Apple Caramel Pudding Cake is a quick and easy self-saucing dessert. It is the ultimate sweet comfort food for this time of year. Take advantage of apple season and try it with different varieties until you find your favourite.
The first time I came across a pudding cake recipe I thought "this doesn't make sense" I'm to pour boiling water over top of cake batter? Weird. But what happens is pure magic. The watery mixture sinks to the bottom and creates a lovely sauce, in this case a caramel. And let's face it, caramel, apples and cake...what could be better?
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How to Core an Apple
This is my quick and easy way to core an apple. I admit there is a little more waste with this method but I'm willing to sacrifice a little apple for what I gain on speed. Stand the apple upright and cut off one side. Rotate and cut off all sides keeping as close to the core as possible. If you have larger pieces of core left on your apple chunks, cut them out with a paring knife. If they are small just leave them in. The apples bake long enough to soften those small pieces of core so you won't even notice them. Simply slice the apple chunks into ¼" slices and place in a prepared baking dish.
What Type of Apples Should I Use?
I used Ginger Gold, which are my favourite at the moment. You can use any type of apples you like but just avoid Red Delicious. They have a mealy texture when cooked. Other apples that are great for baking include Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Empire, Cortland, Royal Gala, Fuji, Northern Spy....to name a few. Granny Smith are also good for baking but I find them on the tart and firm side. I like to use them in a mix of apples when making apple pie for example. If you are at the market and you are unsure of some of the varieties just ask the farmer/vendor. They are always happy to help!
How to Make Apple Pudding Cake
This is the simplest cake imaginable. No heavy mixing or machines necessary. Just a bowl and a spoon and something to melt the butter and milk in. Use a pot on the stove top or a microwave. Whatever does the trick! All the dry ingredients are mixed together in one bowl. The melted butter and milk is mixed into the dry and that's it!
Spread the batter over the apples. It is a bit stiff so using an offset metal spatula is the perfect tool for this job. If you don't own one of these I highly recommend picking one up. It is one of my favourite kitchen tools. I own a few. A Natural Wood Small Spatula would make a great stocking stuffer don't you think?
How to Make the Caramel Sauce
Here's where the magic happens. A few simple ingredients, mostly boiling water, are mixed together and poured over the cake. Dark brown sugar is preferred but if you only have light on hand that works too. A little flour to thicken, and some salt to balance everything out. The liquid sinks to the bottom and creates a beautiful caramel sauce with the apples. Heaven.
If you want to add something extra special you can top it with fanned out, thinly sliced apples but this is optional. I like to leave the peel on to add extra colour and texture to the top. To achieve the fanned slices, cut the apple in half and scoop out the core with a melon baller or a paring knife. With cut side down, thinly slice keeping all the pieces together. Flatten the sliced half so they fan out. Arrange on top of cake after pouring over the sauce. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
This cake is best served warm. Let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the caramel to cool and everything to settle. Dust with some icing sugar for some extra pizzazz. This cake keeps, at room temperature, for 3 or 4 days and in the fridge for a week. Just reheat in the microwave. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it's practically a meal!
Don't forget to ask your questions and post your comments in the comment section below. I love hearing from you!
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Apple Caramel Pudding Cake
Ingredients
- 4 cups peeled and sliced apples, about 4 medium
- 1 apple, unpeeled for garnish, optional
- ¼ cup butter, unsalted
- ¾ cup milk, 2% or whole
- 1 ½ cups flour, all purpose
- ½ cup sugar, granulated
- 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- ½ teaspoon salt, kosher
Sauce
- ¾ cup brown sugar, dark
- 2 tablespoon flour, all purpose
- ¼ teaspoon salt, kosher
- 1 cup boiling water
- icing sugar for dusting, optional
Instructions
For the Apples
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Peel 4 of the apples, core and slice. You should have approximately 4 cups. Leave one apple reserved for garnish if desired.
- Place in the bottom of a lightly buttered or sprayed 8" square baking dish.
For the cake
- Melt the butter and milk. Set aside.¼ cup butter, unsalted, ¾ cup milk, 2% or whole
- In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.1 ½ cups flour, all purpose, ½ cup sugar, granulated, 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground, ½ teaspoon salt, kosher
- Pour melted butter and milk into dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir until just combined.
- Spread cake batter over top of apples.
For the sauce
- In a medium bowl mix together brown sugar, flour and salt. Pour boiling water over and stir to combine.¾ cup brown sugar, dark, 2 tablespoon flour, all purpose, ¼ teaspoon salt, kosher, 1 cup boiling water
- While still hot, pour mixture over cake before baking.
- If garnishing with sliced apple, core and thinly slice apple and arrange on top after pouring in the sauce. (see instructions and photos above in post)
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- This cake is best served warm. Let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the caramel to cool and everything to settle. Dust with icing sugar (optional).
Notes
- If using regular table salt reduce amount slightly.
- This dessert is best served warm.
- Cake will keep at room temperature for 3 days and in the fridge for one week.
- Any type of apple except Red Delicious work for this recipe.
Jac says
The apple caramel cake needs vanilla added to the sauce part. Recipe is just average.
Lorie Dunford says
Andrea, I can’t seem to find the oven temp for the apple pudding. Perhaps I’m missing it lol, please advise
Andrea says
Hi Lori!
If you scroll down to the recipe card towards the bottom of the post you will find the full recipe there. Hope that helps!
Angela says
Hi, I'm looking forward to trying this recipe with gluten free flour - can I just check there are no eggs in the ingredients. Thanks
Andrea says
That's correct. There are no eggs in this cake. Hope you enjoy it!
Teri Oswald says
Very happy with how easy and good this dessert was. Made it with gluten free flour, turned out great! Everyone loved it! Thanks
Andrea says
Hi Terri!
I'm so happy you enjoyed the cake! Thanks so much for commenting!
Karin says
Do you pour the hot sauce on after the cake is cooked and while it’s still hot or do you pour it on before you cook it? Not much of a baker 😁
Andrea says
Hi Karin!
Yes the hot sauce gets poured over before baking. I just realized that there were some instructions missing from the recipe which can happen sometimes with updates. I have gone in and corrected so hopefully things make more sense now!
Sharon Waugh says
If you are looking for an alternative to the old standby Apple Crisp, you have to try this recipe! Such a wonderful combination of apples, cake, and gooey caramel sauce. It was super easy to prepare and turned out perfectly!
Andrea says
I'm so glad you tried this recipe! Isn't it the best? You described it perfectly! Thanks!