Caramel Apple Cake

From Food Network Kitchens

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (19)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(19)

Photo: Caramel Apple Cake

Cook Time:
1 hr 30 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 2 hr 0 min
Cook: 1 hr 30 min
Total:: 4 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar, plus 1/4 cup for the apples
1 1/2 teaspoons ground apple or pumpkin pie spice blend
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine salt
4 large golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, and roughly chopped (about 5 cups)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
Finely grated zest from 1 orange
Juice of 1 orange (about 1/3 cup)
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Caramel Glaze:

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Special equipment: 10 cup bundt pan

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter and flour the bundt pan.

Whisk the flour, 1 1/3 cup of the sugar, 1 teaspoon of the pie spice, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.

Toss the apples with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pie spice and set aside.

Whisk the eggs and oil together in another bowl. Whisk in the sour cream, orange zest and juice, and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon just until combined but still a bit lumpy.

Using a slotted spoon, scatter about 1/2 cup of the apples in the bottom of the bundt pan. Put about 1/3 of the batter on top. Repeat, alternating with the remaining apples and batter, ending with the batter.

Bake the cake until it pulls away for the sides of the pan and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and invert onto a rack placed over a baking sheet. Cool. (The cake can be prepared to this point a day ahead.)

To make the caramel: Stir the sugar, corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until the sugar is dark amber-colored caramel, about 15 minutes. Pull pan from the heat and carefully pour in the cream (take care it will splatter). Stir in the pecans, vanilla, and salt. Cool until caramel becomes thick and syrupy, then evenly pour over the cake and cool until set.

Cook's Note: We like to bake this cake the day before we serve it so the flavors and texture ripen. If you bake it a day ahead glaze with the caramel the day you plan to serve it.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Caramel Apple Cake
Ashley Atlanta, GA 10-05-2009
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Don't listen to the negative reviews!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This cake turned out BETTER than expected and I followed the recipe almost exactly. There were some slight modifications when... layering the cake batter and apples, which you can read about along with pictures on my blog if you want: http://pintsizebaker.blogspot.com/2009/09/caramel-apple-cake.html. I would HIGHLY recommend this for any fall parties or breakfast even, as the cake was devoured by my family and friends and wasn't too sweet. It was more like an apple bread with some caramel pecan drizzle on top. Will definitely make this again!Read more
recipe Caramel Apple Cake
bonnie richland center, WI 09-23-2009
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burnt taste
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

The cake was good. However, the glaze.. even though I followed it to a tee it ended up having a burnt taste to it
recipe Caramel Apple Cake
Marlene Cherry Hill, NJ 09-14-2009
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Peachy
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I substituted fresh NJ peaches tossed in brown sugar/cinnamon/nutmeg and it came out fabulous. Drizzled caramel sundae syrup... on top of warm cake because I made it at 6:30AM and no stores were open and I was out of some of the topping ingredients. Turned out super great - huge cake. Read more
recipe Caramel Apple Cake
Christine Montreal, QC 03-18-2009
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Good but ....
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I didn't have a bundt pan so I made this in a sheet pan. I thought it was good but not worth the effort. The topping was... the best part.Read more
recipe Caramel Apple Cake
Katherine Roaring Brook Twp, PA 12-05-2008
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PERFECT MORNING CAKE !!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I served this on Thanksgiving morning, it was loved by all !! I made it the night before, than cooked the caramel sauce the... next morning and poured it on. Note that you can really taste the orange in the cake from the zest/juice - so if you don't like orange flavors than just leave it out, but I thought it was wonderful for a breakfast treat.Read more
recipe Caramel Apple Cake
Lisa St. Paul, MN 10-29-2008
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Very pretty, but dry
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I was really disappointed to put the time, effort, and good ingredients into this cake, and to have it come out so dry and... flavorless. I followed the directions exactly for this first time, but probably should have heeded some of the advice of others. The batter was so thick it needed to be spooned into the pan, and I'm wondering if I should have added more milk to it. I don't know that I'll make it again.Read more