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Apple Upside Down Cake

Apple Upside Down Cake is a delicious from scratch cake made in a cast iron skillet with caramelized walnuts and a fluffy spice cake. This is sure to be your new favorite dessert! So simple to make and perfect for the holidays or any occasion!

Slice of Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake with walnuts

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Apple Upside Down Cake

Apple Desserts are so irresistible. Easy Apple Cobbler is always a hit with the crowd and you just can’t go wrong with a slice of Apple Crumb Pie. These Fried Apple Hand Pies have a fluffy and flaky crust and are dipped in a sweet icing. So good!

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upside down cake with apples

Just take me to the recipe! The full printable recipe card is found at the very bottom of the post, just keep scrolling to print it out now. Otherwise, read on for the step by step photos to making an upside down cake from scratch.

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Overhead of apple cake slice with cup of coffee

How to Make an Apple Upside Down Cake:

Caramel for apple upside down cake

  • Place a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add a stick of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. 
  • Stir with a wooden spoon constantly, about 5 minutes until brown sugar is completely melted. 

Caramelized sugar and walnuts in a skillet

  • Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. 

peeled and sliced apples for cake

  • Peel, core and slice 2 medium apples. Thin slices are best.

Skillet with sliced apples

  • Layer apple slices over walnuts in a single layer.

Dry ingredients for apple cake

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. 

Eggs, milk and melted butter with dry cake ingredients in a blue bowl

  • Add eggs, milk and melted butter.

Batter for apple cake

  • Mix well using a whisk, until smooth.

Skillet apple spice cake

  • Pour batter over sliced apples. 

Baked apple spice cake with walnuts in a skillet

  • Bake for 45-50 minutes.

Caramel Apple and Walnut Upside Down Cake on a white cake plate

  • Allow cake to cool 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving dish. 

Caramel drizzling over apple cake

  • Drizzle with additional caramel and sprinkle with flake sea salt if desired. 
  • Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Tips for Making an Apple Upside Down Cake:

  • If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a 9″ x 9″ square or 9 inch round cake pan will work. You will just make your butter and brown sugar mixture in a saucepan and pour into the baking pan. 
  • Place skillet or baking pan on a rimmed cookie sheet when baking. This will catch any over flow of the caramel as it bakes. 
  • If your walnut topping sticks to the skillet or the pan, just gently scrape it off and add it to the top of the cake. No one will ever know!
  • If your cake starts to get too brown on top, just loosely cover with foil until cake has baked through. 
  • Chopped pecans can be used in place of the walnuts if desired. 
  • Store Apple Upside Down Cake covered in the refrigerator if not serving immediately. Cake should be brought to room temperature before serving. 
  • Apple Upside Down Cake is best served within 2 days. 

My mother in law suggested the idea of an apple upside down cake with walnuts. I had to try it immediately. It’s seriously one of the best cakes that I’ve ever made. It’s one we will be enjoying again and again. 

Add this easy Apple Upside Down Cake to your list! It would be a great addition to Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas holidays. A great dessert for any special occasion. 

More Apple Desserts to Try:

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Caramel Upside Down Apple Cake
Print Recipe
4.52 from 33 votes

Apple Upside Down Cake

Apple Upside Down Cake is a delicious from scratch cake made in a cast iron skillet with caramelized walnuts and a fluffy spice cake. This is sure to be your new favorite dessert! So simple to make and perfect for the holidays or any occasion!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 624kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

For the Apple Layer

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 medium apples

For the Cake Layer

  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 2 large eggs

For topping

  • 2 tablespoons caramel sauce optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon flake sea salt optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Melt butter in a 10 inch cast iron skillet with brown sugar over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Stirring constantly until brown sugar is melted.
  • Remove from heat and top with chopped walnuts.
  • Peel, core and thinly slice apples. Spread apples in a single layer over walnuts.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
  • Add milk, melted butter and eggs. Mix with a wire whisk until smooth.
  • Pour over apples and smooth in an even layer.
  • Place skillet on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow of the caramel layer.
  • Bake for 45- 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Allow cake to cool 15 minutes.
  • Place a serving plate over the top of the skillet and while holding both sides, invert cake onto cake plate.
  • If any walnuts or caramelized sauce sticks to skillet, just carefully scrape from skillet and place on cake.
  • Cake can be served warm or at room temperature.
  • Cover and refrigerate leftovers. Best if eaten within 2 days.

Notes

A 9"x9" square baking dish or 9" round baking pan can be used instead of the skillet. Prepare caramelized sugar layer in a sauce pan and spread into the baking pan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 624kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 564mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 61g

5 Comments

  1. This recipe is very easy and a great way to use up leftover apples. I thought a whole teaspoon of cinnamon in with the apples, butter and sugar might be a little overpowering so I lowered it to a quarter teaspoon and it was perfect with the spiced cake. My family told me this was a do-over so it’s been added to my recipe book.

  2. This cake is delicious. Seriously — make this. You won’t regret it!!
    I made mine with pecans and half the sugar in the cake batter part. Added nutmeg, ginger and cloves for a more spiced flavor.

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