Caramel Apple Cake is a sweet, moist sheet cake loaded with tender apples and topped with gooey caramel glaze...the perfect fall dessert for feeding a crowd!
I have a quick question for y'all...do you prefer pumpkin desserts or apple desserts this time of year? I'd have to say that myself and my household are pretty evenly split. We love them both!
Though I do feel like there are certain months -- namely, September through November -- that I'll bake with pumpkin. Apple, on the other hand, I deem to be acceptable year-round.
So lucky for me...and for you...and for ALL of us...this Caramel Apple Cake is perfect for these cool, crisp, "official" months of autumn. But it's equally delicious if you get a hankering for apple cake come June!
What is a Texas Sheet Cake?
Like all true Texas sheet cakes, this one is made in a big ol' sheet pan, resulting in a giant -- albeit thin -- cake.
Texas sheet cakes are also known for being pretty darn sweet, so that means the odds are good that a small slice of cake'll do you.
And I bet we can all do the math that a big cake cut into small slices equals a whole bunch of servings.
(As a small aside, no need to comment or e-mail me saying this cake is too sweet. It's a Texas sheet cake, world renowned for being sweet. Small slices are encouraged. Please plan accordingly -- ha.)
My Lemon Texas Sheet Cake was so popular this past summer that I decided it only makes sense to now bring y'all a fall-friendly flavor.
And as I always do for my sheet cake variations, I adapted today's recipe from my beloved white Texas sheet cake recipe, except I reduced the amount of batter just a bit to allow for all of those yummy apple chunks without overflowing the pan.
Caramel Apple Cake Tips
I'm not kidding when I say this Caramel Apple Cake turns out suuuper moist. Texas sheet cakes are always moist, mind you, but the apples in this one make it even more so.
The Best Apples to Use
I recommend using firm, crunchy apples in this cake for the best texture (so they don't cook down into mush).
I had Pink Ladies on hand, so that's what I used and they worked beautifully.
That being said, next time I'd probably go for a tarter variety of apple (like Granny Smith) since the cake is already so sweet.
For a Salted Caramel Twist
And to further offset the sweetness of this apple cake and its caramel glaze, I'd highly recommend sprinkling each slice of cake with a few flakes of sea salt just before serving.
If you're into salted caramel, you will especially love this garnish.
But even if you're not, I think you'll agree that the contrast of sweet and salty adds a whole new flavor profile to this cake!
So YAY for apple season! Caramel Apple Cake is a must-make dessert this fall, ladies and gents...or any other time you're craving a decadent, addictive, apple dessert.
Read on below for even more hints for success and I hope you ENJOY!
Helpful Tips, Tricks, & Equipment
- The sheet pan used for this recipe measures 18- by 13- inches with a 1-inch rim, commonly referred to a half sheet pan.
- For the best texture and flavor, I recommend using Granny Smiths in this cake (or another tart, firm apple variety).
- You may use salted or unsalted butter in the cake and glaze...whatever you prefer or have on hand will work fine.
- The key to avoiding lumps in the batter is quickly stirring in one ingredient at a time until smooth. I like to use a wooden spoon.
- The sour cream considerably cools down the batter, but just to be safe, I usually crack the eggs into a separate bowl and temper them (whisk them and then gradually stir in some of the warm batter). Then I scrape all of the tempered egg mixture into the pot and quickly stir it into the batter. This helps ensure that the eggs won’t scramble when they hit the warm batter.
- Pour the glaze over the top of the cake and immediately spread it into an even layer (an offset spatula makes this job easier). The layer of glaze will be thin, but it’s sweet enough that that’s all the cake needs!
- Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap (I prefer Press ‘n Seal). Pull the plastic wrap taut and store the cake in the refrigerator. If you want to increase the odds that the plastic wrap doesn’t stick to the glaze, use a few small, thin pieces of apple to garnish the top of the cake. This will provide a higher “layer” that the plastic wrap can rest on without touching the glaze.
- If you're into salted caramel, I highly recommend sprinkling each slice with a few flakes of salt just before serving.
- I'm usually lazy about sifting powdered sugar. But for this recipe I recommend it, because if there are lumps in your powdered sugar, your glaze will also turn out lumpy. If you accidentally forget to sift though, you can simply pour your lumpy glaze onto the cake through a fine mesh sieve (to catch any lumps) and nobody will ever be the wiser. Ask me how I know...?
- As as alternative to the caramel glaze, you could instead frost this cake with cream cheese frosting, and even mix in 1 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, if you wish. Say hello to Apple Cinnamon Sheet Cake!
More Yummy Apple Desserts
Caramel Apple Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 (small-to-medium) crunchy, tart apples (such as Granny Smiths), peeled & diced (for about 2 cups total)
FOR THE GLAZE:
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup half-and-half
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- _
- Flaked sea salt, optional garnish
Instructions
- Adjust the rack to the center position of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a rimmed 18x13x1-inch half sheet pan with softened butter.
- In a large pot set set over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the water, increase the heat, and bring to a boil. Remove pot from the heat and briskly stir in the flour until smooth, followed by the sugar, cinnamon, and sour cream. Stir in the eggs until fully incorporated (temper them first if the batter is still hot). Mix in the vanilla. Then sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the top of the batter (make sure there are no lumps!) and stir them in until all ingredients are well blended. Fold in the diced apples.
- Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan and smooth the top. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Set cake pan on a wire rack to cool.
- While the cake cools, make the glaze. Place a medium pot over medium heat and add the butter, brown sugar, and salt. Stir over medium heat until smooth and melted, then bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Remove the pot from the heat and carefully stir in the half-and half. Return the pot to the heat and bring to another boil, stirring frequently. Remove the pot from the heat once more and stir in the sifted powdered sugar and the vanilla until smooth. Immediately pour the glaze over the cooling cake and spread into a thin, even layer.
- Allow the glaze to set (at room temperature or uncovered in the refrigerator) before slicing. Sprinkle individual slices with flakes of salt before serving, if desired. Cover tightly and refrigerate any leftovers.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Post originally published on October 12, 2018.
Jeannine
It was good but much too sugary. I halved the sugar in the cake and it was delicious. (my apples were more sweet than tart.) It would have been perfect alone. For the glaze I only omitted about a half cup of powdered sugar. It was still so sweet I almost couldn't eat it. I would suggest using half the powdered sugar. The dessert was really yummy, moist, people still are the whole thing because it was such a good cake.
Samantha Skaggs
It is definitely a sweet cake, particularly if you use sweet apples. 🙂 I'm glad you were able to reduce the sugar to your liking!
Kristin
My batter was super thick i couldnt pour it. Is that right or did i do something wrong??
Samantha Skaggs
This batter is thicker than typical cake batter. But you should be able to pour it into the pan and then spread it/smooth it out with a spatula. If it was too thick to pour, there may have been an issue with your ingredient measurements, such as the flour could have been packed too tightly into your measuring cup? But I hope your cake turned out tasty despite the batter texture!
Cathy Devers
This Carmel Apple Cake is absolutely delicious!! My family loved it and either ate it here or took most of the rest home. I want to try it with your method of making the icing as I had the recipe on Pinterest on my phone and my husband took the phone with him. I had just written down the ingredients so I made the icing the usual way which was good but your way looked really yummy.
Sarah
This looks so yummy! Can this be made with gluten free all purpose flour? I want to make it so bad but I’m gluten free. Thanks
Samantha Skaggs
Hi Sarah! I'm so sorry I can't give you an answer, but I have not tried making this recipe with gluten-free flour. My experience with GF flour is that it usually works in a cake, but it doesn't always rise as well or taste the same. That being said, please let us know how it turns out if you decide to give it a try! 🙂
Lorr
I’m so sorry because I know it totally goes against the fact that this is a “sheet “ cake recipe that you’ve no doubt worked hard to develop, but any thoughts on making it an 8” or 9” square or 13” x 9”? Your presentation and photography are absolutely gorgeous!!
Tess
OMG, AMAZING!! So yummy!! Thanks for sharing it. Have a great day!