There’s nothing quite like the smell of a homemade fall apple cake baking in your oven. Today, I’m sharing my favourite caramel apple snack cake, which combines tender cake with sweet-tart apples and a dreamy caramel topping. This caramel apple dessert is perfect for cosy autumn afternoons! For more fall baking inspiration, our readers also highly recommend trying our classic Apple Bundt Cake for another seasonal favourite.
What Makes This Apple Snack Cake Recipe Special
You’ll adore this apple dessert with caramel because it’s incredibly moist, packed with fresh apples, and topped with rich caramel sauce. This caramel apple snack cake is simple for beginners but impressive enough for the company!
Key Ingredients
For the Cake:
- Butter – 1 cup (2 sticks), unsalted and melted to create a rich, moist texture. Let it cool slightly before using.
- Light Brown Sugar – 1¾ cups, packed down firmly. This adds moisture and a wonderful caramel note.
- Eggs: Two large whole eggs and one egg yolk were brought to room temperature for better mixing. The extra yolk adds richness.
- Pure Vanilla Extract – 1 teaspoon; use real Vanilla for the best flavour.
- All-Purpose Flour – 2½ cups, measured by spooning into measuring cups and levelling off.
- Cornstarch – 2 teaspoons. This is our secret ingredient for an extra tender crumb.
- Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon, ensure it’s fresh for proper rise.
- Kosher Salt – 1 teaspoon to enhance all the flavours.
- Apple Pie Spice – ½ teaspoon, or blend with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
- Granny Smith Apples – 2 medium (yields about 2¼ cups when diced), chosen for their tartness and ability to hold shape while baking.
For Topping:
- High-quality caramel sauce – enough for drizzling (about ½ cup)
Special Equipment:
- 8×8-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper or cooking spray
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Apple peeler and sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
Make It Your Own
You can customize this cake in several ways:
- Switch up the apples: Try Honeycrisp for extra sweetness or Pink Lady for more tang
- Add chopped nuts: Pecans or walnuts work beautifully
- Spice it up: Include cinnamon nutmeg or increase the apple pie spice
- Try different toppings: Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or both!
Storing Your Caramel Apple Cake
- Room temperature: Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- Refrigerator: Extends freshness to 5-6 days
- Freezer: Wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months (freeze without caramel sauce)
- Pro tip: Warm individual slices briefly before serving leftover cake
Best Season for Your Fall Apple Dessert
This cake shines during apple season (September through November,r), when fresh apples peak. I love making this on crisp fall weekends when the windows open and the leaves turn. It’s the perfect treat to serve at autumn gatherings or to enjoy with your afternoon coffee.
Remember to let the cake cool completely before adding the caramel sauce. Patience will reward you with the perfect texture and presentation. Happy baking!
More Recipes You’ll Enjoy:
PrintTrendy Caramel Apple Snack Cake for Fall
- Total Time: 2 hours (includes cooling time)
- Yield: 9–12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- Butter – 1 cup (2 sticks), unsalted and melted to create a rich, moist texture. Let it cool slightly before using.
- Light Brown Sugar – 1¾ cups, packed down firmly. This adds moisture and a wonderful caramel note.
- Eggs – 2 large whole eggs plus 1 egg yolk, brought to room temperature for better mixing. The extra yolk adds richness.
- Pure Vanilla Extract – 1 teaspoon; use real vanilla for the best flavour.
- All-Purpose Flour – 2½ cups, measured by spooning into measuring cups and levelling off.
- Cornstarch – 2 teaspoons. This is our secret ingredient for an extra tender crumb.
- Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon, ensure it’s fresh for proper rise.
- Kosher Salt – 1 teaspoon to enhance all the flavours.
- Apple Pie Spice – ½ teaspoon, or blend with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
- Granny Smith Apples – 2 medium (yields about 2¼ cups when diced), chosen for their tartness and ability to hold shape while baking.
For Topping:
- High-quality caramel sauce – enough for drizzling (about ½ cup)
Special Equipment:
- 8×8-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper or cooking spray
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Apple peeler and sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions
- Preparation Steps (15 minutes):
- Position your oven rack in the centre and preheat to 350°F
- Line your 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal, or spray thoroughly with cooking spray
- Peel, core, and dice your apples into small ¼-inch pieces
- Gather all ingredients and let eggs come to room temperature
- Making the Batter (20 minutes):
- Start with Wet Ingredients:
- Pour melted butter into a large mixing bowl
- Add brown sugar and whisk until smooth and no lumps remain
- Beat in eggs and extra yolk one at a time, mixing for 30 seconds after each
- Stir in vanilla extract until well blended
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and apple pie spice
- This ensures even distribution of leavening agents
- Combine and Finish:
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in three portions, mixing gently until just combined
- Use a folding motion to avoid overmixing
- When just a few streaks of flour remain, add the diced apples
- Fold gently until apples are evenly distributed
- Start with Wet Ingredients:
- Baking Process (50-55 minutes):
- Scrape batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly with a spatula
- Smooth the top gently
- Place in preheated oven
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through
- Test doneness with a toothpick – it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs
- Look for golden brown edges and a set centre that springs back when lightly touched
- Finishing Touches:
- Cool in a pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack
- If using parchment, lift the cake out to cool completely
- Once fully cooled (about 2 hours), drizzle generously with caramel sauce
- For clean slices, refrigerate for 30 minutes after adding caramel
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (based on 12 servings)
- Calories: 330 calories
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 80mg