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Easy Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake Recipe | Perfect Thanksgiving Dessert

This Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake transforms humble ingredients into a bakery-worthy dessert featuring buttery caramel, tender apple slices, and a perfectly spiced vanilla cake. Ready in just 65 minutes, it’s the ultimate fall treat for gatherings, holidays, or cozy nights in.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 –10 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 –3 medium apples Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup milk

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or deep-dish pie plate. Line bottom with parchment paper for easy release.
  2. In a saucepan, melt 3 tbsp butter with 1/2 cup brown sugar over medium heat until bubbly and smooth. Pour into prepared pan and tilt to coat evenly.
  3. Arrange apple slices in a circular overlapping pattern on top of the caramel layer.
  4. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  5. In another bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter with 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy.
  6. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each, then stir in vanilla extract.
  7. Alternate adding flour mixture with sour cream and milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  8. Spoon batter over apple layer and smooth top evenly.
  9. Bake 40–45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  10. Cool 10–15 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate and lift the pan slowly to reveal caramelized apples.

Notes

Use Honeycrisp for sweetness or Granny Smith for tartness. Wait 10–15 minutes before flipping to prevent caramel from sliding off. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for the ultimate fall indulgence.