Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake is a moist buttery cake topped with apple slices and loads of homemade salted caramel. This cake will not disappoint any of your friends and family. The perfect cake recipe for your next party and a fabulous dessert for Thanksgiving!
Upside down cake recipes are my jam. They are a single layer, so super easy. And normally the bottom is some kind of caramelized topping. In this case, I made an upside-down apple cake recipe. Filled with loads of homemade salted caramel sauce.
This cake was originally made back in 2013. Not much needed updating besides the pictures. I also adjusted the recipe to use my salted caramel sauce, I feel it the best caramel sauce and I always have some on hand so its easy for me grab and use whenever. I have a whole post dedicated to how to make salted caramel sauce.
The cake is buttery golden brown goodness. The cake is delicious on its own, its also fantastic cold out of the fridge at 6 am, not that I've done that...
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To start this recipe you need either store-bought caramel or homemade. I prefer homemade I always have a batch in my fridge it will last for weeks.
Ingredients
Your normal suspects are here all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and vanilla extract. Then for this recipe lots of salted caramel and apples (for cooking I prefer Granny Smith or Bramley).
After you've enjoyed this cake check out my upside-down rhubarb cake.
Instructions
As always preheat oven to 350F/180C and grease a 10 inch round cake pan at least 2 ½ inches deep. These are my favorite cake pans. Always even baking and an easy release from the pan.
You will start this recipe with two sizes of apple slices.
Peel and chop 4 medium-sized Granny Smith apples. Cut 2 apples into ½ inch slices and 2 into ¼ inch slices.
In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan cook the salted caramel and the ½ inch apple slices for 4 minutes over low/ medium heat. Add in the remaining apple slice and stir until apples are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared pan.
In a medium-sized bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer combine eggs and sugars for 3 minutes on medium speed, until very light. Add in the melted butter and vanilla extract.
Slowly fold in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Pour batter on top of sliced apples in the cake pan. Drizzle salted caramel on top of the cake batter and use a knife to swirl it throughout.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
How do you invert an upside-down cake
Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes then use an angled spatula to loosen the sides of the cake from the pan. Then place a large serving plate on the top of the cake pan and flip the cake upside down. Tap the bottom of the cake pan a few times before taking the cake pan off. Drizzle reaming caramel sauce on top if you want and serve with ice cream.
How long will Apple Upside Down Cake last
The cake will last about 3 days if it lasts that long in your house. I keep mine on the counter unless it is summertime. In warmer climates, it is better to store the cake in the fridge to prevent mold, to prevent it easily just eat the whole apple cake right away!
Can I make an upside-down cake ahead of time
This cake is delicious. The cake was actually made the day before I wanted to serve it, so I just put a 12-inch skillet over medium heat and filled it halfway up with water and then placed the cake in the skillet to warm up- to loosen the caramel apples from the bottom of the pan. Then I cooked it for about 15-20 minutes then used my angled spatula or palette knife to loosen the sides and invert the cake onto the serving platter.
Another fall favorite I love is my Gingerbread Bundt Cake or my Caramel Apple Cheesecake Recipe.
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Caramel Apple Cake is a moist apple cake filled with apple chunks and brown sugar caramel that is baked with lots of brown sugar caramel apple slices. This cake will not disappoint any of your friends and family. The perfect cake recipe for your next party!
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8- 10 slices 1x
Ingredients
Caramel
- Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce or Storebought
Apple Cake
- 4 medium size Granny Smith apples
- 188 grams (1 ½ cups) All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 3 Large Eggs, at room temp.
- 150 grams (¾ cup) Light Brown Sugar
- 150 grams (¾ cup) Granulated Sugar
- 4oz (½ Cup/ 1 stick) Unsalted Butter, melted
- 1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 4oz (½ cup) Salted Caramel- homemade or storebought + more for serving/ drizzling
Instructions
Apple Cake
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 10 inch round cake pan at least 2 ½ inches deep.
- Peel and chop 4 medium-sized Granny Smith apples. Cut 2 apples into ½ inch slices and 2 into ¼ inch slices. In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan cook the salted caramel and the ½ inch apple slices for 4 minutes over low/ medium heat. Add in the remaining apple slice and stir until apples are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared pan.
- In a medium-sized bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer combine eggs and sugars for 3 minutes on medium speed, until very light. Add in the melted butter and vanilla extract.
- Slowly fold in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour batter on top of sliced apples in the cake pan. Drizzle salted caramel on top of the cake batter and use a knife to swirl it throughout. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack for 20 minutes then place a large serving plate on the top of cake pan and flip cake. Drizzle reaming caramel sauce on top if you want and serve with ice cream.
Notes
Adapted from Cooks Illustrated
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: upside down apple cake, caramel apple upside down cake, salted caramel apple cake
This upside-down caramel apple cake was originally published on October 30, 2013. The recipe and text have been updated.
Johlene says
Hey there! This looks devine! Great minds think alike (as they say) because I made something similar just this week.. please check it out on my blog if you like 🙂
Your photos are amazing!! Xx
Ashley says
I love the combination of caramel and apple! It's so so good! And this cake sounds and looks delicious - plus I always think upside down cakes just look so cool : )
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
Caramel and apples are my favorite combination!
Al says
Can you use dark brown sugar or only light? Does it take the brown sugar and butter a long time to get up to temp?
Elizabeth says
You could use dark brown sugar too, and it probably takes about 10 minutes or so, I haven't timed it so I am just going off memory. Be careful not to burn it though, watch it carefully because it can turn quickly. LMK if you try the cake Al, we loved it!!
Cristina says
Hi! Can I use different type of pan if I don't have a 10' round pan? Thank you!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Cristina, yes you could use a 8-inch or 9-inch cake pan just keep in mind it will take longer to bake. Let me know if you try the recipe and if you have any other quetsions. Look forward to hearing how you like it! XX Liz
Patricia DiGiacomo says
How do I make homemade salted caramel?
Elizabeth Waterson says
The recipe is here: https://confessionsofabakingqueen.com/salted-caramel-sauce/ please let me know if you try it how you like it!! Take care. XX Liz