Name: Caramel Apple Layer Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled); 1-1/2 tsp baking soda; 1-1/2 tsp apple pie spice; 1/2 tsp table salt; 1-1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter softened; 2 cups granulated sugar; 3 large eggs room temperature; 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (full fat), room temperature; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; 2 tsp maple extract; 1 cup whole milk, room temperature; 1 cup grated apples; 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter; 1/3 cup heavy cream; 1-1/4 cups packed dark brown sugar; 1/2 tsp. apple pie spice; 1/2 tsp table salt; 1 tsp maple extract; 5 cups confectioners’ sugar; 3/4 cup purchased or homemade caramel sauce; sea salt; apple slices (optional garnish); walnuts (optional garnish)

Description

Decadent caramel apple layer cake packed with grated apples, Greek yogurt, and warm spices, frosted with cooked maple brown sugar frosting and drizzled with salted caramel.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

1–1/2 tsp baking soda

1–1/2 tsp apple pie spice

1/2 tsp table salt

1–1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter softened

2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs room temperature

1/2 cup Greek yogurt (full fat), room temperature

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tsp maple extract

1 cup whole milk, room temperature

1 cup grated apples

Maple Frosting:

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter

1/3 cup heavy cream

1–1/4 cups packed dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp. apple pie spice

1/2 tsp table salt

1 tsp maple extract

5 cups confectioners’ sugar

Other Additions:

3/4 cup purchased or homemade caramel sauce

sea salt

apple slices (optional garnish)

walnuts (optional garnish)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), grease three 8-inch round pans, and whisk flour, baking soda, apple pie spice, and salt in a bowl.

2. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar for 3 minutes, then mix in eggs, Greek yogurt, applesauce, and maple extract.

3. Alternate adding dry flour mixture and whole milk on low speed, then fold in grated apples.

4. Divide batter among pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean; cool completely on wire racks.

5. Simmer butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar for 2 minutes, cool 20 minutes, then beat in apple pie spice, salt, maple extract, and powdered sugar until fluffy.

6. Layer cakes with frosting and caramel sauce, frost outer cake, drizzle with caramel, sprinkle with sea salt, and garnish with optional apple slices and walnuts.

Notes

Grate apples finely on a box grater. Chill frosted cake before applying the caramel drip for clean drips.

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 520
Sugar: 58g
Sodium: 290mg
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 24g
Unsaturated Fat: 24g
Trans Fat: 24g
Protein: 5g