What apples are best for upside-down cakes?

Firm, tart-sweet apples like Granny Smith , Honeycrisp , and Fuji are ideal. They hold their shape and balance the rich caramel topping.

Can I use store-bought caramel instead of making it?

You can, but it won’t develop the same deep, buttery flavor as stovetop caramel. Making your own takes just minutes and makes a big difference in taste.

Why is my cake too dense or dry?

Overmixing the batter or overbaking the cake are common culprits. Stick to the baking time, test with a toothpick, and always use room-temperature ingredients for best results.

How do I keep the apples from sticking to the pan?

The cooked caramel acts as a natural release layer. Be sure to cool the cake slightly (about 15 minutes) and run a knife along the edge before inverting to prevent sticking.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, but presentation may suffer slightly. You can bake it the day before and store it tightly covered at room temperature. Avoid refrigerating as it can make the cake overly dense.

Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake – The Best Fall Dessert 2025

Name: Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter; 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 2 medium apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices (1.5–2 cups or 188–250g); 1 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar; 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar; 2 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 6 tablespoons (90ml) whole milk, at room temperature

Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

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This Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake is a moist, cinnamon-spiced dessert with a buttery caramelized apple topping. It’s the perfect cozy treat for fall gatherings, made with simple pantry ingredients and no frosting required.

Author: Catherine
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 medium apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices (1.5–2 cups or 188–250g)
1 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 tablespoons (90ml) whole milk, at room temperature

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tbsp butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Cook for 1 minute while whisking. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon and vanilla. Pour mixture into an ungreased 9×2 inch pie dish or cake pan.
Arrange apple slices over the caramel layer in a tight, overlapping pattern. Refrigerate pan while preparing the cake batter.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a large bowl, beat softened butter until smooth. Add both sugars and beat until creamed. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until combined.
Gradually mix in dry ingredients, alternating with milk. Mix until just combined without overmixing.
Remove pan from refrigerator. Spread cake batter evenly over the apples and caramel layer.
Bake for 40–46 minutes, tenting with foil halfway through to prevent overbrowning. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Allow to cool fully before slicing.

Notes

Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best results.
Refrigerating the topping briefly helps keep the apple arrangement intact.
Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense cake.
Allow cake to cool fully before slicing for cleaner cuts.
Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze individual slices for up to 3 months.

Find it online: https://recipeshots.com/caramel-apple-upside-down-cake-tasty-recipe/