This Caramel Apple Layer Cake is Autumn in cake form! A lightly spiced cake, with sweet frosting and caramel apples piled high on top; this is one seriously delicious and easy to make showstopper!
Hi guys, how was your weekend? Ours was busy; we had to do a Costco run on Saturday which is always fun… not. We had to spend a small fortune on stamps so that we could get our wedding party invites out! We then spent all Saturday afternoon making up the packs of invites and putting stamps on the RSVP envelopes and envelopes to send.
We managed to get quite a system going haha. Mr AN would cut string and place a little tag on it, I would stamp the envelopes and put the invite, RSVP and details cards together then tie the string around them as he got the next string lined up and licked the envelopes – my least favourite part of sending anything BLEURGH!!
I also made this Caramel Apple Layer Cake for my mum’s birthday; it’s a few days early, but Sunday was the only day we could all get together and go for a meal, so I was up at 7am Sunday finishing the cake off and photographing it for the blog!
I tell you what, my cakes are certainly well traveled 😀 😀 – and I’d like to think that I’ve become a pro at transporting them without too much risk of them breaking/falling over.
It must look a little strange to other people looking inside the car though, because I actually strap them into the back seat… but it keeps them secure!
I decided on a lightly spiced cake and contemplated putting some apples in between the layers of the cake, but then I thought a caramel frosting would be amazing, so I did that instead. For the topping I cooked chunks of apples in caramel sauce with a little cinnamon then piled them up on top of the cake.
Although this cake looks pretty, it’s so easy to make because there’s no frosting on the outside of the cake! Assembly takes around 10 minutes which is quite amazing for a layer cake – I’ve had some that take entire days to put together and decorate!!!
It’s honestly like somebody flicked a switch in this country and it became Autumn overnight. I’m not complaining, because I was already dreaming of caramel apple, apple spice, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread… you name it, if it was Autumnal, I was craving baking it. So it being chilly, dull and a bit rainy has made me want to bake even more and warm myself up by the oven!
Mr AN was the first to give in to the heating this year (surprisingly! It’s usually me) and turned it on yesterday morning when we got up! I love nothing more than being cosy when it’s cold out; bowls of homemade soup, warm and spicy baked goods, hot chocolate and a big dressing gown with fluffy slippers. I wouldn’t go out if I didn’t have to; I’d just stay indoors and wrap up!
I hope you enjoy this warming, sweet and spicy cake. There’s plenty more caramel apple and pumpkin recipes coming your way in the next few weeks!
Caramel Apple Layer Cake
This Caramel Apple Layer Cake is Autumn in cake form! A lightly spiced cake, with sweet frosting and caramel apples piled high on top; this is one seriously delicious and easy to make showstopper!
Ingredients
- For the cake:
- 1 stick (113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) caster sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups (350g) plain/all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk
- For the frosting:
- 3/4 stick (85g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (120g) icing/powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp caramel sauce
- 1/2 tbsp milk
- For the caramel apple topping:
- 3 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into small chunks. I used Pink Lady
- 1/2 cup (160g) caramel sauce, see note
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and grease and line two 8 inch round cake tins. Leave to one side.
Place butter and sugars into a large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer and beat until light and fluffy, around 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides as necessary, and mix on medium speed until well combined.
Place flour, baking powder, salt and spices into a medium sized bowl and stir briefly. Tip into your egg mixture and mix on low until the mixture starts to come together.
Add in the milk and turn the speed up to medium-high until you have a smooth, well combined mixture.
Divide the mixture between your two cake tins; I use a 1/2 cup measure to ensure an even amount of batter is in each cake tin.
Place in the oven for 23-28 minutes, until risen, lightly golden and an inserted skewer into the centre comes out clean.
Leave to cool in the pans completely before making the frosting; Place butter and icing sugar into a medium sized bowl and beat on low speed until the mixture starts to come together. Then add the caramel and continue mixing, gradually increasing speed until everything is combined.
Add in the milk, if required, and beat until you have a smooth, spreadable frosting.
Make the caramel apple topping: Place apple chunks, caramel sauce and cinnamon into a medium sized saucepan over a low heat.
Bring to a boil and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture has thickened slightly and the apples are fork tender. Leave to cool for 20 minutes before assembling the cake.
To assemble: Use a serrated knife or cake wire to level each cake. Place a small amount of frosting into the centre of a plate/cake board, then place one cake layer top side up.
Spread the frosting over the top of the cake into an even layer, then place the second cake layer bottom side up (it just makes sure you've got a flat top).
Spoon the apple mixture in the centre of the top of the cake. I piled it pretty high as I wanted to make it look pretty! I also spooned some of the caramel by the edges, so i t would run down the cake; completely up to you if you do this or not!
Once the apple mixture is on top; you're ready to serve! Caramel Apple Cake is best eaten the same day after you've put the caramel apples on top. Before that stage, you can make it the day before and keep it in the fridge.
This layer cake will keep covered, in the fridge for 4 days.
Recipe Notes
I used a thick caramel sauce like this one from DaVincis - make sure to use a thick caramel sauce, not a thin ice cream topper one otherwise your topping will be too runny.
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Annie is a self-taught baker, recipe developer and food photographer. When not in the kitchen, she can be found with her head in a book or jotting down recipe ideas! 
Hi Annie,
WOW!!! This recipe looks amazing, pinning it to my Pinterest board called Dessert Recipes and sharing it to my Facebook Page called @Munchkintime 😀 Thank you for sharing’!
Best wishes,
Love
Thank you SO much for sharing! Hope you’re having a great week 🙂
I love the “open face” concept on your cake. It’s so much more delicious without extra frosting.
Totally! Sometimes I can take lots of frosting, but other times I prefer a bit less as it can get a bit much!
This layer cake looks so good! I love the change of seasons exactly for this reason, more apple flavored desserts!
Me too; absolutely my favourite change of seasons!
Caramel. Apple. Cake. Ummm, does it get any better than this? I think not. This looks incredible!
Haha, thank you Karly; it’s one of my favourite combos!
the weather is a little weird here as well – today’s high is supposed to be in the mid 90’s and on Friday our high is going to be in the mid 70’s. I am not sure why we have such a crazy drop all of a sudden – not that I am complaining, I love this weather. And your cake will be perfect for this cool weekend. Thanks for the recipe. Blessings!
Thank you for stopping by Claudia! It’s been very up and down here too; it’s really hot today, but earlier in the week I was wrapped up in a coat!
I need tot ry making this! I love apple desserts and I’m going apple picking in a few weeks so I will absolutely be making this. It looks so delicious!
Hope you enjoy it when you do try it; I loved how easy it was to put together!
Oh my goodness, this looks absolutely delicious!! And so perfect for fall! I haven’t made too many layer cakes but I’m so tempted to give this one a try!
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel overwhelmed by layer cakes; like there’s so much that goes into it! This one is really easy though! 🙂
Yummy. I love that it’s not totally smothered in buttercream – lets your exceptional looking sponge stand out more.
Thank you so much! I think it makes a nice change from a fully covered cake! 😀
This looks amazing! I’d be so happy if someone made me a cake like this for my birthday. I’m sure your mum was very happy!
Thank you so much, I feel like I put so much pressure on myself to outdo the year before ha!
Oh my word, this sounds amazing!!! Love all the apple flavor packed into this dessert! Yum!
Thank you Sarah! 😀
WOW! I’ve been obsessed with apple cakes this year and this one looks amazing!
Me too, I cannot get enough apples!! Thank you so much 😀
Happy birthday to ya mum – what a fantastic cake to celebrate her birthday with – so love that thick layer of frosting and that delicious apple topping!
This cake is beautiful, I love apple desserts and I’d love a slice right now.
Your Caramel Apple Layer Cake looks fantastic, I sure would love a slice of this cake! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
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