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Apple cake (Κέικ μήλου ή μηλόπιτα)
A Greek apple cake loaded with chunks of apple and flavoured with spices.
There are so many things that are wrong with this recipe, starting with the name. This is an apple cake, which our parents have forever referred to as a milopita (μηλόπιτα). Now technically, a milopita is an apple pie…which, this is not. It’s a cake, and many Greeks might call it just that, an apple cake or keik milou (Κέικ μήλου). If you are one of those people, please don’t send us emails and well meaning comments informing us that this is not a pie. We know it’s not, but the reality is, this recipe has bigger problems.
For those of you out there who are bakers, sit down. Reading the directions in this recipe might make you feel a little light headed. Everything you may know about baking techniques and basic baking principles can be thrown out the window. We were actually horrified watching this recipe unfold. There was no apparent reverence for the art of baking, no care and attention paid to ensuring that the baking process was entered into with respect and awe. No, things were pretty much just thrown into a large bowl and practically kneaded together. That’s right…kneaded…or stirred! In any case, it was all done by hand! Have you ever heard of such a thing???!!!
In the end, the batter was poured (plopped) into a baking pan (not a cake pan mind you …they use this thing to make small batches of yemista too) and baked for what our parents said would be “a while”. Despite the fact that we have grown up eating our parents’ milopita, and loved it, we were convinced that they were now holding out on us, keeping the true recipe to themselves. Our expectations were low, and even when the kitchen began to fill with the delightful aroma of cooked apples and cinnamon, we were sure that this cake would have significant problems. We were stressing. And then, out of the oven, came a perfect looking apple cake. We started to get excited…but then, remembered high school, and that looks aren’t everything. When the milopita cooled a bit, we took a tentative bite. This cake, thrown together, defied all baking logic. It was perfect, and perfectly delicious.
Pin this recipe if you like it!
Helpful hints
For us, Fall is all about back to school, warm knit sweaters, and apple picking. We are fortunate to live in an area where there is a pretty extensive apple picking season, and many varieties of apples to select from, in many different orchards. This year, we were thrilled that we got the chance to visit an organic apple orchard called Maniadakis Organic Orchard. What a joy! On the day we went, we picked primarily Gala and Cortland apples, and used them in this milopita recipe. The owner, Emmanuel Maniadakis, is incredibly knowledgeable, not only about his apples and organic agriculture, but also about wine. If you go, you can probably enjoy a taste of his unique apple ice wines, as you take in the magnificent views and serene surroundings. We can’t wait to go back next year. Maybe we’ll see you there!
If you don’t have the opportunity to go apple picking, you can, of course, purchase your apples at the market or grocery store. Baking wisdom often says that the best apples for apple cake include Gala and Pink Lady varieties, but this recipe has already demonstrated that what we think we know, means nothing. So, use whatever apples you like, or use those you have on hand. It will probably be perfect.
Our parents bake this cake in a large round pan (11 inches in diameter) and serve it directly out of it. You can either do as our parents do, or split the batter between a bundt pan and a loaf pan. The cooking time will be different depending upon the pan you use, and both have been indicated in the recipe below.
If you’d like to see more desserts, starring apples, check these out:
Halva with apple and raspberry
We love hearing from you! If you have made our recipes, or if you have a question or comment, or simply want to say Hi!, please leave a comment and a star rating below! Also, be sure to follow along with us, on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. We have lots of fun over there !
Greek apple cake, Milopita
A Greek apple cake loaded with chunks of apple and flavoured with spices.
Ingredients
- 10 apples approximately
- 2 cups (300 grams) and 2 tablespoons (18 grams) All-purpose flour total 318 grams
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (200 grams) and 1 tablespoon (13 grams) granulated sugar total 213 grams
- 1 cup (250 mL) and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vegetable oil total 265 mL
- 2 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 grams) baking powder
- 1 tbsp (9 grams) ground cinnamon heaping
- 1 cup (100 grams) finely chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Peel and core your apples and chop them into a small dice. Measure out 6 packed cups of apple. If you have any left over, munch on them while your cake bakes.10 apples
- Place your apples in a very large bowl. Sift your flour, and add it to the bowl with the apples. Then, add the eggs, the sugar, the vegetable oil, baking powder, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts.2 cups (300 grams) and 2 tablespoons (18 grams) All-purpose flour, 4 large eggs, 1 cup (200 grams) and 1 tablespoon (13 grams) granulated sugar, 1 cup (250 mL) and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vegetable oil, 2 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 grams) baking powder, 1 tbsp (9 grams) ground cinnamon, 1 cup (100 grams) finely chopped walnuts
- Using your hands, mix all of the ingredients together and combine everything well (almost as though you are making a bread).
- The cake mixture is now ready for the pan. Our parents usually use a deep, round pan which is about 11 inches in diameter. Grease your pan generously with vegetable oil.
- Place your cake in the middle rack of the oven and bake for about 70 – 80 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. After 60 minutes, check it; if the top is getting too dark, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
- Our parents serve this cake straight out of the pan. It is delicious warm, at room temperature, and even more delicious the next day.
- Enjoy!
Notes
If you prefer, you can bake this cake in both a bundt and loaf pan; there will be enough batter to fill both pans. If you are going with this option, reduce the cooking time to approximately 50 – 60 minutes. Again, check for doneness with a toothpick.
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33 responses to “Apple cake (Κέικ μήλου ή μηλόπιτα)”
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hahaha very funny post it’s true its not a pie its a cake..:)
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🙂 Sometimes I think….it’s all Greek to me 🙂
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hahahahahah kai se menaaaaa Asta hahahahhaha
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This actually looks really good! I’m not a big pie fan so if I could talk somebody into creating an apple cake I think I would try it! 🙂
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Oh that’s great Meghan! I really hope you get to try this cake…it is so easy and really quite delicious.
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What ever you want to call it, I’ll just call it delicious. 🙂
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Thank you Karen 🙂 We agree!
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Looks really yummy!
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Thank you so much 🙂 I hope you try it one day 🙂
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I love your cake 😉 looks really delicious. Apples go so good in cakes! 😉 Will give it a go! 💞
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Thank you so much 🙂 I hope you do try it…it’s so easy and pretty delicious 🙂
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I will give it a go! 😉
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[…] And then, we bake with our parents. Although you very graciously accepted our parents’ milopita recipe, posted exactly as it was baked (meaning…illogically), would you accept another […]
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I just made milopita for thanksgiving here (in Canada). My mom still makes it better. 🙂
Your recipe is very similar to hers, so it must taste just as good!-
Aren’t mom’s recipes always somehow better?! This recipe actually comes from our parents, so it may in fact be similar to what your mom made. Let us know what you think if you ever give it a try 🙂 . And we hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
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OMG! After countless recipes I think I have FINALLY found the apple cake of my dreams! So easy to whip up and bake spur of the moment, and sooo good! Looks like my mum’s karithopita minus the apples. Thank you!!
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Oh we are so happy that you found this recipe Kathy!! We are thrilled that you tried it and loved it. Hope you find more to love here! xoxo Helen & Billie
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We cooked it over Thanksgiving and I substituted Almond Flour for the flour, avocado oil for the vegetable oil and almond slivers for the walnuts and it still came out delicious. Thank you for reminding me of this delicious cake my Yiayia used to make. It freezes well also! YUM
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Hi there!! Thank you for taking the time to comment! We love that you got creative and swiped out some of the ingredients for others to better suit your family and tastes. It is a great basic recipe that you made your own! We’ll have to try your version one day 🙂 And yes…if any is left over (ha!) it freezes beautifully. xoxo Helen & Billie
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I love the look of this recipe and will definitely try it. Are Granny Smith apples too tart for this recipe? Thank you
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Hi Christine! Thanks! Hope you try the recipe, and love it! We actually use Granny Smith apples in pies and other baked desserts, and they work out beautifully. We expect that they will be delicious in this cake as well. Let us know how it turns out for you! xoxo Helen & Billie
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Hi. Can you clarify the step of flour in the apples and then flour again after that? Thank you. 💗
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Hi Barbara! We’re not sure what you are wondering about. In the step where you add the flour, you would add the entire amount of flour. Under the step, in a font slightly lighter, we list the actual quantities of ingredients used in that step. Perhaps this is a bit confusing. Let us know if that helps! Thanks, Helen & Billie
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We love it. God bless you! It’s perfect. Delicious and easy to make.
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This made our day!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know! xoxo Helen & Billie
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Can I add raisins ? Although this screams “Fall”, I think I’m going to add this to our Easter dessert table since my mother loves apple cake .
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Sure you can add raisins! It would be delicious we are sure. We hope that your mom loves our apple cake! Let us know, and thanks for including Mia Kouppa in your Easter celebrations! xoxo Helen & Billie
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[…] Milopita (Greek apple cake) […]
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Could I half the recipe as there are only 2 of us? If so what size pan would I use since an 11 inch would be too big
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For sure you can half the recipe (you can also make the entire recipe and freeze any cake you will not be enjoying until later). In terms of the pan, you can try using a standard loaf pan. Hope you enjoy! xoxo Helen & Billie
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I’m looking at halving this recipe. What Suze pan would I use?
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Hi Kim! You can try using a loaf pan. Let us know how that works out for you! xoxo Helen & Billie
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[…] από Milopita, ή ελληνικό κέικ μήλου, αυτό το κέικ διαθέτει τα […]
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