Go Back

Spiced Apple Cake with Caramelized Sugar Crown

This apple cake is baked using a combination of mixing, folding, and baking methods, featuring slices of fresh apples integrated into a moist batter. The top is finished with a spiced brown sugar that caramelizes into a crispy, golden crown, giving the cake a rich aroma and a delightful textural contrast. The final appearance is a beautifully browned, moist cake with a shiny, caramelized topping.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Bakery
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed, for the topping
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon for the topping
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg optional, for the topping
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted, for the batter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 medium apples preferably Fuji or Honeycrisp, peeled and sliced
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • 9-inch round cake pan
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knife
  • Peeler

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan to prevent sticking.
  2. Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Toss the slices with lemon zest to prevent browning and set aside.
    2 cups all-purpose flour
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined.
    2 cups all-purpose flour
  4. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and melted butter until smooth.
    2 cups all-purpose flour
  5. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined — be careful not to overmix.
  6. Fold in the apple slices so they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
    2 cups all-purpose flour
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula for an even surface.
  8. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for the caramelized topping.
    2 cups all-purpose flour
  9. Sprinkle the spiced brown sugar evenly over the top of the cake batter.
    2 cups all-purpose flour
  10. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  11. Allow the cake to cool for at least 15 minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  12. Serve slices of the cake with a crispy caramelized sugar crown, enjoying the combination of moist apple chunks and crunchy topping.