishes.
And while I enjoy the smell of the stew, I would really prefer to smell apple and cinnamon while making a cake.
Are you also making both desserts and savory recipes with your Instant Pot? I recommend to use these BPA free and dishwasher safe genuine Instant Pot rings. That way you will have 2 different rings for those purposes to avoid your cake smelling like a stew!
Prepare the apples
First things first, I covered the apple slices with cinnamon and sugar. Then I went on to prepare the batter.
Prepare the batter
Second of all, I prepared the batter. Once you mix dry and wet ingredients together, you will see that the batter is quite thick. Tat’s completely normal. You might also think that there is not enough of it. And that’s OK too because the batter will expand when pressure cooked.
Next pour half of batter in the cake pan. And now spread half of apples on top of the batter.
Add the remaining batter covering most of the apple pieces. Finally, spread the remaining half apples and any juices on top.
Use aluminum foil to cover the cake pan
Now cover the cake pan tightly with aluminum foil. This is needed to trap the air and prevent excess moisture from getting into the cake.
Next add 1 cup water into the instant pot’s inner pot. Place cake pan wrapped in foil on the trivet. Finally put the trivet with the pan on it into the Instant Pot.
It’s time to put your IP to work! First, press Manual, then High Pressure and set cook time to 60 minutes. Once done, use Natural Pressure release before opening the Instant Pot.
How to enjoy this Instant Pot Apple Cake
I recommend serving Instant Pot Apple Cake warm with a bowl of ice cream. You can also cool it off and sprinkle some powdered sugar on top before serving.
Well, if you love experimenting with your Instant Pot as much as I do, make sure to look into these delicious pressure cooker recipes. All of them have detailed instructions on exactly what to do and step by step photos! So easy!
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs in BBQ Sauce
Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice
Instant Pot Spatchcock Chicken with Mustard Crust
Instant Pot Irish Beef and Guinness Stew
Readers’ images of this Instant Pot Apple Cake
This Instant Pot apple cake has been made many times by readers on Facebook and Pinterest. I thought you would be interested to see what it looks like! Here are the results. Below are some of the images of the cake provided by the readers:
Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Cake
Ingredients
Apples
- 2 ½ cups apples, (cored, peeled and diced)
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Cake
- 1 ½ cups flour, (one and a half cup)
- ½ tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
You will also need:
- 1 cup water, (to be used in the inner pot)
- Powdered sugar, (to decorate the top of the cake)
Instructions
Apples
- Toss chopped apple slices with cinnamon and 2 tablespoon sugar and set aside.
Cake
- In a large bowl mix dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk wet ingredients: oil, orange juice, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Mix wet ingredients into dry ones very well. The resulting batter is very thick and will seem like there is not very much of it - that's OK.
- Grease a 7” cake pan (that's where the cake will go into).
- Pour half of batter in the cake pan.Spread half of apples on top of the batter.
- Add the remaining batter covering most of the apple pieces. Finally, spread the remaining half of apples and any juices on top.
- Cover the cake pan tightly with aluminum foil. Double wrap it! Cover with saran wrap
Instant Pot
- Have your Instant Pot plugged in and make sure you have the inner pot in.
- Add 1 cup water to Instant Pot. Place the cake pan wrapped in foil on the trivet and now place both in the Instant Pot.
- Press Manual, then High pressure and set cook time to 60 minutes. Once done use Natural Pressure release before opening the Instant Pot.
- Carefully take the trivet out of the instant pot and remove the foil wrapped caked from the trivet. Next remove the aluminum foil from the cake pan. Now allow the cake to cool for 10-15 minutes and then remove the cake from the pan.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve warm with a bowl of vanilla ice cream!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only. This information comes from online calculators. Although whatsinthepan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Video
Notes
My other favorite apple cake recipe is this amazing Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake:
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Tati says
Usually I read the comments before choosing the recipe, unfortunately I didn’t for this particular one but I wish I had, like many said above I fallowed the recipe exactly as directed but once I removed from the instant pot it was still completely raw, I put it back for another 10 minutes and was still raw back to the instant pot for another 30 minutes and still raw, another 20 minutes and not raw but neither was the fluffy cake I was expecting. No one liked the cake and I’m just throwing away, a waste of ingredients 🙁
Olga says
I”m so sorry to hear that. What kind of pan did you use? Someone made it in the ceramic pan before and it was raw as well. Ceramic pans do not conduct heat very well which will result in undercooked cake. Also, was your cake batter thick and dense when you put it into the pan?
Elly Daamen says
Hi Olga,
Oh my, this is soooo good!!! I made it in my crockpot express and I had no idea how it come out.
The taste is good and it looks cute. And…. it is easy to make. Here in the Netherlands the crockpot/instantpot is getting more popular. Most of the recipes I find on Pinterest are from the US.
I will follow your site.
Greetings from Amsterdam, Elly Daamen
Olga says
Hi Elly! It’s so amazing that you made it in the crockpot express, and in the Netherlands!
Elliot Majerczyk says
Delicious. Made it again. Added some orange zest to the liquids.
Olga says
So nice! I’m glad you made it again.
Margie Wheeler says
Can Vinegar or lemon juice be substituted for the Orange Juice? Than you
Olga says
I would use lemon juice.
Jan says
Has recipe been tried at 5000 feet? I’m thinking of reducing baking powder substantially.
Olga says
Sounds intriguing!
Margie Wheeler says
I think a bundt pan would be better … love the recipe and will try it that way.Thank you for something that looks SO scrumptious !!!
Olga says
I’m very eager to try a bundt pan as well for this recipe! IF you do it before me -please let me know.
Noreen Mercier says
First dessert I tried with the Instant Pot. I followed the directions, but once cooled and cut it was under cooked on the inside. What should I have done differently.
Olga says
It may have had something to do with the apples? Maybe too ripe an juicy? Another important thing is that the batter should be dense and heavy! Hard to spread. Do not add additional liquids if you think it’s too thick. It’s supposed to be thick.
Bee says
I had the same issue! Half of the cake is severely undercooked😩
Olga says
Bee, I am sorry it did not work out. Usually the initial 60 minutes of cook time is plenty for this recipe. I would suggest to finish it in the oven. Also make sure that your pressure knob is at sealing and that the sealing ring is properly secured.
Carol I Newman says
Can I make this in a small bundt pan?
Olga says
I’ve never made it in a bundt pan, but I dont see why not. I would cook it for 40 minutes, so slightly reduce the time.
Lauren says
I followed the directions to the letter and when I removed it from the instant pot it was still raw. I put it on for another 30 mins… still raw. I don’t recommend this recipe.
JoAnn Nolan says
Recipe calls for baking ‘powder’ yet regarding the use of the orange juice you refer to baking ‘soda’??? Which one is the correct ingredient?
Olga says
It’s baking powder. Sorry for the confusion – I updated the post.