Description
Hello, fellow dessert lovers! 🍰 If you’re looking for a dessert that combines the warm, cozy flavors of fall with the decadence of a layer cake, then you’re in for a treat! This Caramel Apple Cake is sure to become your new favorite indulgence. Perfect for special occasions or a sweet ending to a family dinner, this cake has it all—soft, spiced layers, buttery caramel, and fresh apples. Let’s dive in!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup chopped apples (peeled)
- 1 ½ cups caramel sauce (for filling and topping)
- 2 cups buttercream frosting (for layering)
- Chopped apples for garnish
Feel free to customize this recipe! If you have dietary restrictions, try substituting gluten-free flour or using coconut sugar for a slightly healthier twist. Just keep in mind, some substitutions may alter the cake’s texture or flavor, so experiment carefully.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for a soft, moist cake. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the applesauce. Mix until well combined, but avoid overmixing, which can make the cake dense. Gently fold in the chopped apples for a fruity burst in every bite.
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To assemble the cake, spread a layer of buttercream frosting on the first layer of cake. Drizzle caramel sauce over the frosting, then add the second layer of cake and repeat. Finally, top with the last layer and spread a smooth layer of buttercream frosting. Drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the top and garnish with chopped apples for a gorgeous finish.
Notes
- When making this Caramel Apple Cake, make sure your butter is at room temperature. Softened butter will blend more easily with sugar, creating a lighter, fluffier texture.
- If you want to prevent your apples from browning after chopping, toss them with a little lemon juice before adding them to the batter.
- Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting to avoid melting your buttercream and caramel layers.