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4.82 from 140 votes
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake topped with ice cream.
Print Recipe
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
 

My Apple Upside Down Cake is easy yet bakery-impressive with juicy apples, warm spices, and rich caramel—baked in 1 hour with 25 minutes prep.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Author: Gemma Stafford
Ingredients
  • 1 ¾ cups (8 ¾ oz/247 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) butter , at room temperature
  • 1 cup (8 oz/225 g) granulated sugar
  • ⅔ cup (4 oz/115 g) dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs , at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (4 fl oz/115 ml) salted caramel sauce
  • 3 medium Granny Smith apples (about 1 lb/453 g)
Instructions
To Make the Caramel Upside Down Cake Batter

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a handheld mixer), add the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar and cream on medium-high speed about 4 minutes or until light and fluffy.

  3. Turn the mixer down to low speed and add in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Mix until incorporated.

  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.

To Assemble and Bake the Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and butter the sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan.

  2. Pour your salted caramel sauce into the buttered pan and spread evenly over the bottom and up the sides.

  3. Peel, core and slice the apples about ½ inch (1.5cm) thick.

  4. Arrange the apple slices on top of the caramel to cover the entire surface. Spread the cake batter evenly on top of the apples.

  5. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

  6. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then carefully invert onto a serving dish to cool completely. (If it stays in the pan for too long, the apples will stick and the cake won't release).

  7. Enjoy warm with vanilla ice-cream! This cake is best served the day it is made, but you can store any leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.