The best part of this apple cake recipe isn’t the apples or even the warm caramel sauce. It’s the part nobody expects, and I could honestly eat it all by itself.

This easy apple cake recipe is loaded with fresh apples and warm spices, then served warm with homemade caramel sauce. It’s perfect for fall!

As the cake bakes, the top gets slightly caramelized and chewy, and it is ridiculously delicious. Add that warm caramel sauce and this fresh apple cake is pretty hard to beat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Apple Cake

• Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create that irresistible, slightly caramelized top.
• Brown Sugar: Adds extra moisture and a deeper, caramel-like sweetness.
• Butter: Gives the apple cake a rich flavor and tender texture. Make sure it’s softened for easy mixing.
• Eggs: Add structure, richness and moisture to the cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and enhances all those apple and spice flavors.
• Flour: All-purpose flour gives the cake its structure while keeping it soft and tender.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out all the other flavors.
• Nutmeg: Adds a warm, slightly nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with apples.
• Cinnamon: The must-have apple spice! It adds warmth and that classic fall flavor.
• Ground Cloves: Just a little adds a deep layer of warm spice without overpowering the apples.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cake rise and contributes to its tender texture.
• Baking Powder: Gives the cake additional lift so it doesn’t become too dense.
• Apples: Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples work great here. Granny Smith brings a tart contrast to the sweet cake, while Honeycrisp adds a sweeter, juicy crunch.

For the Caramel Sauce

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