Finally, here it is: the delicious apple cake I was bragging about a few weeks back and promised to share after I took some decent pics. These aren’t necessarily Instagram-worthy either, which isn’t a huge deal because I ain’t on Instagram. 😀 Although in my head, I take amazing pictures, then feel disappointed when I see them. It especially bothers me when the recipes tastes really yummy because this cake deserves lick-your-screen pictures.
The cake is flavorful and moist but the caramel frosting is what really brings it home. Seriously. It’s a slightly modified and ultra delicious version of the caramel frosting my Grandma V. used to make, which makes it extra special to me. Whenever you visited my Grandma, she always served you a slice of cake and a glass of weak Tang. I miss the cake (and her) but not the Tang so much. LOL!
This cake would also make a great addition to your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner too, which makes me feel less guilty about it taking so long to share the recipe with you. I was just waiting for the right time! 😀 Now I know pumpkin pie is tradition but not everyone loves it. And variety is the spice of life, right?
Apple Cake with Caramel Frosting
Serves 12
Cake Ingredients
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil*
- 1/3 cup apple sauce*
- 1 3/4 – 2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups peeled and finely chopped apples
Quick Caramel Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup milk (evaporated milk or heavy cream work too)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 to 2 cups powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a 9×13 cake pan with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and stir together. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce, eggs and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and stir until well mixed. (I used a hand mixer). Gently fold chopped apples into the batter.
- Pour cake batter into prepared baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
- To prepare frosting: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Once the mixture starts bubbling, boil for 1 minute without stirring. Remove pan from the heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt. Let cool for 15-20 minutes or until completely cooled*. With a hand or stand mixer, gradually add powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency. When cake is completely cool, spread frosting over the top. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
Special Notes
If you prefer, you can use 1 cup of vegetable oil and leave out of the applesauce. If you use really sweet apples, you may be able to get by with 1 3/4 cups sugar, but if you’re using more sour apples, don’t. 😀
You don’t need to let the brown sugar frosting mixture cool completely before adding powdered sugar but the mixture can’t be molten hot either. Otherwise, the sugar will just dissolve. Ask me how I know this. 😀
I love this cake almost as much as I love some of the historic wins we saw on Tuesday:
First openly gay man elected Governor; Two youngest women ever elected to Congress; First two Muslim women ever elected to Congress;. First two Native American women elected to Congress; Over 100 women elected to Congress for the first time in US History … to name just a few major victories. Yes, we lost some but we were never going to restore complete sanity in one election either. But the seeds of change we began to plant after Election 2016 are growing and flourishing and that, my friends, is good, positive change worthy of a huge piece of apple cake with caramel frosting.
Tanya
P.S. This post was intended for Thursday but I rescheduled after the #BorderLineShooting in Thousand Oaks, which is 50 miles or so from where I live because I didn’t want to talk about cake when so many people were hurting nearby. The glimmer of hope is we proved last Tuesday that the NRA is not invincible with many newly elected officials who openly believe in commonsense gun reform.
Oh gosh – its so scary when these shootings are so close, isn’t it? But “crazy” can live anywhere – & apparently its EVERYWHERE. … so sad.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I love trying new desserts & especially APPLE ones at that!
It is so scary because no place seems safe these days.
I hope you try this recipe Rebecca. It’s so so so good. And that frosting. Good heavens. I’m normally not a huge frosting fan but I LOVE the caramel frosting!
This looks absolutely delicious! I think your pictures totally do it justice! I might just have to make this for a Thanksgiving celebration. GREAT timing!
Thanks, Audrey! So many food bloggers are great photographers, which I am not. I don’t have that desire to really be one either. I just want to eat the food, if I’m being honest! LOL! I hope you make it for your Thanksgiving celebration. It’s so good. And you can easily make it the night before and it will taste great!
This looks so yummy!!!
Thanks, Mackenzie!