Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing

This Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing is soft, moist, and filled with fresh apples and warm spices. Make it as an easy 9×13 cake or dress it up as a beautiful layer cake.

There’s something about apple season that makes me want to bake. After a trip to the apple orchard left me with plenty of apples, I was looking for something different to make besides our Rustic Skillet Apple Pie.

That’s how this Apple Spice Cake became a family favorite.

I’ve made this recipe in a 9×13 pan for casual get-togethers and in two 8-inch round pans when I wanted something a little more special. Both work beautifully. It really comes down to how fancy you want to get!

The fresh apples and applesauce keep the cake moist, while cinnamon and nutmeg give it that warm spice flavor we love. Then there’s the homemade caramel icing.

Oh, that icing.

It cooks on the stove in just a few minutes and can be used as a thinner caramel icing or turned into a thicker frosting for a layer cake.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Spice Cake Recipe

Fresh apples in every bite. Three cups of diced apples give this cake plenty of fresh apple flavor and texture.

Two tested pan options. Make an easy 9×13 cake for a casual dessert or two 8-inch layers for a special occasion.

No peeling required. I don’t peel the apples, which saves time and works perfectly in this cake.

Homemade caramel topping. Use it as a thinner caramel icing or add powdered sugar to make a thick, creamy caramel frosting.

Made from scratch. Simple baking ingredients come together to make a cake that looks and tastes special without being difficult to make.

Ingredients for Apple Spice Cake

You’ll find the exact amounts in the recipe card below, but there are a few ingredients worth talking about.

Fresh Apples

I’ve personally made this cake with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples, and both work well.

If you use another variety, choose a firm apple that will hold up during baking instead of becoming mushy.

There’s no need to peel the apples. Core them and dice them into pieces about ¼ to ½ inch.

I’m not standing over my cutting board with a ruler, and you don’t need to either. Just don’t leave the pieces too large.

Cake Flour

Cake flour helps give this apple spice cake a soft and tender crumb.

For this recipe, sift the cake flour before measuring it. Sifting adds air and changes the volume, so the order matters.

Buttermilk

Full-fat buttermilk adds moisture and helps create a tender cake.

Brown Sugar

I like dark brown sugar because its deeper flavor is delicious with apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel.

Applesauce

Applesauce adds even more moisture and apple flavor without adding more chunks of fruit.

How to Make Apple Spice Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Grease and flour either a 9×13-inch baking pan or two 8-inch round cake pans.

1. Combine the Dry Ingredients

Sift the cake flour and then measure 3 cups into a large bowl.

Add the white sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk the ingredients together.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the brown sugar, softened butter, applesauce, and buttermilk. Beat for 2 minutes.

Don’t worry if the butter looks a little separated at this point. It will come together when the wet and dry ingredients are combined.

Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.

3. Make the Cake Batter

With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Mix just until the batter is smooth. There’s no reason to keep beating it once everything is combined.

4. Add the Apples

Fold the diced apples into the batter with a spatula.

Keeping the apple pieces around ¼ to ½ inch helps distribute them throughout the cake without leaving large chunks.

5. Bake the Cake

Pour the batter into the prepared 9×13 pan or divide it evenly between the two 8-inch round pans.

Follow the baking times in the recipe card, but start checking the cake before the minimum baking time.

Ovens bake differently, and even the pan you use can affect the baking time.

The cake is done when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out without wet batter.

Should I Make a 9×13 Cake or Layer Cake?

I’ve made this apple spice cake both ways, and your best choice depends on the occasion.

For a quick and casual dessert, I use a 9×13-inch pan. Add the caramel icing right to the cooled cake and serve it from the same pan.

When I want something for a special occasion, I bake the cake in two 8-inch round pans. The layers make a pretty presentation and give me an excuse to use more of that delicious caramel frosting.

You don’t need a different recipe. The same batter works for both cakes.

How to Make Caramel Icing

The homemade caramel icing is one of my favorite things about this apple spice cake.

Before you start, have your ingredients measured and ready. This icing comes together quickly, and it’s not something you want to leave cooking while you go looking for the powdered sugar.

Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Once it boils, cook it for exactly 2 minutes, stirring continuously.

Those two minutes are important. Boiling helps the sugar melt, making the finished icing less likely to be grainy.

Don’t assume that longer is better. Cooking the mixture too long can make it hard or give it a burnt taste.

Add the milk and bring the mixture back to a boil. As soon as it boils again, remove the pan from the heat.

Stir in the sifted powdered sugar and vanilla.

Use the process photos as your guide for consistency. The icing should be smooth and spreadable.

What if the Caramel Icing Gets Too Thick?

Caramel icing thickens as it cools.

If yours gets too thick to spread, gently warm it until it returns to a spreadable consistency.

I like to make the icing after the cake comes out of the oven. The cake and icing can cool at the same time.

Caramel Icing vs. Caramel Frosting

You can make either version for this cake.

The caramel icing is thinner and develops that old-fashioned finish as it sets. I especially like it on the 9×13 cake.

To make caramel frosting, start with the same icing and add additional powdered sugar. Beat it until it’s lighter, thicker, and fluffy enough to spread.

The extra powdered sugar is also why the frosting is lighter in color than the caramel icing.

I like the thicker frosting for the layer cake because it’s easier to spread between the layers and around the top and sides.

How to Assemble the Apple Spice Layer Cake

Let both cake layers cool before removing them from the pans.

If the bottom layer has a rounded top, carefully trim it so the second layer will sit evenly.

Place the first layer on your serving plate and spread caramel frosting over the top.

Add the second cake layer and frost the top and sides.

Don’t worry about making every slice bakery-perfect. Those little pieces of fresh apple are part of what makes this homemade cake so good.

Tips for the Best Apple Spice Cake

Don’t peel the apples. I leave the peel on. It saves a step and works well in the finished cake.

Keep the apple pieces fairly small. Aim for roughly ¼ to ½ inch so you don’t have oversized chunks in your cake.

Choose a firm apple. I’ve tested Granny Smith and Honeycrisp. If you use another variety, choose a firm apple that holds up well when baked.

Sift, then measure the cake flour. The order matters because sifting changes the flour’s volume.

Don’t overmix the batter. Once the dry ingredients are incorporated, stop mixing.

Start checking the cake early. Baking times are a guide. Check your cake before the minimum listed time so you don’t accidentally overbake it.

Cool the cake before icing it. A warm cake can cause the caramel icing or frosting to melt.

Stick with the two-minute boil. It helps melt the sugar without overcooking the caramel mixture.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store the finished apple spice cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

The caramel frosting can also be made ahead. Cover and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.

If the frosting becomes too firm to spread, gently warm it until it reaches the right consistency.

You can also bake the cake a day before you need it and keep it covered. Add the caramel icing or frosting before serving.

More Apple and Spice Recipes

If a trip to the orchard leaves you with more apples than you know what to do with, that’s a problem I’m always happy to have.

Our Rustic Skillet Apple Pie is another cozy apple dessert, and these Apple Cinnamon Muffins are an easy choice for breakfast or brunch.

If you’re craving another cake filled with warm spices, our Spice Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting is an old-fashioned family favorite.

If you make this Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing, I’d love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment and a star rating below. Your feedback helps other readers know whether this recipe is right for them, too.

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This simple Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing recipe was first published on November 17, 2019. It has been updated to make it better for our readers. No changes were made to the actual recipe.