Apple cake doesn't generally rise like normal cakes. It's usually a heavier cake because of the apples. I'm not familiar with using the stevia so I don't know if it works as well as Splenda in replacing sugar. There must be a place on the Stevia box where you can call or go on web to send a note to see if it can be replaced for sugar in a cake recipe and the recipe come out the same. Have to try trolleystation apple cake recipe, sounds good and easy. Good luck experimenting!