Caramel Apple Loaf Cake
This delicious caramel apple cake recipe works as the perfect fall dessert with a scoop of ice cream, as breakfast with a cup of coffee, or anytime for a cozy, seasonal treat!
This recipe would also fit nicely on most Thanksgiving dessert tables and checks the box if you’re looking for something simple but impressive to bring to a tailgate or football party! It’s similar to a caramel apple dump cake and almost as easy!
This is one of my oldest and dearest recipes and it’s perfect to usher in the apple season! I initially created this caramel apple cake years ago when I had my first apartment on my own. It seemed like everyone (else) in Seattle was obsessed with the Seahawks so I would take advantage of the quiet grocery store on game days and spend my Sunday cooking, baking and creating new recipes like this one!
Ingredients for Caramel Apple Loaf Cake
- KAMUT® White Flour or other All-Purpose White Flour
- Baking Powder
- Fine Salt
- Unsalted Butter
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Fresh Apples (preferably Granny Smith)
- Caramel Sauce
- Cooking Spray
Tools to Make Caramel Apple Loaf Cake
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Parchment Paper
- Loaf pan
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Peeler
- Knife
All About Ingredients for Caramel Apple Loaf Cake
Flour
I use KAMUT® White Flour for the vast majority of my baking (learn more about KAMUT® Brand Wheat here) but you can also use all-purpose flour. I write my recipes to work for for both!
Butter
If you are familiar with my cookie recipes, you know I often use cold butter. But for this recipe, you’ll want softened, room temperature, unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter in hand, use that instead! Just eliminate the added salt in the recipe or, if you like a salted caramel flavor, leave the added salt as written!
Apples
Granny Smith apples offer a nice tang which balances the sweetness but another apple variety will work if that’s all you have!
Caramel Sauce
Homemade or store-bought caramel sauce works great for this recipe! I have a hard time finding store-bought caramel sauce with ingredients I like so I plan to share my homemade caramel recipe soon!
How to Make Caramel Apple Loaf Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
Measure milk in a liquid measuring cup and set aside.
Peel and dice apples then set aside.
Stir together all dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Combine butter and both sugars and cream together in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer. When combined and smooth, add eggs one at a time, and mix on low until just combined. Add vanilla and mix on low until just combined.
Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients in a few batches and mix until just combined. Add milk and mix until just combined.
Remove from stand mixer or set hand mixer aside and stir chopped apples in by hand using a spatula or wooden spoon.
Pour half of the cake batter in to the prepared pan. Top with half (3 Tablespoons) of the caramel sauce. Add remaining cake batter and, finally, top with the remaining caramel sauce. Use a paring knife to swirl the caramel into the batter in a figure 8 pattern.
Bake in preheated oven for 55-65 minutes. Cake is finished baking when the top of the cake is golden brown and a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before removing the cake from the pan by lifting using the edges of the parchment paper. Serve warm or cool.
Recipe:
2 large or 3 small granny smith apples, diced small
1.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 TBS caramel, divided
½ cup milk
