Every fall I crave all things spiced, including THIS Caramel Apple Spice Cake recipe! Ohhhh, the spicy goodness! Trust me, you are going to want to save this one, it is so moist and packed with flavor!
This homemade Apple Spice Cake is a heavenly combination of apples, cinnamon, nuts, caramel & all around coziness! I wish I had a big slice right now.
This flavorful Apple Spice layer cake is one of our favorites no matter what time of year but we especially love it in the fall! It is so moist, and the cream cheese frosting drizzled with caramel takes it to another level.
Not only will you get big apple flavor from the two cups of grated Granny Smith apples in the recipe, but the addition of applesauce adds flavor as well as additional moistness!
Frostings that taste Great with Spice Cakes
This Caramel Apple Spice Cake has so much flavor on it’s own, but ohhh the filling and frosting takes it to a whole new level! I always find cream cheese-based frostings to be a PERFECT complement to spiced desserts.
There’s just something so wonderful about the pairing of spice with the tanginess of a silky smooth cream cheese frosting.
*We used our classic cream cheese frosting for this recipe but we also love our Apple Spice Cream Cheese Frosting. (The Apple Spice cream cheese frosting is pictured in the photo below for our cake mix version of apple spice cake.) Both of these recipes are so simple to make and taste fantastic!
Quick tip for working with Cream Cheese Frosting:
If your cream cheese frosting is too soft, you can add additional confectioners sugar to thicken it. However, if the frosting is too warm, (whether from the temperature of your room or from the heat of your hands while piping) you should pop it in the refrigerator for a few minutes . This will firm it up so that it can hold it’s shape.
Looking for a Cake Mix Version of Apple Spice Cake?
For those of you who love to work with doctored cake mix recipes, this simple Apple Spice Cake {Doctored Cake Mix} Recipe is amazing! All of the apple spiced flavor that you love in a scratch recipe. In fact, nobody would guess that it started from a mix!
I highly recommend printing both of these Apple Spice recipes, it’s good to have options! Yummmmm…..
Caramel Apple Spice Cake
This Caramel Apple Spice Cake has so much flavor from apples, cinnamon, caramel, and nuts! It's always a favorite but I especially love it in the fall!
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1/2 cup (1stick) (113 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (107 g) vegetable oil
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons (6 g) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (252 g) applesauce (unsweetened)
- 3 cups (342 g) all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon ( 9 g) cinnamon
- 2 cups (250 g) grated apples, peeled before grating. I used Granny Smith (3 large apples or 4 medium) ( I used the large holes on a box grater
- 1 cup (100 g) chopped pecans or walnuts
- Zest of 1 small lemon (optional)
- 1 Jar of Caramel Sauce/topping for spreading on layers and drizzling
- Cream Cheese Frosting (or your filling/frosting of choice. see our Recipes section!)
- *Makes approximately 6 1/2 cups of batter
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (We also like Apple Spice Cream Cheese frosting with this recipe)
- 2 sticks ,1 cup, (226g) unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese (total weight 452g) I use full fat cream cheese. Using reduced fat or the spreadable cream cheese will cause the frosting to be too soft. Soften very slightly.
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (2g) optional - it will cut the sweetness, popcorn salt is best to use because it is fine and dissolves faster
- 6 to 6 1/2 cups (690g to 747g) powdered sugar
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Grease and flour three 8 inch pans A WAXED PAPER circle should be put in the bottom of each pan (grease and flour also) there tends to be more of a sticking problem when recipes have fruit.
- Cream the butter, add oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and applesauce. Mix well.
- Put the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk to mix.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to blend.
- Fold in the grated apples, lemon zest and nuts.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes then turn out.
- As I assembled my cake layers, I added another layer of flavor with a very thinly spread coating of caramel. I used store bought. I spread the top of each layer with a very thin layer before spreading my cream cheese filling. After assembling, I frosted the cake with cream cheese frosting and drizzled with additional caramel sauce. *I have also made this cake as a bundt cake, and as cupcakes with great results!
For The Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cut the butter into slices and add to the bowl of your mixer. Beat on low to medium speed until the butter is softened and smooth.
- Cut the cold cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating at low to medium speed until incorporated. If you are using a hand mixer you may need to soften the cream cheese a bit more.
- Add the vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar beating on low speed until blended. Cover the bowl with a towel to keep down the cloud of powdered sugar.
- Increase mixing speed and beat until fluffy. Don't over beat or it will become too soft. If it becomes too soft, just refrigerate a short while to firm it up a bit.
- This frosting will pipe best if used while still chilled. You can make it in advance, refrigerate and when ready to use let it soften slightly (do not microwave) and remix.
If you’re looking for more favorite fall and Thanksgiving cake ideas and tutorials, don’t miss our Roundup of Fall and Thanksgiving Cake Recipes, Tutorials, and Ideas!
Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out our other FAVORITE cake and frosting recipes and tutorials in our Recipes section, as well as a full collection of free cake tutorials in our Free Cake Tutorial Section!
Grease HOW…???
Hi Vesela, to prepare the pans, we coat them in a thin layer of vegetable shortening, then dust with flour, tapping the pan on the sink as you rotate to make sure it’s covered, then tap out the excess flour. Then line the cake pan with a circle of waxed paper as fruit cakes are more likely to stick.
HOW MUCH GRAMMS GREASE ….???
Hi Vesela, there is no measurement for the amount of vegetable shortening. You just put a small amount on a paper towel and rub it over the pans for a very light, clear coating.
BRAVO !!!
Would this cake hold up to fondant?
Hi Janelle, Yes, it should hold up to fondant.
Can I make cupcakes with this recipe?
Hi Lei, Yes, you can make cupcakes with this recipe. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes