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Old Fashioned Apple Upside Down Cake

Old Fashioned Apple Upside Down Cake. A decades old family recipe that uses very simple ingredients to create a comfort food dessert that everyone will love. 

Apple Upside Down Cake close up photo of a single slice on a white plate 2

Old Fashioned Apple Upside Down Cake. A perfect comfort food dessert.

When I say old fashioned, that’s exactly what I mean. Made from scratch using simple ingredients just like your grandmother would have made. I’ve been making this one for decades.

Apple Upside Down Cake close up photo of a single slice on a white plate 1

Old Fashioned Apple Upside Down Cake

Especially at this time of year, this apple upside down cake is one of those recipes that you make when “there’s nothing in the house”. You likely have all the ingredients on hand to whip this one up at any time.

Apple Upside Down Cake close up photo of the baked cake

The apples caramelize beautifully.

 

I like to serve this one warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla bean or even caramel swirl ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Delicious for a fall Sunday dinner dessert or at any time of year.

The only improvement I would make is to add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Red delicious apples on a red background. Stock photo.

I like Red Delicious Apples for this recipe but you can use any kind you like.

Originally published Jan 30, 2008

Apples in water s they do not discolour.

Apples in water s they do not discolour.

Preparing the glaze for the apples

Preparing the glaze for the apples

Apples cooking in a large saute pan.

Getting the apples ready for the cake

Arranging the apples in the bottom of the pan.

Arranging the apples in the bottom of the pan.

Love homemade cakes from scratch? We’ve put together a collection of the 25 Most Baked Cakes of the last 12 years on Rock Recipes. You are sure to find several to love.

Top Ten cake recipes photo collage with title text for Pinterest

 

Originally published September 2016.

Like this Apple Upside Down Cake recipe?

Find dozens of other recipes like this in our Cakes and Pies Category and even more sweet treats in our Desserts Category.

Photo of a single slice of Apple Upside Down Cake with title text added for Pinterest

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Apple Upside Down Cake close up photo of a single slice on a white plate 2
Yield: 12 Servings

Old Fashioned Apple Upside Down Cake

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Old Fashioned Apple Upside Down Cake - a decades old family recipe that uses very simple ingredients to create a comfort food dessert that everyone will love; a classic Autumn dessert that's only improved by a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

For the Apple Layer

  • 6 apples peeled, cored and cut into thick wedges
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup white sugar, you can use light brown sugar if you prefer
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Cake Layer

  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1-2 tsp vanilla extract (I use 2)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup milk

Instructions

To Prepare the Apple Layer

  1. Melt the 1/3 cup butter in a large non-stick sauté pan.
  2. Add the sugar, water and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the mixture gets foamy, then add the apples.
  3. Cook the apples in the cinnamon and sugar syrup just until they begin to soften.
  4. Transfer the apple slices to the prepared pan and pour the syrup from the pan over them.

To Prepare the Cake Batter

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan or a 10 inch round cake pan well.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  4. Beat in the vanilla extract.
  5. Sift together the flour and baking powder.
  6. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. In general, I add the dry ingredients in 3 portions and the milk in 2 additions.
  7. Dollop the batter by heaping tablespoonfuls all over the surface of the apple layer and then spread out evenly to the edges of the pan.
  8. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  9. The toothpick test is the best way to ensure that this cake is fully baked.

    Nutrition Information

    Yield

    12

    Serving Size

    12 Servings

    Amount Per Serving Calories 277Saturated Fat 8gCholesterol 63mgSodium 133mgCarbohydrates 37gFiber 2gSugar 34gProtein 1g

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    Dianne

    Friday 27th of March 2020

    This looks delicious but unfortunately l cannot do dairy, could l use Almond milk

    Erica

    Tuesday 7th of May 2019

    Barry which apples work best for this? I think McIntosh might be too soft?

    Barry C. Parsons

    Thursday 9th of May 2019

    Yes any applesauce apples would be too soft. Go for firmer like yellow or red delicious apples.

    Patricia Foster

    Saturday 5th of May 2018

    I found the amount of apples called for in this recipe to be far too many -maybe my apples were too larger? Next time, I would piece the apples into the pan as I go along. As it was, this was divided among two 8-inch pans and the batter was divided among those two pans. They are in the oven now and smelling great. (By the way, the batter tastes GREAT! (I know, we're not supposed to lick the bowl - but I grew up licking the bowl - so. . . . Thank you for a great recipe.

    Wardah

    Saturday 3rd of February 2018

    I had a question...can I use a gluten free flour in place of regular all purpose flour for this cake recipe?

    Barry C. Parsons

    Sunday 4th of February 2018

    I do very little gluten free baking and have never tired this recipe as a gluten free version. If you do, please let us know your results.

    A.Ayyar

    Sunday 19th of November 2017

    Made this cake for afternoon tea over the weekend and it turned out fabulous! Absolutely loved it. I have a smaller 6” pan so ended up using cutting the cake recipe into half.

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