Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
There’s nothing more comforting in life than a sticky sweet slice of delicious caramel apple upside down cake when you’re wanting a bit of decadence without a lot of effort. This easy recipe is perfect for a beginner, but it makes you look like you are a master baker!
You can make it extra simple by buying a pre-made caramel sauce from the store, or you can try your hand at making your own. Whichever way you choose to do it, you’ll be delighted by the amazing combination of caramel and apple, a delicious pairing that gets some extra love as the juices from the apple seep into the cake, adding moisture and a tangy flavor you’ll love.
Choosing the best apple variety can be important here if you want your cake to look its best, as you’ll want the apples to keep their shape through the cooking process. But you can use any variety you want if you’re not concerned with appearance. That said, as with baking an apple pie, there are certain apple varieties that will give you the best combination of looks and flavor.
I highly recommend Granny Smith apples, though Idared and Golden Delicious are my backups. Jazz and Pink Lady apples will do in a pinch. If baking a pie, I will usually use a combination of some or all of them, and you could do the same here if you like.
Whatever you choose, just be sure to peel them and slice into nice chunky wedges. I usually leave this until last, mixing my cake batter first and getting everything ready beforehand so that my apples don’t turn brown before I’m ready to place them. Of course you can add some lemon juice to help stop that from happening, but then it can change the taste, which could make the cake turn out weird, and it’s just easier to keep the cutting until last.
The recipe is fairly simple, as far as cakes go. Like a traditional upside down cake, begin by butter and brown sugar in a pan over medium heat, allowing it to bubble up while stirring frequently.
Spray an 8 inch cake pan with some nonstick spray and then pour your mixture into the bottom in an even layer.
Arrange your apple slices, which should be slightly overlapping, in an even layer on top of your brown sugar floor, creating a foundation upon which you will spread your cake mixture.
For your cake, you need to cream together your butter and sugar before beating in the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk.
In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients, quickly whisking them so they are combined and then add them into your wet ingredients, stirring together until a batter is formed.
Spread your batter over your apple layer in your cake pan, making sure get into the corners.
Bake in a 325 degree oven for around 50-60 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for around 15 minutes before inverting the entire pan onto another flat surface.
Drizzle with your caramel sauce and cut into squares before serving.
How amazing does that look?
This is a really rich and delicious cake that stands up perfectly on its own, but it’s also really nice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (with or without extra caramel!) or whipped cream. I also like to eat it the same way I eat apple pie – with a nice chunk of sharp cheddar cheese! I know, I know – it sounds weird, but it’s SUCH a beautiful contrast!
However you choose to try this, you can’t help but enjoy it. Similar to a pineapple upside down cake, it’s a little more familiar to kids and easier to appeal to the masses.
Plus, it works for any time of year, even though I particularly enjoy it in the fall. Give it a try and see what you think!
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Move over pineapple! Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake is your new obsession! The tart apple flavor is balanced by the ooey gooey brown sugar topping, and the flavor seeps into every bite! It's a simple and satisfying dessert perfect for any time of year.
Ingredients
Topping
- ½ cup butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
Cake
- 1 stick butter
- 1 C sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ cup buttermilk or milk
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Flavor Layer
- ⅓ cup caramel sauce
- 2 apples, peeled and cut into wedges
Instructions
- Melt together butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring frequently, until bubbling.
- Spray an 8-inch pan with nonstick, and spread mixture over the bottom to create a single layer.
- Peel and slice apples and arrange pieces on top of your brown sugar mixture, with sides touching, until you have another single layer. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together, then beat in eggs, vanilla, buttermilk, and all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon).
- Spread batter over your apples, and bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
- Once finished, cool for 15 minutes in your baking dish, then invert and remove dish so that your apple layer is at the top.
- Drizzle with caramel, cut into squares, and serve!
Notes
Serve alone or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 476Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 319mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 2gSugar: 47gProtein: 5g
This nutrition information is automatically calculated and may not be entirely accurate. Please do your own research if you are overly concerned about specific macros.
Katie Reed is a passionate writer and mother of four vivacious boys from Salt Lake City, Utah. Drawing from her own journey through TTC, pregnancy, and the joys of raising children, she offers a wealth of insight into the world of motherhood. Beyond her heartfelt tales, Katie delights her readers with family-friendly recipes, engaging crafts, and a curated library of printables for both kids and adults. When she’s not penning her experiences, you’ll find her crafting memories with her husband and sons—Dexter, Daniel, Chester, and Wilder.
