Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing Recipe

Imagine sinking your fork into a soft, tender Apple Spice Cake with luscious Caramel Icing — bursting with fresh apple chunks, cozy warm spices, and topped with the most irresistible caramel frosting you’ll want to scoop right off the cake. It’s the perfect cozy treat for when you need a little comfort on your plate.

This homemade apple cake comes together from scratch with easy-to-follow steps and an instructional video to guide you through. Whether you want a classic layer cake, a convenient sheet cake, fun cupcakes, or a stunning bundt, this recipe has you covered — and all of it takes less than an hour, start to finish!

What makes this Apple Spice Cake so irresistible is the fresh apple pieces nestled throughout, creating little bursts of juicy flavor, while the caramel icing adds that extra touch of rich, buttery sweetness you’ll swoon over.

Think soft and tender with a just-right spice kick — that’s the heart of this Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing. It’s the kind of dessert that wraps you in a warm hug, whether you’re serving it at your next fall get-together, craving a weeknight pick-me-up, or just want a slice of comfort. The diced fresh apples provide juicy little pockets in every bite, and the brown sugar and spices deliver a deep, bakery-style flavor. The caramel icing, which you can make thinner or thicker based on your mood, finishes this off with creamy, buttery goodness.

Keep reading for a straightforward from-scratch recipe, complete with clear step-by-step instructions and a helpful video. The batter is wonderfully flexible — you can bake it as a two-layer cake, a 9×13 sheet cake, around 24 cupcakes, or pop it into a bundt pan. The whole process will take you about 50 minutes, and it serves around 15 people. Plus, you’ll find tips on pan sizes, make-ahead advice, storage hacks, and easy variations so you can make this cake your own.

Why You’ll Love It

This Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing hits all the right notes: it’s cozy, moist, flavor-packed, and surprisingly simple. Made from scratch, it’s a crowd-pleaser that rewards you with a tender crumb filled with fresh apple bursts, all crowned with smooth caramel sweetness. The secret to the perfect texture is combining cake flour, buttermilk, and a little applesauce — this trio keeps the crumb soft and moist. Meanwhile, dark brown sugar and warm spices round out that comforting flavor you crave. Craving another apple-forward bake? Try Cinnamon Apple Bread for the same cozy flavors in a simple loaf.

• Big flavor from simple ingredients: Fresh apples, fragrant spices, brown sugar, and a quick caramel icing give you a bakery-style treat that’s fuss-free to make.
• So versatile: Use the batter for a layered cake, sheet cake, cupcakes, or a bundt — perfect for everything from casual family dinners to parties.
• Speedy prep: You can get this Apple Spice Cake in the oven and ready to serve in about 50 minutes total, perfect for an easy dessert.
• Make ahead friendly: The caramel icing can be made in advance, and the unfrosted cake freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
• Customize it your way: Throw in some nuts, turn it into muffins, or decide between a lighter icing or a thicker frosting to give this recipe your personal touch.

All in all, this is an easy-from-scratch cake that tastes like a hug on a plate — without any complicated steps. It’s a fall favorite and great anytime you want something sweet and homey. For a bite-sized fall treat with similar warm spices, Baked Apple Cider Donuts are a quick, crowd-pleasing option.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 3 cups cake flour sifted and then measured
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp cinnamon
• ¾ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 10 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
• 3 diced apples
• ½ cup applesauce unsweetened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 eggs room temperature
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• ¼ cup milk any variety
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
• 1¼ cups powdered sugar sifted

Step by Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour two 8- or 9-inch round pans or one 9×13 pan (or butter/flour a bundt pan or line cupcake pans).
2. Sift cake flour and measure 3 cups into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the sifted flour and whisk to combine.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine dark brown sugar, room-temperature butter, applesauce, and buttermilk; beat for 2 minutes.
5. Add the eggs and vanilla to the mixer and beat 2 more minutes until smooth.
6. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth.
7. Gently fold the diced apples into the batter with a spatula until evenly distributed.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pans or fill cupcake liners about two-thirds full.

9. Bake until done: 25–30 minutes for round pans, 30–40 minutes for a 9×13 pan, 18–22 minutes for cupcakes, or 45–50 minutes for a 10–12 cup bundt, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.

   

10. Allow round or bundt pans to cool at least 15 minutes, run a knife around the edges, invert onto a wire rack and cool completely (cool cupcakes completely in the pan or on a rack).
11. Make the caramel icing: melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir in brown sugar and bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly; boil 2 minutes.
12. Add the milk, bring back to a boil, then remove immediately from heat.
13. Stir in sifted powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth to make the icing and let it cool slightly before using.
14. To make caramel frosting, cool the icing completely, transfer it to an electric mixer, add 1¼ cups sifted powdered sugar and beat until light and spreadable, adding a little milk if too thick.
15. If assembling a layer cake, level the domed top from the first layer, spread a layer of frosting on the cake, place the second layer on top, then cover the entire cake with a smooth layer of frosting; alternatively, spread caramel icing over a completely cooled cake.

Expert Tips for Flawless Cake

Before you dive into the recipe, here are a few tips I’ve picked up after many batches of this delicious Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing:

• Grate Some Apples: Instead of just diced apples, consider replacing the applesauce with finely grated apple. This adds moisture and helps spread the apple flavor evenly, while the chunks still provide juicy bites.
• Sift Cake Flour Before Measuring: It might seem extra, but sifting your flour creates a lighter batter and better crumb. Measuring before sifting means you’d end up with more flour than needed.
• Let Your Ingredients Warm Up: Make sure eggs and buttermilk are at room temperature before mixing for the fluffiest, most tender cake.
• Avoid Overmixing: After adding the flour mixture, mix just until everything is combined. Overworking the batter will make your cake tough instead of tender.
• Check for Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. It should come out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter. Since oven temperatures can vary, start checking early.
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: Warm cakes can cause the caramel frosting to melt and slide off, so patience here really pays off.

For another take on this flavor combo, see The BEST Caramel Apple Spice Cake.

Variations and Pan Options

This Apple Spice Cake is wonderfully flexible, baking well in several types of pans. Here’s how to tweak baking times and methods depending on what you choose:

• Two 8-inch Round Pans: This is classic for a layer cake! Divide your batter evenly between two greased and floured 8-inch pans. Bake about 25-30 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before gently flipping them onto cooling racks. Nine-inch rounds will be a bit shorter but work just fine.
• 9×13-inch Rectangle Pan: Great for potlucks or family dinners! Pour all your batter into a greased and floured 9×13 pan. Bake for about 35-40 minutes. You can frost and serve straight from the pan for easy cleanup. For another crowd-pleasing 9×13 dessert, try this Easy Apple Crisp Recipe.
• Cupcakes: Perfect for parties or portion control! Line your cupcake pan with liners, fill each about two-thirds full, and bake for 18-22 minutes. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
• Bundt Pan: For a more elegant look, butter and flour a 10-12 cup bundt pan. Bake 45-50 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack.

When I made the layered Apple Spice Cake, I went with the thicker caramel frosting to satisfy my kid’s sweet tooth. Fair warning: with all those juicy apple chunks, cutting perfectly pretty slices takes a little patience!

• Nutty Apple Cake: Toss in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for a crunchy flavor boost.
• Caramel Apple Bundt Cake: Drizzle the caramel frosting artistically over your bundt cake for a stunning presentation.
• Apple Spice Muffins: Skip the frosting for breakfast-friendly muffins. Add a cinnamon streusel topping for a little extra cozy sweetness. Bake the same amount of time as cupcakes. Craving another cozy morning bake? Try these Easy Fried Apple Cider Donuts.

So, what bakeware will you grab for your Apple Spice Cake adventure? Will you spread on that silky caramel icing or go for the comforting fluffy frosting? Leave a note below and let me know!

Slice of sheet cake

This simple Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Icing first made its debut here on November 17, 2019, and it’s been lovingly updated since to be even better for you without changing the classic recipe you know and love.

• Cake pans – you can use a 9×13 cake pan or two round cake pans. If using round cake pans, 8″ will have slightly taller layers but 9″ will work too.
• Remove your eggs and butter so they’re at room temperature when you use them. They’ll blend easier. Don’t worry if your butter doesn’t totally whip into your liquid ingredients. It will blend when you combine the wet and dry together.

• Sift cake flour before measuring it. Sifting aerates and increases the volume so if you measured and then sifted you would be using more than what this apple cake recipe needs.

• Sift your powdered sugar – it will blend so much easier.
• For Frosting – I put it into my electric stand mixer if I’m making it into frosting after allowing it to cool.
• Make your caramel icing as soon as the cake is removed from the oven. By the time the cake is cooled enough to ice it, the icing will be cool enough to use, about 15 to 20 minutes. You can also lightly warm the icing if it cools too much to spread.
• Caramel frosting can be made ahead of time, covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to make.

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe’s nutrition info was calculated based on the exact ingredients and amounts I used. If you modify or swap ingredients, the nutrition facts will change. It’s just a helpful guide.

I hope you enjoy this cozy Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting recipe! Let me know how it goes if you give it a try, and don’t hesitate to share your favorite variations or questions.

How to Store and Freeze

You can store this Apple Spice Cake at room temperature in an airtight container for 2–3 days. If you want it to last a bit longer, keep it refrigerated for up to 5 days — and honestly, the flavor often gets better on day two!

To enjoy a slice warm, pop it in the microwave for about 15 seconds for a moist, tender bite and gooey frosting — pure comfort in seconds.

Want to prepare in advance? Bake the cake a day before your event, keep it covered at room temperature, and add the caramel icing right before serving for the freshest taste.

This recipe also freezes beautifully without the frosting. Wrap your unfrosted cake or slices tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before frosting.