The best part of this apple cake recipe isn’t the apples or even the warm caramel sauce. It’s the part nobody expects, and I could honestly eat it all by itself.

This easy apple cake recipe is loaded with fresh apples and warm spices, then served warm with homemade caramel sauce. It’s perfect for fall!

As the cake bakes, the top gets slightly caramelized and chewy, and it is ridiculously delicious. Add that warm caramel sauce and this fresh apple cake is pretty hard to beat.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cake Recipe

• Loaded with fresh apples: Three cups of apples keep every bite moist and full of apple flavor.
• That chewy, caramelized top: The top gets slightly chewy and caramelized as the cake bakes, and it might be my favorite part.
• Warm fall spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves give this apple cake that classic, old fashioned flavor.
• Easy homemade caramel sauce: The warm caramel sauce takes the cake completely over the top.
• No fancy decorating: Bake it in one pan, spoon caramel over each serving and you’re done!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Apple Cake

• Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create that irresistible, slightly caramelized top.
• Brown Sugar: Adds extra moisture and a deeper, caramel-like sweetness.
• Butter: Gives the apple cake a rich flavor and tender texture. Make sure it’s softened for easy mixing.
• Eggs: Add structure, richness and moisture to the cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and enhances all those apple and spice flavors.
• Flour: All-purpose flour gives the cake its structure while keeping it soft and tender.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out all the other flavors.
• Nutmeg: Adds a warm, slightly nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with apples.
• Cinnamon: The must-have apple spice! It adds warmth and that classic fall flavor.
• Ground Cloves: Just a little adds a deep layer of warm spice without overpowering the apples.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cake rise and contributes to its tender texture.
• Baking Powder: Gives the cake additional lift so it doesn’t become too dense.
• Apples: Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples work great here. Granny Smith brings a tart contrast to the sweet cake, while Honeycrisp adds a sweeter, juicy crunch.

For the Caramel Sauce

• Brown Sugar: Creates the deep caramel flavor and gives the sauce its beautiful color.
• White Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a smooth caramel sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Makes the caramel rich, creamy and silky. Whole milk works too if that’s what you have on hand!
• Butter: Adds richness and gives the caramel sauce that luscious, buttery flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds another layer of warm, sweet flavor to the caramel.
• Fine Sea Salt: Balances all the sweetness and makes the caramel flavor really pop.

Best Apples to Use for Apple Cake

The best apples for apple cake are firm apples that hold their shape while baking and have enough tartness to balance the sweetness of the cake.

Granny Smith apples are our favorite because they’re firm and tart. Honeycrisp apples are another great option if you prefer a sweeter apple flavor with plenty of crunch. We use the same apples in our homemade apple pie and apple crisp, so if you have extras, you know what to make next!

You can also use a combination of the two. Avoid very soft apples, which can become mushy as the cake bakes.

How to Make This Apple Cake Recipe

This apple cake comes together in just a few simple steps, and you can make the caramel sauce while the cake is in the oven.

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8×11-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cream the butter and sugars: Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the softened butter, sugar and brown sugar until smooth.
3. Add the wet ingredients: Mix in the eggs and vanilla until just combined.
4. Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and baking powder.
5. Make the batter: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the apples with a rubber spatula.
6. Bake: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Ours takes about 40 minutes.

How to Make Caramel Sauce

1. Combine: While the cake bakes, combine the brown sugar, white sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until smooth.
2. Simmer: Bring the caramel to a gentle boil and stir for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat.
3. Serve: Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes, then slice and serve with the warm caramel sauce.

PRO TIP: No heavy cream? Whole milk works! I accidentally grabbed whole milk instead of heavy cream when testing the caramel sauce, and it still turned out delicious.

Apple Cake Troubleshooting

Storing and Reheating

The apple cake can be kept covered at room temperature for a day or two. For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator. Store the caramel sauce separately in the refrigerator.

Reheat individual slices of cake in the microwave until just warm, then drizzle with reheated caramel sauce before serving.

The caramel sauce will thicken as it cools. Gently warm it in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat until it’s smooth and pourable again.

Apple Cake FAQs

If you would rather have caramel frosting instead of sauce, try our apple cake with caramel frosting.

There’s just something about a warm, apple cake with caramel sauce that feels like fall. This apple cake recipe is loaded with fresh apples and warm spices, but that slightly chewy, caramelized top is what keeps me coming back for another bite. Add a generous drizzle of warm homemade caramel sauce and you have the kind of simple, nostalgic dessert everyone gathers around.

More Easy Apple Desserts: 

• Easy Apple Dumplings
• Caramel Apple Sweet Rolls
• Apple Coffee Cake Muffins
• Jewish Apple Cake
• Apple Crisp Cookies

Watch How This Apple Cake Recipe is Made…