Fall flavors are in full swing with this delightful apple upside-down cake!
It’s a perfect blend of sweetness and spice, and it’s one of my favorite ways to use up my haul from the orchard.
Between the buttery cake, tender apples, and caramel sauce, every bite is better than the last.
Better yet, it’s impressive enough for a dinner party but cozy and simple enough just to treat yourself. And it’s ready before you know it!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Upside-Down Cake
Seasonal Spices & Fruit: This cake showcases the best fall flavors, combining the warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg with sweetly tart fresh apples.
No Decorating Needed: The upside-down method automatically decorates the cake with luscious caramel and apples. So, there’s no need for frosting or intricate garnishes.
Wonderfully Tender Texture: The contrast between the soft, moist cake and the tender, caramelized apples creates a delightful interplay of textures.
Ingredients
- Apples: Tart, crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp provide the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Unsalted Butter: This creamy fat is used in the caramel topping and the cake batter. It adds rich flavor and moisture throughout.
- Granulated & Brown Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the cake batter, while brown sugar adds depth to the caramel topping.
- Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg: Warm spices that enhance the cake and topping, infusing them with cozy, aromatic notes.
- All-Purpose Flour & Baking Powder: Flour provides structure to the cake, and baking powder ensures it rises to a light and fluffy texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Eggs: Add richness and help bind the batter together.
- Vanilla Extract: This classic flavoring adds a subtle sweetness and fragrant aroma.
- Whole Milk: For moisture and richness.
How to Make Apple Upside-Down Cake
This recipe is comfort food at its finest, bringing together the nostalgia of traditional apple desserts with a modern twist.
Here’s how to make it:
1. PREHEAT the oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
2. MELT the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan until dissolved, then stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour it into the baking pan.
3. ARRANGE the apple slices over the caramel and refrigerate.
4. WHISK the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a bowl.
5. BEAT the butter and sugars until fluffy. Blend in the eggs, vanilla, and milk one at a time until smooth.
6. STIR the dry ingredients into the wet just until combined. If using, fold in the apple chunks.
7. POUR the batter over the apples and bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden.
8. COOL for 10-15 minutes, invert, and serve with whipped cream and caramel if desired. Enjoy!
Tips For the Best Apple Upside-Down Cake
There’s something magical about flipping this cake over and revealing the caramelized apple slices on top.
It’s like unwrapping a delicious present!
Never made an upside-down cake before? Here’s a few handy tips!
- Apple selection. Use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples for the best balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Slice uniformly. Cut apple slices to an even thickness of about 1/4 inch to ensure consistent caramelization. The same goes for the apples in the batter, if using.
- Watch the baking time. Monitor the baking time closely, as it may vary depending on your oven. Check for doneness after about 40 minutes, then every 5 minutes.
- Serving suggestions. Serve the cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top or drizzle it with more caramel sauce for added flavor.
- Variations. Experiment with different spices like cardamom, allspice, or cloves.
How to Store
This cake is super moist and a little dense, and it’ll hold well in the fridge for a few days.
Unfortunately, it won’t freeze as the topping won’t thaw well.
To Store: Place the cooled cake in an airtight container or cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
More Apple Desserts You’ll Love
Apple Galette
Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Apple Turnovers
Apple Slab Pie
Apple Upside-Down Cake
10
servings30
minutes55
minutes349
kcalThis caramel apple upside-down cake is loaded with tender apples and warm spices. It’s sweet, buttery, and ideal for any cozy occasion!
Ingredients
- For the Topping
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2-3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- For the Cake Batter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
1 medium apple, peeled and diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°Fahrenheit. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter, ensuring the sides are well-coated. Set aside.
- Make the topping: In a small saucepan, warm the butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the cinnamon and nutmeg until smooth.
- Slowly pour the caramel into the baking dish. Then, carefully arrange the apple slices on top and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Make the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg to combine.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and blend in the eggs, vanilla, and milk, one at a time, mixing well between each addition.
- Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet, just until no streaks of flour are visible. If using, fold in the diced apples.
- Slowly pour the batter over the apples in the pan, smoothing it into an even layer. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Then, run a knife around the edge and invert it onto a wire rack or serving plate.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream and caramel, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples for the best balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Cut the apple slices to an even thickness of about 1/4 inch to ensure consistent caramelization. The same goes for the apples in the batter, if using.
