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Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

🍎 Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

This Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake is a tender, moist cake with caramelized apples on top. The caramel sauce melts into the cake, making every bite rich, sweet, and irresistibly cozy — a perfect dessert for autumn gatherings!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Bake 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 9 servings
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Topping:
  • 3 –4 medium apples peeled, cored, and sliced
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
For the Cake:
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Optional: Caramel sauce for drizzling

Method
 

Preheat Oven:
  1. Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or 9x9-inch square pan.
Prepare the Topping:
  1. In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup butter with brown sugar over medium heat until smooth. Stir in cinnamon. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and arrange apple slices on top in a single layer.
Make the Cake Batter:
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  2. In a separate large bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
  3. Mix in sour cream and milk until combined. Gradually fold in dry ingredients until smooth.
Assemble and Bake:
  1. Pour the batter evenly over the apple topping. Smooth the top with a spatula.
  2. Bake 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and Invert:
  1. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, then invert onto a serving plate. Carefully lift the pan — the caramelized apple topping will be on top.
Serve:
  1. Drizzle extra caramel sauce over the top if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Apple Varieties: Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji apples work best for sweetness and texture.
Caramel Sauce: Use store-bought or homemade caramel sauce to drizzle for extra indulgence.
Prevent Sticking: Grease the pan well and line with parchment paper if needed.
Storage: Store covered at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a cozy fall dessert.