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Moist and Delicious Caramel Apple Spice Cake
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4.38 from 35 votes

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!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 15
Author: Melissa and Bebe

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened (113g)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil (107g)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar (400g)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature (if in a hurry, place in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (6g)
  • 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened) (252g)
  • 3 cups all purpose flour (342g)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (3g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda (5g)
  • 1 Tablespoon cinnamon (9g)
  • 2 cups grated or finely chopped apples (peel first) (250g) We used Granny Smith (3 large apples or 4 medium) If grating the apples be sure to use the large holes so as not to produce apple juice.
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (100g)
  • 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 ½ 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
  • 16 oz cream cheese (452g total) We use two 8 oz packages of "full fat" cream cheese.
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (8g)
  • ½ teaspoon salt 2g optional
  • 6 to 6 ½ cups powdered sugar (690g to 747g)

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.