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Homemade caramel apple cake topped with creamy caramel sauce
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Caramel Apple Cake

A tender, moist cake bursting with the flavors of caramel and crisp apples, perfect for fall gatherings.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy, Fall
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

  • 9-inch round cake pan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Saucepan

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1.5 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 medium apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)

Caramel Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 0.25 cup water
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons butter (for caramel sauce)

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar together until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
  • Gently fold in the sliced apples until evenly distributed.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  • Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, make the caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring and let it boil until it turns a deep golden color (about 6–8 minutes). Watch carefully to avoid burning.
  • Remove from heat and immediately (and carefully!) add the heavy cream and 3 tablespoons butter. Stir until smooth and glossy.
  • Let the caramel sauce cool slightly before drizzling all over your cooled cake. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

For best results, use apples that hold their shape during baking, like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra treat!