Description
Indulge in the warmth of fall with our Browned Butter Apple Spice Cake, a delightful dessert that perfectly captures the essence of the season. This cake features rich browned butter, tender chopped apples, and a medley of warm spices, creating an irresistible flavor profile that will have your guests asking for seconds. Topped with a luscious homemade caramel frosting, this cake is not only beautiful but also incredibly satisfying. Whether you’re celebrating a holiday or enjoying a cozy family dinner, this cake is sure to impress and bring comfort to every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 Cup Salted Umpqua Dairy Butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, packed
- 1 Large Egg + 1 Large Egg Yolk
- 1/3 Cup Umpqua Dairy Sour Cream
- 1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 3/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
- 3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 3/4 Cup Umpqua Dairy Whole or 2% Milk
- 3/4 Cup Apples of Choice (I used Honeycrisp), chopped into small squares
- 1 1/2 Cups Umpqua Dairy Salted Butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 Cup Caramel Sauce (homemade or store bought)
- 3 Cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
- 2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
- 1/2 Cup Homemade Caramel, drizzled on top and over the sides
- 1/2 Apple, chopped into small squares and tossed in a tablespoon of caramel sauce
- Greenery, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 6-inch cake pans, flour them lightly or spray with baking spray. Line each bottom with a circle of parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl: Cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and egg yolk; beat well after each addition. Mix in the sour cream and pure vanilla extract until well combined.
- Then add: Cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, baking powder, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour. Mix well. Next: Pour in the milk; mix until just incorporated without over-mixing. Gently fold in the chopped apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared cake pans (about a heaping cup per pan) and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a saucepan over medium heat: Melt 1/2 cup of salted butter until it turns golden brown. Stir occasionally while cooking. Remove from heat once browned and let cool slightly. In another mixing bowl: Beat remaining 1 cup of unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar while mixing until smooth. Then pour in: Pure vanilla extract and salted caramel sauce; continue mixing until fully combined. Once cooled slightly: Slowly incorporate browned butter into frosting mixture. Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed. Continue beating until you reach your desired consistency.
- Spread or pipe your frosting onto cooled cakes as desired. Store any leftovers covered at room temperature for up to three days. Enjoy every delightful bite!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg