Name: Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: serves 15
Ingredients: 1/2 c. butter; 1/4 c. heavy cream; 1 c. brown sugar; 1 t. salt; 1/2 c. nuts, chopped; 2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced; 1 box yellow cake mix; 1 1/4 c. water; 1/3 c. vegetable oil; 3 eggs; 1 t. apple pie spice; 1 t. cinnamon

I’m so glad it’s fall! While I love the heat in the summer there’s something about cooler fall weather and all the fall flavors. I love all things apple, pumpkin, and spices. It makes our house feel warm, cozy, and inviting whenever I get into the kitchen and get baking.

Unfortunately I’m back at work so my baking time is only on the weekends again. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been making some semi-homemade desserts lately. I still make holiday and birthday cakes, cookies, and cupcakes but at other times I use ingredients like cake mixes and brownie mixes because it just makes it easier.

This past weekend I made a mouthwatering Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake using a boxed cake mix. Let me be honest, if I didn’t know it was a box mix I probably wouldn’t guess it because this cake is really doctored up and tastes amazing! It starts with homemade caramel sauce sprinkled with apples and nuts and then the cake mix goes on top.

The Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake smelled heavenly while it cooked in the oven. I was a little worried when it came out that I wouldn’t be able to turn it over without it falling apart but I didn’t have any trouble at all. The cake is warm and spiced with apple pie spice and cinnamon and the topping is sweet and gooey. The caramel stays on top of the cake but some of it also gets soaked up into it which really tastes great.

I simply served this cake with a cup of coffee but it would be delicious with homemade cinnamon whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. Either way, it’s the perfect fall dessert!

Yield: serves 15

Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

Warm caramel and apples topped off a delicious semi-homemade spiced cake.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

For the topping:

1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. heavy cream
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 c. nuts, chopped
2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

For the cake:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 1/4 c. water
1/3 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 t. apple pie spice
1 t. cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
In a saucepan heat the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar over low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted. Pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the nuts then top with sliced apples.
In large bowl combine the cake mix, water, oil, eggs, apple pie spice and cinnamon. Mix well until combined then carefully pour over top of the apples.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.
Run a knife around the edge of the cake and place a large cutting board on top of it. Quickly flip the cake over and remove from the pan. Cool completely.