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    Home » Dessert Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Salted Caramel Apple Cake with Toasted Walnuts

    Published: Sep 25, 2017 Last updated: Sep 8, 2022 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    A dense vanilla flavored cake batter with apple slices nested and baked in the batter then topped with a salted caramel drizzle and toasted walnuts.
    Pin image for salted caramel apple cake.

    This Salted Caramel Apple Cake is the perfect fall treat with a dense cake that has apple slices baked right in. This easy recipe is topped with caramel sauce and toasted walnuts with a finishing touch of fleur de sel.

    Overhead shot of a baked cake topped with caramel and walnuts on a green platter.

    I make this lightly spiced apple cake recipe every fall as soon as the apple orchard is producing fresh apples. It makes a great special dessert for guests, or a fall birthday cake for that special someone.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love it
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍽 EQUIPMENT
    • 🥫Storage
    • 📖 Variations
    • 💭 Tips
    • 📚 Related Recipes
    • 🍽 Serve with...
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why you'll love it

    ✔️ This decadent Salted Caramel Apple Cake will serve up to 12 people and makes a great birthday cake or Sunday dinner cake.

    ✔️ The cake batter bakes around the apples in the top of the cake and the salted caramel sauce nestles into any holes next to the apples.

    ✔️ It is a single layer scratch cake that will impress guests.

    A stack of 4 red apples.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Toasted walnuts, see tip on how to quickly and effortlessly toast walnuts in the air fryer.

    Grey sea salt, I love the packaging for these sea salts, and they last a long time as well.

    Caramels, this is the brand of caramels I like to use. They also have these caramel bits that are easy to substitute (they don't need to be unwrapped).

    Heavy cream, this is the ingredient that will smooth out and thin down the caramels.

    Granulated sugar, room temperature butter, vanilla extract, and large eggs make the wet portion of the cake batter.

    All purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt are whisked together and added to the butter mixture alternately with the sour cream.

    Sour cream is added alternately with the flour mixture to the wet batter.

    A hand pressing an apple slice into the cake batter.

    🔪 Instructions

    For the cake

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Lightly grease a 9" round cake pan at least 2" deep; or a 9" springform pan.
    • In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat together the sugar, butter, and vanilla on medium high speed until smooth and creamy.
    • Add the eggs to the butter mixture 1 at a time. Beat till thoroughly combined.
    • In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine.
    • Stir the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with the sour cream, using low speed on the mixer. The batter will be stiff.
    • Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to even out as much as possible.

    For the apple filling

    • Place the apple wedges in a medium bowl and add the sugar and cinnamon. Toss the apple mixture with the vanilla until apples are thoroughly coated.
    • Arrange apples on top of cake batter, pushing them into the batter gently so they're partially submerged.
    • Bake the cake for 65 minutes, till it's golden brown on top and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
    • Remove the cake from the oven, and turn it out onto a wire rack apple-side up. Cool completely.

    For the salted caramel topping

    • Place the caramels and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat until the cream is showing bubbles, and the caramel is soft. Stir the caramel and cream until smooth. (I did this in 3-30 second intervals)
    • Spoon the caramel over the cooled cake, dripping it down into the crevices around the apples.
    • Scatter the walnuts on top. Sprinkle lightly with very coarse sea salt flakes if desired.
    Baked cake in a red springform pan with the apple slices in a circle around the top of the cake.

    🍽 EQUIPMENT

    Electric Hand Mixer, this is the one I own.

    Large mixing bowls, one for the dry mixture and one for the wet mixture.

    Springform cake pan for easy release. I use one similar to this one.

    🥫Storage

    Store cake in an airtight container on the counter up to 4 days, in the fridge up to 1 week, and in the freezer up to 3 months.

    📖 Variations

    • Substitute pear slices for the apple slices.
    • Use a purchased caramel sauce or dulce de leche in place of making the homemade caramel topping.
    • Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream.
    Salted Caramel Apple Cake on a green cake plate.


    💭 Tips

    • Use a springform pan to bake the cake. This allows the cake to easily be removed whole from the pan.
    • Toast the walnuts in the air fryer. It only takes about 2 minutes on the air fry setting and 400 degree temperature.
    • I do not recommend using lower fat sour cream for this recipe. Doing so may cause a dry cake.

    📚 Related Recipes

    Everyone loves these Chocolate Coated Caramel Apples!

    Caramel Apple Cheese Danish is a perfect brunch recipe.

    Try these Apple Dumplings with Salted Caramel Rum Sauce for your next family dinner.

    Salted caramel fans will LOVE these Sweet and Salty Caramel Popcorn Balls.

    🍽 Serve with...

    Serve this Caramel Apple Cake recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

    A slice of caramel apple cake with salted caramel and toasted walnut topping with the whole cake blurred in the background.

    Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!

    When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

    If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating

    📖 Recipe

    Salted Caramel Apple Cake with Toasted Walnuts

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    A dense vanilla flavored cake batter with apple slices nested and baked in the batter then topped with a salted caramel drizzle and toasted walnuts.
    4.67 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 25 mins
    Course Desserts
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 394 kcal

    Equipment

    • Electric hand mixer
    • Springform cake pan
    • mixing bowls
    • Rubber scraper

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    FOR THE TOPPING

    • ½ cup walnuts
    • 1 teaspoon grey sea salt
    • 20 caramels
    • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

    FOR THE CAKE

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup butter
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1¾ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 2 cups flour

    FOR THE FILLING

    • 2 large apples peeled, cored, cut into 8 wedges each
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup sour cream

    Instructions
     

    For the cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350.
    • Lightly grease a 9" round cake pan at least 2" deep; or a 9" springform pan.
    • In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat together the sugar, butter, and vanilla on medium high speed until smooth and creamy.
    • Add the eggs 1 at a time. Beat till thoroughly combined.
    • In another large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine.
    • Stir the flour mixture to the egg mixture alternately with the sour cream, using low speed on the mixer. The batter will be stiff.
    • Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to even out as much as possible.

    For the apple filling

    • Plass the apple wedges in a mixing bowl and add the sugar Toss the apple wedges with the sugar and vanilla until apples are thoroughly coated.
    • Arrange the apples on top of the cake batter, pushing them into the batter gently so they're partially submerged.
    • Bake the cake for 65 minutes till it's golden brown on top and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
    • Remove the cake from the oven, and turn it out onto a rack, apple-side up.

    For the caramel topping

    • Place the caramels and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat until the cream is showing bubbles, and the caramel is soft. Stir the caramel and cream until smooth. (I did this in 3-30 second intervals)
    • Spoon the caramel over the cake, dripping it down into the crevices around the apples.
    • Scatter the walnuts on top. Sprinkle lightly with very coarse sea salt flakes if desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 394kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 5gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 489mgPotassium: 163mgFiber: 2gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 479IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Salted Caramel Apple Cake
    Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy

      September 28, 2017 at 11:37 pm

      That is one decadent looking apple cake! I love the salted caramel drizzled over it! Yum!

      Reply
    2. Lauren

      September 27, 2017 at 1:06 am

      The way this cake bakes yields the most elegant looking dessert, ever! I can't wait to make this cake, soon.

      Reply
    3. Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

      September 26, 2017 at 2:19 pm

      What a gorgeous Cake! Just in time for fall!

      Reply
    4. Heather

      September 26, 2017 at 1:14 pm

      Apple muffins with chai spice -- making this afternoon!

      Reply
    5. Ashley

      September 26, 2017 at 11:06 am

      What an absolutely delicious looking cake!

      Reply
    6. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)

      September 26, 2017 at 11:05 am

      Lovely timely fall recipe!! Looks delicious!!!

      Reply
    7. Nichole

      September 26, 2017 at 10:47 am

      Such a beautiful cake packed full of so many great flavors! I can't wait to make this! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Lise at Mom Loves Baking

      September 26, 2017 at 7:56 am

      Lovely cake!

      Reply
    9. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

      September 26, 2017 at 12:09 am

      Absolutely beautiful! I love how you put full slices into the cake.

      Reply
    10. Ellen

      September 25, 2017 at 9:04 pm

      This is such a pretty cake. Sure to impress any dinner guests. It looks delicious.

      Reply
    11. Jan Thomas

      September 25, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      I've been waiting for this recipe since I say the photo a few weeks ago! Thanks for sharing it with us at our apple recipe round up for #appleweek at #celebrate365 blog party!

      Reply
    12. Kristen Chidsey

      September 25, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      The grey sea salt takes this already delicious cake to a whole new level!

      Reply
    13. Carlee

      September 25, 2017 at 6:09 pm

      This looks absolutely amazing! What a perfect fall treat and a great way to kick off AppleWeek!

      Reply
    14. Jillian Too

      September 25, 2017 at 4:53 pm

      Gorgeous! I'm a huge fan of apple crisp and apple strudel so I'll have to try it.

      Reply
    15. Wendy Klik

      September 25, 2017 at 3:08 pm

      What a lovely cake.

      Reply
    16. Hadia

      September 25, 2017 at 1:51 pm

      This looks incredibly delicious!

      Reply
    17. Betsy @ Desserts Required.com

      September 25, 2017 at 11:32 am

      This is a beautiful cake and I LOVE the salted caramel part!!

      Reply
      • Lynn Digirolamo

        July 31, 2020 at 9:17 pm

        I can’t fond the recipe anywhere.

        Reply
        • Shelby Law Ruttan

          August 01, 2020 at 5:50 am

          Hi Lynn, it looks like the recipe card had been disconnected. You should be able to find it now. Thanks! Shelby

    18. Liz

      September 25, 2017 at 8:38 am

      This is my dream cake! Bill won't like the nuts, but I'll sacrifice and eat the whole thing myself!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby Law Ruttan, I'm a mom, grandmother, and cookbook author for HoneyB's Kitchen who started blogging family recipes in 2007 for.... 

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