Easy Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

On Mar 25, 2025 6 0

Get ready to bake a truly delightful treat! This Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake is surprisingly simple to put together, perfect for beginner bakers, and absolutely bursting with warm, comforting flavors. Imagine tender apples nestled in rich caramel, topped with a moist and delicious cake – all made with halal ingredients in your own kitchen. This recipe guides you through each step, ensuring baking success and a truly satisfying homemade dessert.

Ingredients You’ll Need

🍎 3 medium apples (like Fuji or Gala), peeled, cored, and sliced
🧈 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, halal certified
🍚 1 cup packed light brown sugar
🥚 2 large eggs
🥛 1/2 cup milk
🥄 1 teaspoon alcohol free vanilla extract
🌾 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
🥄 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
🥄 1/4 teaspoon salt
🍦 Whipped cream or ice cream (halal certified, optional, for serving)
🌰 Chopped nuts (optional, for garnish)

Kitchen Equipment

🥣 9-inch round baking pan
🥄 Measuring cups and spoons
🥣 Mixing bowls (medium and large)
🥄 Spatula or wooden spoon
🥄 Whisk or fork
🔥 Oven
🔪 Knife
🍎 Apple corer (optional, but helpful)
Wire rack

Let’s Learn Basic Kitchen Techniques

Before starting, let’s understand a few simple techniques that will be used in this recipe.

Measuring Ingredients: Baking is a science, so accurate measurements are important. Use measuring cups specifically designed for dry and liquid ingredients. For dry ingredients like flour and sugar, use dry measuring cups and level off the top with a straight edge (like the back of a knife). For liquids like milk and vanilla extract, use liquid measuring cups and check the measurement at eye level.

Mixing Ingredients: “Mixing” simply means combining ingredients together. This recipe uses different mixing methods. Sometimes ingredients are gently folded together, and other times they are whisked or stirred more vigorously. The instructions will guide on how to mix at each step.

Preheating the Oven: “Preheating” means heating the oven to the correct temperature before putting the cake in to bake. This is crucial for even baking. Turn the oven to the temperature specified in the recipe (usually in Fahrenheit or Celsius). Give the oven enough time to reach the set temperature before placing the cake inside. Most ovens have an indicator light that turns off when the desired temperature is reached.

Step-by-Step Guide to Make Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

Let’s begin putting together this delicious Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake. Refer to the image to see how the finished cake should look. Notice the beautiful caramelization and the tender cake texture.

Making the Caramel Topping

Step 1: Take the 9-inch round baking pan. Place the butter into the pan.

Step 2: Put the pan with the butter on the stovetop over medium heat. If you don’t have a stovetop-safe baking pan, you can melt the butter in a saucepan and then pour it into the baking pan.

Step 3: Let the butter melt completely. It will become liquid as it heats up.

Step 4: Once the butter is melted, add the brown sugar to the pan.

Step 5: Stir the butter and brown sugar together using a spatula or wooden spoon. Keep stirring constantly as the sugar melts and mixes with the butter. This mixture will become the caramel topping.

Step 6: Continue to cook and stir the caramel mixture for about 2-3 minutes. It should be bubbly and slightly thickened. Be careful not to burn the caramel. Reduce the heat if it starts to smoke or burn. The dessert in the image shows a rich, golden-brown caramel layer, so aim for a similar color.

Step 7: Remove the pan from the heat. Carefully set it aside. The caramel topping is now ready.

Preparing the Apple Layer

Step 8: Take the peeled, cored, and sliced apples.

Step 9: Arrange the apple slices in a single layer over the caramel in the baking pan. You can arrange them in a circular pattern or simply distribute them evenly. Refer to the image to see how the apples are placed. They are nestled in the caramel, creating a beautiful layer.

Step 10: Set the pan with the caramel and apples aside while making the cake batter.

Making the Cake Batter

Step 11: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). This means turning on your oven and setting it to this temperature. Allow it to heat up fully while you prepare the batter.

Step 12: In a large mixing bowl, crack the eggs. “Cracking” an egg means gently breaking its shell and emptying the contents into the bowl. Be careful not to get any pieces of eggshell in the bowl.

Step 13: Add the milk and vanilla extract to the bowl with the eggs.

Step 14: Whisk or fork the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract together until they are just combined. “Whisking” means using a whisk to beat the ingredients together until they are mixed. If you don’t have a whisk, a fork will also work.

Step 15: In a separate medium mixing bowl, measure and add the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 16: Whisk or stir the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) together. This helps to evenly distribute the baking powder and salt throughout the flour.

Step 17: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients (egg mixture). Add the dry ingredients a little at a time, mixing gently after each addition until just combined. “Gradually adding” means adding a small amount at a time.

Step 18: Mix until the batter is smooth and there are no large lumps of flour. Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough.

Assembling and Baking the Cake

Step 19: Pour the cake batter evenly over the apples in the baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter gently to cover the apples completely and reach the edges of the pan.

Step 20: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven.

Step 21: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. “Inserting a toothpick” means gently pushing a wooden toothpick into the center of the cake and then pulling it out. If the toothpick comes out with wet batter on it, the cake needs to bake longer. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, the cake is done.

Step 22: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven.

Cooling and Inverting the Cake

Step 23: Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. This allows the caramel to set slightly and makes it easier to invert. “Inverting” means flipping the cake upside down.

Step 24: Place a serving plate or cake stand upside down over the baking pan.

Step 25: Holding the plate and pan firmly together, carefully and quickly flip the cake pan over so that the plate is now on the bottom and the baking pan is on top.

Step 26: Gently lift the baking pan off. The caramel apple topping should now be on top of the cake, as shown in the image. If any apples stick to the pan, gently remove them and place them back on the cake.

Whipping the Cream and Garnishing (Optional)

Step 27: If desired, whip some heavy cream until soft peaks form. “Whipping cream until soft peaks form” means beating cold heavy cream with a whisk or electric mixer until it thickens and forms soft mounds when the whisk is lifted.

Step 28: Place a dollop of whipped cream on top of the cake, as seen in the image.

Step 29: Sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired, for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Tips for Success

Use the right apples: Apples that hold their shape well during baking, like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp, are best for this recipe. Softer apples may become mushy.
Don’t overbake: Overbaking can make the cake dry. Check for doneness with a toothpick after 30 minutes.
Cool slightly before inverting: Cooling the cake for a short time helps the caramel set and makes inverting easier. However, don’t let it cool completely in the pan, or the caramel may become too sticky and the cake may stick to the pan.
If the caramel is too thick: If the caramel becomes too thick while cooking, add a tablespoon of water or milk and stir to thin it out slightly.
Halal Certification: Always ensure that all ingredients, especially butter, vanilla extract, whipped cream, and ice cream, are halal certified if you require halal food.

Enjoy Your Homemade Delight

Congratulations! You have just put together a beautiful and delicious Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake. The aroma and taste of warm caramel and tender apples are sure to delight everyone. This homemade cake is perfect for sharing with family and friends, or simply enjoying a slice with a cup of tea or coffee. Feel the satisfaction of making something wonderful from scratch in your own kitchen. Share your baking success and photos of your Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake with others!