Moist, spiced, packed with apples, and drenched in caramel.
Caramel Apple Cake
Ingredients
Cake
-
2 cups all-purpose flour
-
2 tsp baking powder
-
1 tsp baking soda
-
1½ tsp cinnamon
-
¼ tsp nutmeg
-
½ tsp salt
-
½ cup butter, melted (or oil)
-
¾ cup brown sugar
-
½ cup granulated sugar
-
2 large eggs
-
1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
-
2 tsp vanilla
-
2½ cups apples, peeled & diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
Caramel Sauce
-
1 cup brown sugar
-
½ cup butter
-
¼ cup heavy cream
-
1 tsp vanilla
-
Pinch of salt
Instructions
-
Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 pan or Bundt pan.
-
Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
-
In another bowl, mix butter, sugars, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.
-
Fold dry ingredients into wet just until combined.
-
Gently fold in apples.
-
Pour batter into pan and bake 40–50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Caramel Sauce
-
Melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat.
-
Stir in cream and simmer 3–5 minutes until thick.
-
Remove from heat; add vanilla and salt.
-
Pour warm caramel over warm cake. Let soak in.
Serving Ideas
-
🍨 Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
-
🌰 Chopped pecans or walnuts on top
-
🍎 Extra apple slices sautéed in butter & cinnamon
Pro Tips
-
Dice apples small so they melt into the cake
-
Warm caramel before serving for extra drama
Want a Bundt version, slow-cooker cake, or no-fuss poke cake version? 😄