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caramel apple upside-down cake

(6 ratings)
dillowk avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Kimberly Dillow
@dillowk
Jersey City, NJ

I LOVE caramel apples and wanted to do something fun, pretty, and interesting. ENJOY!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

If you love caramel and apples, this will become your favorite fall dessert. The apples on top bake in gooey caramel. With just the right amount of sugar and spices, the cake itself is tender and melts in your mouth. There are apples in every bite. Perfect with a scoop of ice cream and the extra caramel. This takes a little time to make, so you may want to save this recipe for special occasions. We really loved this caramel apple cake.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(6 ratings)
method Bake

Ingredients For caramel apple upside-down cake

  • FOR CARAMEL APPLES
  • 1 1/2 c
    sugar
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp
    light corn syrup
  • 1/2 c
    milk or heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter
  • 4
    golden delicious apples, peeled and sliced in thicker slices (3 if very large)
  • FOR CAKE
  • 1 stick
    butter
  • 1 1/2 c
    sugar
  • 3
    eggs
  • 1/2 c
    vanilla yogurt
  • 1/3 c
    orange juice
  • 1 Tbsp
    vanilla
  • 3 c
    flour (I use a mix of white and whole wheat)
  • 2 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp
    cinnamon
  • 1 tsp
    nutmeg
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1
    golden delicious apple, peeled and chopped

How To Make caramel apple upside-down cake

  • Buttered pan on the counter.
    1
    Butter a standard sized fluted tube pan.
  • Heating sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan.
    2
    For caramel, in a saucepan on medium heat, heat sugar and corn syrup, stirring occasionally until it reaches an amber caramel color (10 minutes). Make sure not to cook the caramel on too high of a heat or it will get too thick.
  • Butter and milk added to the sugar mixture.
    3
    Reduce heat to medium and add the 2 Tbsp butter and milk - this will splatter, BE CAREFUL. Stir until combined. Pour caramel about 1/2-3/4 inch deep in the tube pan. Reserve any other caramel for topping the cake. Let set for about 15 minutes.
  • Caramel poured into the pan with sliced apples.
    4
    Place sliced apples in a decorative pattern in the caramel at the bottom of the pan. Make sure to fill all cracks. Thicker slices work better than thin apple slices for this step.
  • Preheating the oven.
    5
    For the cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Butter, sugar, and egg in a bowl.
    6
    In a mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time until evenly combined.
  • Whisking together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, powder, and baking soda.
    7
    In another bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, powder, and baking soda. Whisk together.
  • Yogurt, vanilla, and orange juice whisked in a bowl.
    8
    Mix the yogurt, vanilla, and orange juice in another bowl.
  • Adding yogurt mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture.
    9
    Alternately add yogurt mixture and flour mixture in two batches to the butter, sugar, and eggs.
  • Ending with flour.
    10
    Finishing with the flour mixture.
  • Folding in chopped apples.
    11
    Fold in chopped apples by hand.
  • Batter added to the pan.
    12
    Spread the cake mixture in the pan over the apples and caramel.
  • Apple cake baking in the oven.
    13
    Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes to one hour.
  • Apple cake cooling.
    14
    Cool completely. To unmold, set the cake in the bottom of a skillet with simmering water 3-5 minutes to soften the caramel. Invert onto plate.
  • Slice of apple cake with ice cream.
    15
    Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream and remaining caramel sauce.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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