Apple Upside Down Cake
Apple Upside Down Cake is a delicious from scratch cake made in a cast iron skillet with caramelized walnuts and a fluffy spice cake. This is sure to be your new favorite dessert! So simple to make and perfect for the holidays or any occasion!
Apple Upside Down Cake
Apple Desserts are so irresistible. Easy Apple Cobbler is always a hit with the crowd and you just can’t go wrong with a slice of Apple Crumb Pie. These Fried Apple Hand Pies have a fluffy and flaky crust and are dipped in a sweet icing. So good!
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Just take me to the recipe! The full printable recipe card is found at the very bottom of the post, just keep scrolling to print it out now. Otherwise, read on for the step by step photos to making an upside down cake from scratch.
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How to Make an Apple Upside Down Cake:
- Place a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add a stick of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Stir with a wooden spoon constantly, about 5 minutes until brown sugar is completely melted.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
- Peel, core and slice 2 medium apples. Thin slices are best.
- Layer apple slices over walnuts in a single layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
- Add eggs, milk and melted butter.
- Mix well using a whisk, until smooth.
- Pour batter over sliced apples.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes.
- Allow cake to cool 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving dish.
- Drizzle with additional caramel and sprinkle with flake sea salt if desired.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips for Making an Apple Upside Down Cake:
- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a 9″ x 9″ square or 9 inch round cake pan will work. You will just make your butter and brown sugar mixture in a saucepan and pour into the baking pan.
- Place skillet or baking pan on a rimmed cookie sheet when baking. This will catch any over flow of the caramel as it bakes.
- If your walnut topping sticks to the skillet or the pan, just gently scrape it off and add it to the top of the cake. No one will ever know!
- If your cake starts to get too brown on top, just loosely cover with foil until cake has baked through.
- Chopped pecans can be used in place of the walnuts if desired.
- Store Apple Upside Down Cake covered in the refrigerator if not serving immediately. Cake should be brought to room temperature before serving.
- Apple Upside Down Cake is best served within 2 days.
My mother in law suggested the idea of an apple upside down cake with walnuts. I had to try it immediately. It’s seriously one of the best cakes that I’ve ever made. It’s one we will be enjoying again and again.
Add this easy Apple Upside Down Cake to your list! It would be a great addition to Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas holidays. A great dessert for any special occasion.
More Apple Desserts to Try:
- Fresh Apple Cake comes right from my mom’s recipe box and it’s so moist and delicious. Loaded with fall flavors!
- Apple Fritter Cake is a super easy loaf cake filled with apples and cinnamon and sugar. All topped off with a drizzle of powdered sugar icing!
- Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecakes are topped with gooey caramel and toasted pecans, perfect for holiday parties and celebrations.
- Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Shooters are served up in individual glasses, so pretty for entertaining!
- Apple Pie Taquitos are absolutely delicious and a great addition to taco night! Simple to make and delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- No Bake Cinnamon Cheesecakes with Caramel Apples are super easy and great for entertaining.
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If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a five star review, and be sure to help me share on Pinterest!
Apple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
For the Apple Layer
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 medium apples
For the Cake Layer
- 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2 large eggs
For topping
- 2 tablespoons caramel sauce optional
- 1/2 teaspoon flake sea salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Melt butter in a 10 inch cast iron skillet with brown sugar over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Stirring constantly until brown sugar is melted.
- Remove from heat and top with chopped walnuts.
- Peel, core and thinly slice apples. Spread apples in a single layer over walnuts.
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
- Add milk, melted butter and eggs. Mix with a wire whisk until smooth.
- Pour over apples and smooth in an even layer.
- Place skillet on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow of the caramel layer.
- Bake for 45- 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool 15 minutes.
- Place a serving plate over the top of the skillet and while holding both sides, invert cake onto cake plate.
- If any walnuts or caramelized sauce sticks to skillet, just carefully scrape from skillet and place on cake.
- Cake can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Cover and refrigerate leftovers. Best if eaten within 2 days.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe is very easy and a great way to use up leftover apples. I thought a whole teaspoon of cinnamon in with the apples, butter and sugar might be a little overpowering so I lowered it to a quarter teaspoon and it was perfect with the spiced cake. My family told me this was a do-over so it’s been added to my recipe book.
Hi Maria,
I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it!
~ Milisa
I would love to try new recipes!
This cake is delicious. Seriously — make this. You won’t regret it!!
I made mine with pecans and half the sugar in the cake batter part. Added nutmeg, ginger and cloves for a more spiced flavor.
Hi Cheyenne,
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by to share your additions.
~ Milisa