Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper for easier removal.

Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly. Set them aside. You can sprinkle them with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.

Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes. Then, mix in the melted butter and vanilla extract.

Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.

Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake light.

Fold in Apples: Gently fold the sliced apples into the batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed.

Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it evenly.

Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool: Let the cake stand for about 10 minutes in the pan, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve: Once cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar, if desired, and slice into wedges. Serve it warm or at room temperature.

Variations

Add Nuts: For a crunchy texture, consider folding in some chopped walnuts or almonds.

Different Fruits: You can substitute apples with pears or peaches for a different flavor profile.

Spices: Experiment with spices like nutmeg or allspice to give the cake a unique twist.