Description
Delightful caramel apple spice cake delivers autumn’s warmth in every rich, moist slice. Comforting spices and sweet caramel drizzle invite you to savor seasonal nostalgia with each heavenly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
Spices:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoons ground cloves
Seasoning:
- 0.25 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and preparing a 9×13-inch baking pan with grease and flour coating.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, whisking cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly integrated.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together granulated and brown sugars with vegetable oil until achieving a smooth consistency.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the sugar mixture, then blend in vanilla extract and applesauce until fully combined.
- Gradually fold dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredients, stirring gently to prevent overmixing, then gently incorporate freshly grated apples throughout the batter.
- Transfer cake batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly and ensuring uniform distribution.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean and cake appears golden brown.
- Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature, preparing for caramel sauce application.
- Create caramel sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then introducing brown sugar and heavy cream.
- Bring caramel mixture to a rolling boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Remove caramel from heat, quickly incorporating vanilla extract and salt for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Drizzle warm caramel sauce generously over the cooled cake, ensuring even coverage for maximum deliciousness.
Notes
- Enhance apple flavor by using a mix of tart and sweet varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for complex taste profiles.
- Prevent apple browning by tossing grated apples with a splash of lemon juice before folding into batter.
- Keep cake moist by not overmixing the batter and checking doneness early to avoid overbaking.
- Adapt for gluten-free diets by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring same texture and consistency.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 130kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg