Caramel Apple Spice Cake
This Caramel Apple Spice Cake is moist and fluffy. Filled with sweet apples, warm spices, and toasted pecans. Finished with a drizzle of buttery caramel sauce for the perfect fall treat.
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If you make any treat this fall season you have to make this Caramel Apple Spice Cake. This cake reminds me of an apple fritter only less sweet and less heavy. It's studded with sweet apples, toasted nuts, and the cake is light and fluffy. The top forms sugary, buttery pockets when it bakes, and the caramel drizzle is really just a bonus. It's so good and feels like a slice of fall.
This cake obviously falls in the dessert category but between you and me, I have no guilt enjoying this for breakfast or an afternoon snack with a cup of tea. It is also the perfect treat to share because it's so easy to make AND delicious!
Ingredients For Caramel Apple Spice Cake:
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Apple pie spice (see recipe notes)
- Eggs
- Melted butter
- Unsweetened apple sauce
- Pure vanilla extract
- Finely chopped, peeled sweet apples
- Toasted pecans
- Cinnamon & sugar
- Caramel sauce
The best apples to use for Apple Spice Cake:
The most common apple people use for baking is Granny Smith. They are tart and crisp and offset the sweetness in desserts. My favorite apple to use for Caramel Apple Spice Cake is Honeycrisp or Pink Lady. Unlike most cake recipes this apple spice cake is not super sweet. I like to use a sweeter apple to naturally sweeten the cake. Fuji and Gala also work well for this recipe.
Nuts:
I love the flavor of toasted pecans in this recipe. To me, it's the nut that reminds me the most of fall. You could also use toasted walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts. If you don't like nuts at all just leave them out!
Cutting apples for Apple Spice Cake:
Everyone has their preference when it comes to cooked fruit in baking. I generally like my fruit to be small so each bite is perfectly proportioned. For this recipe I dice the apples into small half inch pieces. Each bite has a little apple, nuts, and lots of cake. Yum!
How To Make Caramel Apple Spice Cake:
Step 1. Preheat oven to 350℉ and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
Step 2. Mix first 6-ingredients in a large bowl and create a well in the center of the flour mixture. Basically a hole for the wet ingredients to set in.
Step 3. In a medium bowl whisk eggs until light and airy. Add melted butter, applesauce, vanilla, apples and pecans. Stir to combine.
Step 4. Add wet ingredients into the center of the well you made in the flour mixture and begin folding the flour into the apple mixture. Continue folding until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 5. Spread mixture evenly in prepared baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cake is done when golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine takes 45-minutes. Let cool for at least 30-minutes then drizzle with homemade or store-bought caramel sauce. Slice in squares and serve!
What to serve with Caramel Apple Spice Cake:
This cake is honestly so good on its own with a drizzle of caramel, but if you're feeling extra, a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream is heavenly.
Tips:
- Prevent the apples from turning brown by coating them in a little lemon juice. This is ideal if you prepare the apples early and they have to set for any length of time.
- If you can't find Apple Pie Spice it's easy to make with spices in your pantry. You only need ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice. See recipe notes below for measurements.
- Make sure cake cools before slicing otherwise it will break apart and crumble. This is definitely an exercise in patience.
Apple Spice Cake Variations:
- Make muffins instead! I have not tested this but I'm sure it would work just fine. The only change would be to reduce the baking time.
- Use other fruit! Peaches and pears would work great for a slightly different taste. Make sure to use fresh fruit.
Storing Apple Spice Cake:
This cake will keep up to 3-days at room temperature in a sealed container, and up to 5-days in the refrigerator.
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Caramel Apple Spice Cake
Equipment
- 1 9×13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon apple pie spice see recipe notes for homemade spice blend
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup melted butter, slightly cooled
- ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups finely chopped, peeled apples, about ½-inch pieces about 5 medium size apples
- ¾ cup toasted pecans
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- caramel sauce for drizzle
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray
- Mix cinnamon and sugar until combined and set aside.
- Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and create a well in the center of the flour mixture.
- In a medium bowl whisk eggs until light and airy. Add melted butter, applesauce, vanilla extract, apples, and pecans. Stir to combine.
- Add wet ingredients into the well of the flour mixture and gently fold the flour into the apple mixture. Continue to fold until combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Spread mixture evenly in prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cake is done when golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Crumbs are fine.
- Let cake cool for at least 30-minutes then drizzle with desired amount of caramel sauce. Slice and serve!
Notes
- Homemade apple pie spice- Combine 1 ½ tablespoon of cinnamon, 1 ½ tablespoon nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon all-spice. Apple Pie Spice will last up to 1 year in a sealed jar.
- Prevent the apples from turning brown by coating them in a little lemon juice. This is ideal if you prepare the apples early and they have to set for any length of time.
- Make sure cake cools before slicing otherwise it will break apart and crumble. This is definitely an exercise in patience.
- Storing apple cake- This cake will keep up to 3-days at room temperature in a sealed container and up to 5-days in the refrigerator.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 square | |
| Servings: 12 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 405 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 16.9g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol 62mg | 21% |
| Sodium 107mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 60.8g | 22% |
| Dietary Fiber 3.1g | 11% |
| Total Sugars 32g | |
| Protein 5.3g | |
| Vitamin D 11mcg | 54% |
| Calcium 21mg | 2% |
| Iron 2mg | 11% |
| Potassium 144mg | 3% |
Nutrition
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