Cozy Caramel Apple Sheet Cake
A simple, crowd-pleasing dessert featuring tender apples folded into a moist cake batter, topped with gooey caramel sauce and optional nuts. Perfect for casual gatherings and quick to make.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 50-55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (180ml) buttermilk or plain yogurt
- 2 large apples, peeled and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
- ½ cup (120ml) caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Peel and dice 2 large apples into roughly ½ inch pieces. Optionally toss with 1 teaspoon lemon juice to keep color bright.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until smooth.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Fold in diced apples carefully.
- Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top gently.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil if edges brown too quickly.
- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes.
- Drizzle caramel sauce evenly over the warm cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts if using.
- Slice into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Use fresh tart apples like Granny Smith for best texture and flavor. Avoid overmixing batter to keep cake tender. If caramel is too thick, warm gently before drizzling. Let cake cool slightly before adding caramel to prevent it from soaking in too much. For gluten-free, use a gluten-free baking mix with xanthan gum. Vegan substitutions include flax eggs, dairy-free milk with vinegar, coconut oil, and dairy-free caramel sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: caramel apple cake, sheet cake, easy dessert, crowd-pleaser, fall dessert, caramel sauce, apple dessert