Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Vanilla: Extract Easy

A tender cinnamon butter cake baked over caramelized apple slices, flipped so the soft golden fruit and sticky caramel sit on top. Makes 8 slices in about 1 hr 10 min.

Prep 25 min

Cook 45 min

Total 1 hr 10 min

Yield 8 slices

Ingredients

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slices

¼ cup (60 g)unsalted butter, for the topping
⅔ cup (130 g)light brown sugar
1 ¼ lb (550 g)baking apples, peeled, about 3 medium, sliced 6 mm thick
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cinnamon, for the topping
1 ½ cups (190 g)all-purpose flour
2 tsp (8 g)baking powder
¼ tsp (2 g)salt
½ cup (115 g)unsalted butter, softened, for the batter
¾ cup (150 g)granulated sugar
2 (100 g)eggs, room temperature
1 tsp (5 ml)vanilla extract
1 ¼ tsp (3 g)ground cinnamon, for the batter
½ cup (110 ml)whole milk

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Melt the topping butter in the pan on the stove, stir in the sugar and cook 2 minutes until bubbling and syrupy. Remove from the heat.
Arrange the fruit in the caramel in a tight single layer.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together. Beat the butter and sugar 3 minutes until fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time and the vanilla.
Add the dry mix in three parts alternating with the milk and flavorings, stirring just until smooth.
Spread the batter carefully over the fruit and level the top.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until golden and a skewer in the center comes out clean.
Cool 5 to 10 minutes, loosen the edge with a knife, set a plate on top and flip in one confident move. Leave the pan in place 1 minute so the caramel drips down, then lift it off.
Serve warm.

Tips

Flip while warm or the caramel will stick.
Cut fruit to an even thickness so it cooks at the same pace.
Use a pan at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep.
Good with whipped cream.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make caramel apple upside-down cake?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 8 slices.

How should I store caramel apple upside-down cake?

Cover and keep at room temperature up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days. Rewarm slices briefly.

Can I make caramel apple upside-down cake ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

A tender cinnamon butter cake baked over caramelized apple slices, flipped so the soft golden fruit and sticky caramel sit on top. Makes 8 slices in about 1.2 hours.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

443 Calories / serving

19.8g Fat

63.6g Carbs

4.9g Protein

42.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3544 cal · 158g fat · 509g carbs · 39g protein · 338g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.