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This fresh Apple Cake is everything you love about fall baking — tender, spiced apple cake served warm and drizzled with the most amazing homemade caramel sauce. Every bite is soft, buttery, and full of cozy flavor. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, and get ready for everyone to ask for seconds (and the recipe!).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
his recipe was the first one I ever shared here on the blog, back in November of 2007. It is still one of my all time favorite desserts. The recipe came from my friend Jane.
This apple cake is full of warm, cozy fall flavors. Fresh apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar come together for a cake that tastes like autumn in every bite.
When my friend Jane gave me the recipe she told me to double the caramel sauce, she was right. The buttery, rich caramel takes this simple apple cake from delicious to downright irresistible. You may just want to drink the stuff!!
The cake is moist with a tender crumb. The apples keep the cake soft and flavorful — no dry cake here! You don’t need anything fancy for this cake, just a few pantry staples and fresh apples to create a dessert everyone will rave about.
Ingredients Needed
- Apples, I use green, tart apples such as a granny smith apple.
- All Purpose Flour
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
Caramel Sauce
- Butter, salted
- Evaporated Milk or Whipping Cream
- Sugar, granulated sugar and brown sugar
- Vanilla Extract
How to Make Apple Cake
- Grate apples in the food processor or by hand. No need to peel the apples.
- Mix together eggs, sugar, apples and oil in a bowl. You can mix by hand or with an electric mixer.
- Whisk in dry ingredients and stir until well mixed
- Pour into greased 9 x 13 prepared pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes.
- Make Caramel Sauce
- Combine sugar, brown sugar, cream and vanilla extract into a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir until combined and sauce begins to thicken. (approx. 5 minutes)
- Remove cake from oven and cool for 10-15 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake.
- Slice while warm and serve with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Tips from leigh Anne
- When measuring out your shredded apple, do not pack them into the measuring cup, just lightly scoop them in.
- Use a mix of sweet and tart, crisp apples gives the best flavor and texture. Try using Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp apples, Pink Lady, Braeburn or Fuji for sweetness.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Once you add the dry ingredients, stir just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of tender.
- Grease your pan well. Apple cake tends to be moist, so make sure to butter and flour your pan (or line it with parchment) to keep it from sticking.
- Warm up the caramel sauce. The sauce thickens as it cools, just reheat it gently before serving so it’s pourable and silky.
- Serve it warm. This cake is best enjoyed slightly warm — drizzle on the caramel just before serving for the ultimate comfort dessert. It can also be served room temperature.
- For an extra treat, serve each slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and an extra drizzle of caramel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the caramel sauce ahead of time?
Definitely! The caramel sauce can be made up to 5 days in advance. Store it in the fridge and warm it gently before serving — it’ll be smooth and pourable again in no time.
Can I make the cake ahead of time?
You can. The cake stays moist for several days when covered tightly at room temperature. Just rewarm slices slightly before serving for that just-baked flavor.
Can I serve it with store bought caramel sauce?
Of course! Homemade caramel has unbeatable flavor, but a good-quality store-bought version works in a pinch, especially if you’re short on time.
Can I freeze apple cake?
You can! Let the cake cool completely, wrap it tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm before serving. Store the caramel sauce separately.
Can I add nuts to the cake?
You could add chopped pecans or walnuts if you like nuts in your baked goods. I would add in 1 cup of chopped nut.
This Apple Cake is the perfect dessert to celebrate fall — soft, spiced, and full of tender apple goodness, all topped with that rich, buttery caramel drizzle. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but special enough for holidays or Sunday dinners with family. Whether you serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream or enjoy a slice with your morning coffee, it’s the kind of cozy, homemade dessert that never goes out of style — comforting, nostalgic, and always delicious.
Check out more of my favorite apple recipes:
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Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups grated apples loosely packed, I use a green, tart apple
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup canola oil or vegetable
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Caramel Sauce
- 1/2 Cup butter
- 1/2 Cup evaporated milk or cream
- 1/2 Cup brown sugar
- 1/2 Cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
- Mix together eggs, sugar, apple and oil in a bowl.
- Add in dry ingredients and stir until combined and no dry ingredients are visible.
- Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 baking pan.
- Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Caramel Sauce
- Cook in saucepan over medium heat until melted and thickened. About 5 minutes.
- Serve over cake and top cake with whipped cream
Tips & Notes:
- Don’t overpack. When measuring out your shredded apple, do not pack them into the measuring cup, just lightly scoop them in.
- Use the right apples. A mix of sweet and tart apples gives the best flavor and texture. Try using Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp or Fuji for sweetness.
- Don’t overmix the batter.Once you add the dry ingredients, stir just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of tender.
- Grease your pan well. Apple cake tends to be moist, so make sure to butter and flour your pan (or line it with parchment) to keep it from sticking.
- Warm up the caramel sauce. If the sauce thickens as it cools, just reheat it gently before serving so it’s pourable and silky again.
- Serve it warm. This cake is best enjoyed slightly warm — drizzle on the caramel just before serving for the ultimate comfort dessert.
- Add a scoop of ice cream. For an extra treat, serve each slice with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and an extra drizzle of caramel.
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Nutrition Facts:
Lynn says
Greato
Marilyn says
Just ate this! Hubble and I loved it! The apples make it less sinful! Caramel sauce was easy and delicious on top! Will definitely make it again!