Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup oil (canola, vegetable, olive, or avocado)
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2–3 large apples, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces (about 2 ½ cups)
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional for Serving:
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9 × 13-inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Add oil, eggs, and vanilla; mix with an electric mixer for 1–2 minutes until batter is smooth.
- Fold in the chopped apples and walnuts (if using) by hand until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 38–45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, prepare the caramel: in a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, heavy cream, and butter. Stir constantly for 5–7 minutes until smooth and caramel-like. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- When the cake is still warm, poke small holes on top using a skewer or fork.
- Drizzle about half of the warm caramel sauce over the cake, allowing it to soak in. After a few minutes, drizzle the remaining caramel over the top.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Use a mix of apple varieties (e.g. Honeycrisp + Granny Smith) for a balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Skip the walnuts if you want a nut‑free version or prefer a softer cake texture.
- For a richer cake, replace a few tablespoons of oil with melted butter.
- Sprinkle a pinch of extra cinnamon or a dash of sea salt on top of the caramel for added flavor depth.
- For extra caramel flavor, warm and drizzle additional caramel just before serving.
- If not serving immediately, store cooled cake and caramel separately; add caramel when ready to serve to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Comfort
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/16 cake, with caramel)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
