Description
Delightful caramel apple spice cake promises autumn’s warmest embrace, blending sweet orchard fruits with rich seasonal spices. Homemade magic unfolds as cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel create a dessert you’ll crave long after the last crumb disappears.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Fruit and Topping:
- 2 cups (280 grams) peeled and diced apples
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) caramel sauce (for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking vessel by coating a 9×13-inch pan with grease at 350F (175C), ensuring smooth cake release.
- Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, whisking flour, baking soda, baking powder, aromatic spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), and salt until thoroughly integrated.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until achieving a pillowy, pale texture that appears light and voluminous.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, ensuring complete blending after each addition, then gently fold in vanilla extract and sour cream for moisture and richness.
- Gradually introduce dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredients, stirring until just combined to maintain cake’s tender crumb structure.
- Gently fold diced apples throughout the batter, distributing fruit evenly for consistent flavor and texture.
- Transfer batter into prepared pan, spreading smoothly and creating an even surface for uniform baking.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick inserted into cake’s center emerges clean and free of raw batter.
- Allow cake to cool completely in pan, reaching room temperature for optimal caramel sauce absorption.
- Drizzle warm caramel sauce generously across cake’s surface just before serving, creating an indulgent finishing touch.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth blending and consistent texture throughout the cake.
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for balanced sweetness and better structural integrity in the cake.
- Consider toasting spices briefly before adding to enhance their aromatic qualities and deepen flavor complexity.
- For gluten-free adaptation, substitute regular flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain moisture and structure.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 338 kcal
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 244 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg