Prepare the 10 inch springform pan by greasing with 1-2 tbsp butter and then dust with flour.
Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Add them to a bowl and pour the 1/4 cup lemon juice over top. Toss to coat and let sit.
In a small bowl mix together the all purpose flour and baking powder and set aside.
In another mixing bowl use a hand mixer to beat the 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp softened butter, 1 cup white sugar and 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat at medium speed to combine. To this same bowl add the flour and baking powder mixture and beat at medium speed until fully incorporated. Finally, add in the milk and beat until combined. This will be a thicker batter.
Add the batter to the prepared baking dish.
Add the 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon to a small pan and warm over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and then remove from the heat and set aside.
Drain the lemon juice from the apples. Then, gently arrange the apples on the top of the dough in the baking dish, gently pressing them into the batter. Drizzle the melted butter-brown sugar-cinnamon mixture over the apples.
Bake the cake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.
Cool the cake for 10-15 minutes before removing from the springform pan.
Sprinkle the top of the cake with icing sugar or serve with vanilla ice cream.
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Notes
If you can't find Autumn Glory apples, you can try using Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious apples.
This cake is quite delicate so make sure to let it cool 10-15 minutes in the springform pan before trying to remove from the pan.