Description
A moist and flavorful Apple Spice Cake infused with warm holiday spices and topped with a rich homemade caramel drizzle. This cake features tender apple pieces folded into a spiced batter and finished with a luscious buttercream and caramel sauce, perfect for festive gatherings or cozy desserts.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (360g)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon (4.6g)
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger (0.9g)
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (1g)
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice (1g)
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 tsp baking soda (4.6g)
- 1 tsp salt (6.3g)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (118.2mL)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (59mL)
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt (59mL)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar (192g)
- 3 large eggs
- 3 to 4 apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups or 3 cups total; Honeycrisp preferred)
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 pound confectioner’s sugar (453.5g)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (170g)
- 1/3 cup cream (79mL)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (14.7g)
Caramel Drizzle:
- 1 cup brown sugar (200g)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (71g)
- 1/2 cup cream or half-and-half (118.2mL)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (14.7mL)
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your cake pans or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, ground cloves, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, vegetable oil, plain yogurt, sugar, and eggs. Beat well until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing gently to avoid overworking the batter. Fold in the apple pieces carefully to distribute them throughout the batter.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Buttercream Frosting: Beat the room temperature butter until creamy. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar, alternating with cream, and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Prepare Caramel Drizzle: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir in the brown sugar and cook until it dissolves and the mixture bubbles lightly. Slowly add the cream or half-and-half, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, stirring constantly until smooth and slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Assemble the Cake: Spread a generous layer of buttercream frosting on the cooled cake. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top just before serving for a decadent finish.
Notes
- This apple spice cake is wonderfully moist thanks to the combination of oils, yogurt, and tender apple pieces.
- The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves creates a warm, festive flavor profile perfect for holiday occasions.
- The homemade caramel drizzle adds a rich, buttery sweetness that complements the spiced cake beautifully.
- Honeycrisp apples are preferred for their balanced sweetness and texture, but other apple varieties can be used depending on your preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 238 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 162 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
