This beautiful apple cinnamon and caramel cake is perfectly spiced and delicious for everyday or for a special occasion. Two layers of cinnamon apple sponge cake sandwiched with cinnamon buttercream and caramel then topped with more caramel, it's the perfect cake for autumn baking.
If you've never tasted an apple cinnamon and caramel cake before then trust me, you are missing out! I know there are lots of delicious cakes out there, many of them involving apple, but if you add cinnamon to the apple it is just so much better and if you go one step further and add some smooth dulce de leche you will get the most yummy cake you have eaten in quite some time. Trust me.
Apple and cinnamon is a combination I love and even though most of my recipes are savoury, there are quite few apple and cinnamon recipes on this blog. Just take a look at Cinnamon Apple Cake, Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Scones, Apple and Cinnamon Crumble and yes, there are more, but I won't go on.
Although I have a lot of apple and cinnamon recipes on here, I think this is the first time I have added caramel into the mix too. Caramel is the perfect partner for an apple and cinnamon cake. It also makes the cake just that little bit more indulgent than it would otherwise have been.
And I guess I should apologise here too because this apple cinnamon and caramel cake really is indulgent. It isn't a cake to make in diet week. Unless you slice it very thinly and that is hard because you will definitely want a generous slice.
What is this easy cinnamon apple caramel cake like?
This cake is made up of two layers of moist light sponge cake with pieces of cinnamon coated apple in the cake. Between these two layers there is a drizzle (Or you could make it a blanket) of caramel or dulce de leche. It's sweet and sticky and goes perfectly with the deliciously smooth cinnamon buttercream that also snuggles in the middle of the cake!
On top of the cake there is another drizzle of dulce de leche. It finishes this easy apple caramel cake off perfectly.
Apple cake. Buttercream. Dulce de leche. The combination is sinfully good. It's a cake you won't want to share but also a cake that you won't be able to eat all to yourself.
Storing this cake
Unless you intend to eat this apple cinnamon and caramel cake all at once, it will keep for about 3 days. Just store it in a cool place in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Can you freeze this cake?
If you want to make this cake in advance and then freeze it, it is best to just freeze the apple sponge cake. Defrost the cake at room temperature and then decorate it after it comes out of the freezer.
Recipe for Cinnamon Apple and Caramel Cake
The recipe is adapted from Food Network.
Recipe
Cinnamon and Apple Caramel Cake
Ingredients
For the Apple Cinnamon Cake:
- 150 g brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 225 g butter room temperature
- 200 g white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 375 g plain flour
- 3.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 250 ml milk room temperature
- 2 apples
- 1 lemon juiced
For the Filling and Topping
- 4 tablespoon caramel or dulce de leche
For the Cinnamon Buttercream:
- 60 g unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 125 g icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Grease and line two 20cm cake tins.
- Peel and chop the apples then mix the lemon juice into the chopped apple so it doesn't go brown
- Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together and leave till later.
- Beat the butter and caster sugar together until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together then sift them into the bowl with the egg mixture. Stir in gently until fully incorporated. Mix in the milk until smooth.
- Put a quarter of the mixture into each tin. Sprinkle on a layer of apple then add the rest of the cake mixture. Top with the rest of the apple and the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake the cakes for about 40-50 minutes at 160C.
- Test they are ready by inserting a skewer which should come out clean.
- Turn the cakes out of the tins and leave them to cool on a wire rack.
- Spread a layer of caramel on one of the cakes.
- Make the buttercream by beating together all the buttercream ingredients. Spread the buttercream on top of the caramel. Top with the second cake.
- Heat some of the caramel in a bowl in the microwave. Drizzle it over the top of the cake.
Notes
Nutrition
More fruity bakes
Apple is so good in bakes but sometimes you want a change. If so, try one of these delicious berry filled bakes?
Anonymous
Has anyone actually made this cake there are a lot of yum mmm comments I’ve just made one it’s in the oven now needed to use perhaps a deeper pan as it looks like it’s going to drip over the edges.
Corina Blum
I can't speak for anyone else but I know I've made it a few times at least! I hope you like it as much as we do.
Jayne
Could you use Self Raising flour instead of plain and reduce the baking powder. It sounds amazing I love anything apple and cinnamon.
Corina Blum
Hi Jayne, yes you could just swap the plain flour for self-raising and miss out the baking powder. Or just add one teaspoon of baking powder as well as the self-raising. I hope you enjoy it! Do let me know.
Sonia
I love the flavors of apple and cinnamon together, then with the added bonus of caramel - I cannot wait to try this recipe!
Corina
I'm so pleased you like it! I'm remaking it this weekend to take to Cake Club and I'm really looking forward to eating it later today.
Sophie33
Ooh waw, this special cake looks absoluetly stunning & fantastic even! I will tweek it a bit to my needs & will use white spet flour in here too.
Corina
Definitely feel free to tweak it a little and let me know how it turns out. This was one of my favourite cakes!
bakingaddict
Please pass a large slice over! I love apple and cinnamon together and the addition of caramel sounds absolutely divine. Your cake looks so tasty especially the wedge slice. Thanks for entering AlphaBakes.
Corina
I'm so glad you like it! I really wish I still had some left, especially when I get a comment and it reminds me of it!
Jean
Looks and sounds delicious.....definitely a cake that's my cup of tea!
Corina
So glad you like it! It's one of my favourite cakes!
jennypaulin
ooooh this looks gorgeous! I love all of the elements to this cake x
Corina
Thank you!
Helen Costello (@CasaCostello)
This sounds a really hearty and tasty cake - Perfect for with a cuppa! Thanks again for joining in with #Bakeoftheweek
Corina
You're welcome! It was a lovely cake too!
Honest Mum (@HonestMummy)
Oh wow I love the flavour combination here! Caramel and apple are the perfect partners. Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Corina
You're welcome and thanks for hosting. It's always a great linky.
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
This sounds amazing Corina, as soon as I read the name of your recipe I let out a little 'Mmm' of appreciation. It sounds amazing, I love the apple and cinnamon combo and with the added caramel flavour it must be amazing. Pinning.
Angela x
Corina
Thank you! It was a lovely cake and I keep wishing I had some left every time I see the pictures!
Erin
Mmmmmm... you had me at dulce de leche....
Corina
So glad you like it!
Bunny Marie
I can't imagine a cake I would like more! Apple, cinnamon and caramel are some of my favorite flavors to bake with - if I made this I would end up eating the entire thing myself!
Corina
I have to admit I did eat more of it than I should have done! IT was so good!
ema
looks so delicious - such a classic combination and one of my favourites. Yum 🙂
Corina
Thank you so much!
Mandy Mazliah
You're right about apple and cinnamon but I have never thought to add dulce de leche before - my mouth is literally watering at the thought of it! #CookBlogShare
Corina
I'm so glad you like the idea of it! The dulce de leche goes so well with the apple and cinnamon.
Sarah Trivuncic, Maison Cupcake
That looks pleasingly sticky! Thanks for joining in with #BAKEoftheWEEK !
Corina
You're welcome! I would join in more often except that I rarely make cakes. However, I'm missing this one and thinking I need to bake something else soon so I've got something sweet to enjoy.
Midgie
I have to admit I am a bit of an apple & cinnamon addict, I love the combination on/in anything and this cake looks gorgeous!
Corina
Thank you! I can never resist apple and cinnamon either and now I'll have to stop myself from adding caramel too every time I make something with those flavours!
Dragons And Fairy Dust
This looks lovely. Loving the addition of caramel, that must taste amazing
Corina
IT did!
Eb Gargano
Your cake looks lovely. Totally agree about the apple and cinnamon thing...such great partners! Have made apple and cinnamon cakes before but never with caramel - I imagine it is totally fab, but, as you say, not the cake to make when you are on a diet! Eb x
Corina
Thank you Eb!
Martin @ The Why Chef
I only learnt about Dulce De Leche about a fortnight ago, and now I fear I've been seriously missing out! Love apple and cinnamon - favourite being in a crumble, but certainly going to be trying this cake as well (once I've made my first DDL)
Corina
I love it in a crumble too! So easy to make as well. Hope you enjoy this cake!