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.

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.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

• Apple Oatmeal Scotchies
• Caramel Apple French Toast Bake
• Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

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I appreciate your comments and reviews! Be sure to leave a comment or rating below for suggestions, questions, or if you make the recipe. I’d love to know how it turned out for you!

Let’s eat!🤍

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.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Cool time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 405 kcal

Equipment

• 1 9×13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

  

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice see recipe notes for homemade spice blend
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup melted butter, slightly cooled
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups finely chopped, peeled apples, about 1/2-inch pieces about 5 medium size apples
• 3/4 cup toasted pecans
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp 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

Tips:

• Homemade apple pie spice- Combine 1 1/2 tbsp of cinnamon, 1 1/2 tbsp nutmeg, and 1 tsp 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.

 

Nutritional facts include 1 square of 12. 

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

 

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%

Keyword All-purpose flour, Apple pie spice, Apples, Applesauce, Brown sugar, Butter, Eggs, granulated sugar, Pecans, vanilla extract

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