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3/4 of a caramel apple cake topped with chocolate balls on a white plate with white flowers in the background.
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5 from 1 vote

Baked's Caramel Apple Cake

Adapted from Baked Exploration's Salted Caramel Apple Cake.
Prep Time2 hours
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time3 hours
Servings: 1 3-layer 6-inch cake
Author: Erika Kwee

Ingredients

For the applesauce:

  • 2 large green apples peeled and diced (4 cups total)
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • squeeze of lemon

For the cake:

  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • scant 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • pinch cloves
  • pinch nutmeg
  • 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, at room temperature
  • 1 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2.5 cups homemade applesauce recipe below

For the caramel:

  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 4 tablespoons butter softened, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 3/4 cups heavy cream

For the caramel buttercream:

  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 2.5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cups whole milk
  • 2.5 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter soft and cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons caramel at room temperature more to taste

For the milk soak:

  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • <br>
  • Special equipment needed: 6" springform cake pan

Instructions

Make the applesauce:

  • Peel and dice the apples. Add to a medium saucepan with water, sugar and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, until apples are soft. Add a squeeze of lemon, let cool, and then mash with a fork or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Let cool.

Make the cake:

  • Grease a 9x13" pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.
  • In a large bowl, use an electric beater to beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until smooth.
  • Add the flour mixture to the mixer bowl in three parts, alternating with the applesauce, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl, then mix on low speed briefly until incorporated.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes until the surface springs back when you poke it with your finger or a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cake cool before removing from pan.
  • Optional: once cool, cut out 2 6" cake rounds using a 6" cake pan as a guide. Wrap tightly in plastic and freeze up to a week. Line the 6" cake pan with plastic wrap and place the remainder of the scraps in an even layer across the bottom of the pan to form a "third" cake layer. Fold the plastic wrap over the cake and freeze until use, up to one week.

Make the caramel:

  • In a small saucepan, add the sugar and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has melted. As soon as the sugar turns a deep amber color, remove from heat and stir in the butter and heavy cream. Let cool.

Make the frosting:

  • In a small saucepan, whisk the sugar and flour together. Add the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally until the mixture comes to a boil and has thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Transfer the mixture to the bowl either attached to a stand mixer or use an electric hand mixer. Beat on high speed until the mixture is cool to the touch (this will help keep the butter from melting. Reduce speed to low and add the butter and vanilla. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  • Add 3 tablespoons of caramel and continue beating until combined. If the frosting is too soft, put the bowl in the refrigerator to chill slightly, then beat again until it is the proper consistency. If the frosting is too firm, set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and beat with a wooden spoon until it is the proper consistency.

Make the milk soak:

  • Combine milk, cinnamon and vanilla until combined.

To assemble:

  • Cut the cake into two 6" rounds using a 6" cake ring or pan as a guide. Collect the remaining cake scraps to form the third layer of cake.
  • Line the 6" cake pan with plastic wrap and use as many cake scraps as needed in the pan to form a single, even layer. Mash down the scraps with your fingers until the layer is as flat as you can get it. Use a tablespoon to sprinkle 1/3 of the milk soak evenly across the layer. Split the remaining milk soak across both of the remaining cake layers.
  • Spread 1/3 of the frosting across the bottom layer of cake inside the pan. Place one of the full rounds of cake on top of the frosting. If one of your 2 cake rounds is prettier than the other, save it for the top. Spread another 1/3 of the frosting across the second layer of cake. Place the last round of cake down and finish with the last 1/3 of the frosting.
  • Freeze cake for at least three hours, or up to overnight. 2-3 hours before serving, place cake in fridge or at room temperature to thaw. Remove cake ring and drizzle with remaining caramel. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and serve!