Indulge in the delightful flavors of fall with this Apple Gooey Butter Cake topped with a luscious Salted Caramel Sauce. This recipe combines warm spices, gooey cream cheese, and brown butter for a decadent dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- The combination of spiced apples and gooey cream cheese creates a rich and flavorful cake.
- This recipe is surprisingly easy to make, with simple ingredients and minimal prep time.
- The addition of salted caramel sauce takes this dessert to the next level of indulgence.
Ingredient Notes:
- Brown Butter: Adds a rich, nutty flavor to the cake.
- Spiced Apples: Infuse the cake with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice flavors.
- Gooey Cream Cheese Layer: Provides a creamy and tangy contrast to the cake.
- Brown Butter Spice Cake: A moist and flavorful base for the dessert.
- Salted Caramel Sauce: Adds a sweet and salty finish to the cake.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Start by browning the butter in a saucepan until it turns a deep golden color.
- Mix the spiced apples with brown sugar and set aside.
- Prepare the gooey cream cheese layer by combining cream cheese, egg, and powdered sugar.
- In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients for the brown butter spice cake.
- Combine the brown butter, sugar, vanilla, buttermilk, egg, and egg yolk in a large bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Layer the spiced apples, cream cheese mixture, and cake batter in a baking dish.
- Bake until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While the cake cools, prepare the salted caramel sauce by heating sugar and butter until caramelized, then adding cream and salt.
Helpful Tips:
- For a twist, try adding chopped pecans to the spiced apples.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Expert Tips for the Best Results:
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smoother batter.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in a dense cake.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly before drizzling with the salted caramel sauce for the best presentation.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve this Apple Gooey Butter Cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
To store leftovers, cover the cake with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds to enjoy warm.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I use a different type of apple for this recipe?
- Yes, feel free to use your favorite baking apple such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
- How can I make the salted caramel sauce thicker?
- Cook the caramel sauce for a few minutes longer to achieve a thicker consistency.
- Can I freeze this cake?
- While the cake can be frozen, the texture of the cream cheese layer may change slightly upon thawing.
Conclusion:
Treat yourself and your loved ones to the irresistible flavors of this Apple Gooey Butter Cake with Salted Caramel. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a cozy dessert, this recipe is sure to impress. Share your baking success stories and enjoy every bite of this indulgent treat!
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Apple Gooey Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the decadent flavors of this Apple Gooey Butter Cake with Salted Caramel, featuring layers of spiced apples, gooey cream cheese, and a brown butter spice cake, all topped with a luscious salted caramel sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Brown Butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
Spiced Apples
- 2 cups apples, peeled and diced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground allspice
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Gooey Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Brown Butter Spice Cake
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground allspice
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Brown Butter: Melt butter in a saucepan until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
- Spiced Apples: Toss apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar. Set aside.
- Gooey Cream Cheese Layer: Beat cream cheese, egg, egg yolk, and powdered sugar until smooth. Set aside.
- Brown Butter Spice Cake: Combine dry ingredients, then mix in brown butter, sugar, vanilla, buttermilk, egg, and egg yolk. Pour into pan.
- Salted Caramel Sauce: Cook sugar until amber, add butter, cream, salt, and vanilla. Let cool.
- Layer apples over cake batter, then spoon cream cheese mixture. Bake, drizzle with caramel, and serve.
Notes
- For a quicker version, use store-bought caramel sauce.
- Try adding chopped nuts or a sprinkle of sea salt on top for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg