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This super moist and delicious Salted Caramel Fresh Apple Cake is loaded with fresh apple chunks and combines the perfect amount of sweet and spice.
So here’s the story on this outrageously delicious fresh apple cake: it all started when I made the most unbelievably good salted caramel sauce. It took me three attempts to make it perfectly (not because its hard, but boiling sugar skeeers me). Well, a little of that stuff goes a long way, so I had some leftover in the refrigerator. I tried to figure out what I should make. Then, I opened up my produce drawer and saw this damn apple that had been in there for a couple of weeks. You see, I LOVE apples in the fall. I make wonderful apple pies and the most amazing vanilla bean honey crisp apple sauce. But as the winter drags on and the only produce available are apples and oranges, I get a little burnt out on eating plain apples. Enter the fresh apple cake.
You can see how big I like my chunks. I slice them thin but make the chunks big enough to pierce with a fork. I’m one of those weird eaters who pays very close attention to the texture of my food and I like a little crunch mixed in with my soft, hence the reason for the chunks of apple as well as the addition of the walnuts.
Mmmm, homemade caramel sauce. There are few things on this planet that are better. The darker it is, the more intense the flavor. YUM.
When you’re all done, just drizzle that caramel sauce over the entire cake. However much you choose to dump on is totally up to you.
I’m totally salivating right now as I look at this.
I actually didn’t add the salt to the sauce because I like to sprinkle the beautiful crystal flakes on top when I’m ready to serve. Again – that part is all about the texture for me.
See the little salt flakes in the photo below?
Warm. Ooey. Gooey. Super delicious and flavorful apple cake. YUM.
Salted Caramel Fresh Apple Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg fresh
- pinch of salt
- zest from one lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups apples chopped and peeled
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- salted caramel sauce
Instructions
- Ahead of time, make a batch of salted caramel sauce. You can buy some from the store, but homemade is oh so much better.
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and/or line an 8x8 pan.
- In bowl of stand mixer with paddle attachment on, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy for several minutes. Scrape sides down and beat in egg. Scrape sides again.
- In small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix just until combined.
- Toss apples in lemon zest and juice. Toast raw walnuts in small pan on stove over low heat, occasionally tossing walnuts to evenly heat. Add apples with lemon and walnuts to cake batter and set mixer on low just to get them going and then flash it on high for only a couple seconds to evenly mix them in.
- Pour into prepared baking dish. Batter will be very thick so you will need to use a rubber spatula to spread it to an even layer. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Serve cake warm or cold with warm caramel sauce with some salt crystals on top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I make a version of this fresh apple cake, with vegetable oil instead of butter, and sometimes less sugar, from a recipe handed down from my grandmother. The lore is that it was a recipe commonly used in the 1930s, when ingredients, save for apples from the backyard tree, or the neighbor’s tree, were available and other ingredients were either scarce or too expensive for Depression-era budgets. Sometimes I use only a bit of vanilla and no spices, even a mixture of apples. I agree that chunks of apples are important. It’s great plain, sprinkled with powdered sugar or even a bit of regular sugar (while it’s warm from the oven), makes great cupcakes, too. Whenever I take it to a potluck, it gets rave reviews. A glaze isn’t needed, but is a nice touch.
Thanks for posting!
How wonderful looking! I have a birthday cake to make this week, and have a huge haul of wonderful apples from a local orchard…this recipe will be the perfect fit! Thanks, Ali, keep the amazing ideas coming!
Salted caramel and apple go so well together and this cake looks amazing.
OMG. This cake was wonderful. So moist and full of fall spices. The nutmeg ground fresh 7s what took it v over the top for me. I then made the caramel sauce. Wow!! First attempt at caramel sauce EVER. Other than not taking it quite far enough, the salted caramel was yummy and surprisingly easy. I will definitely make this again and again.
The cake on its own is already very delicious. The salted caramel makes it even more so.
This is exactly what I need in my life right now: this incredible salted caramel apple cake! Boy, does it look delicious! My daughter is coming over this weekend, and I look forward to us making this together.
This recipe is everything I love about apple pie, turned into a cake! So so good!
The homemade caramel sauce is divine on this cake … so delicious!